MEDIA REACTION: U.S. BEEF IMPORTS TO TAIWAN

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001272 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/P, EAP/PD - THOMAS HAMM DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. BEEF IMPORTS TO TAIWAN ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage October 29 on the "storm" over the Taiwan government's decision to allow the import of U.S. beef, offal and spinal cords and its aftermath; on the alleged game fixing by several Taiwan professional baseball players; and on the KMT's upcoming by-election for its Central Standing Committee. ¶2. Editorials and op-ed pieces in Taiwan's major Chinese-language and English-language dailies continued to lash out at the Ma Ying-jeou administration's decision to allow the import of U.S. beef and at AIT Taipei Director William Stanton's recent remarks comparing the risk of contracting mad cow disease by eating U.S. beef with the death rate caused by scooter accidents in Taiwan. An editorial in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" severely criticized AIT Director Stanton's "foolish" analogy and the United States' "hegemonic and arrogant" mentality. A column in the pro-unification "United Daily News" said Stanton's "domineering persuasion" might end up getting Washington the opposite of what it hopes. An editorial in the KMT-leaning "China Times" also questioned if the United States is trying to make a fortune at the expense of Taiwan's national mishaps. A separate "China Times" op-ed, and editorials in both pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" and "Taiwan News" all lambasted the Ma administration for failing to protect Taiwan's interests and listen to Taiwan's public opinion. A separate "United Daily News" op-ed by a DPP legislator said the U.S. beef storm revealed a warning signal: namely, the Ma administration has lost balance in the strategic relations among Taiwan, the United States and China. End summary. A) "The Most Obstinate AIT Director in History" The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] editorialized (10/29): "... When speaking of the safety of U.S. beef, AIT Taipei Director William Stanton said Taiwan has a population of 23 million, among which 1,034 people lost their lives in scooter accidents last year -- a [death] rate far higher than that caused by the mad cow disease. 'Maybe people should stop riding scooters since it was more dangerous [than eating beef],' Stanton said. He also cited his reply to a [Korean] student when he served in Seoul, who questioned him what if one died of mad cow disease because of eating U.S. beef: 'how do you know you would not go blind when you watch a Samsung television?' Such an analogy was inappropriate and indeed very foolish! "Based on 'Stanton's logic,' one can infer as follows: [People] can use drugs because the number of people dying from drug use is less than that caused by scooter accidents; [people] can have random sex because those who die from HIV/AIDS are less than those who die in scooter accidents ... Nor does it matter that China has exported toxic food products or asbestos boards to the United States and Japan, because the Americans who die from these toxic products are far less than those who die in accidents. The United States is a superpower of the world leader class, and the language a diplomat uses when he speaks must be appropriate to the occasion and logical; he must not copy Taiwan's politicians in making up glib but lame arguments. One must know that what is at issue is not the low risks of contracting mad cow disease; what really matters is that the fear of getting ill is overwhelming. ... "The United States has been often rejected and resented by other countries, and the Americans rarely know why. The truth is that it was caused by the United States' hegemonic and arrogant mentality. The United States, like all the mighty empires in history, lacks empathy and sympathy towards others. With its one and only principle of self-centeredness and self interests to deal with other countries, it goes without saying that [the United States] cannot win a favorable impression from the people of other countries. Stanton's glib tongue has actually reflected such an attitude [of the United States]. This is the reason why even the Green camp people, who are usually pro-U.S., cannot bear to see it and have [stepped] forward to lash out at the United States. "It is a reasonable policy decision if the Ma administration wants to use [Taiwan's] import of U.S. beef in exchange for something similar to the most-favored-nation trade agreement, arms sales or other interests so as to balance U.S.-China-Taiwan relations. [We] can allow the import of U.S. beef, and all it takes is for the [local] consumers to refuse to buy it. What's at stake is that [we] must do it in exchange for other interests; we give and we take, and we cannot easily let others trample us underfoot and take whatever they want, as at the end of the Qing Dynasty. Stanton's attitude has unexpectedly resulted in making the Taiwan people despise U.S. beef all the more, and he will also become the 'most obstinate AIT director' in the history of Taiwan-U.S. diplomatic history." B) "William Stanton's 'Domineering Persuasion'" The "Black and White" column in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] wrote (10/29): "... At this moment, if the U.S. side can offer a dispassionate and calm explanation over the fear for the mad cow disease, it may be able to give the Ma administration a hand. Nevertheless, AIT Director William Stanton pointed out that the cases of contracting mad cow disease in the United States is far lower than the death rate from scooter accidents in Taiwan, and that over 1,000 [Taiwan] people lost their lives because of scooter accidents last year. Speaking of this, he questioned: 'Should Taiwan people stop riding motor scooters?' Such an argument is really 'annoying'! It is true that the cases of contracting mad cow disease is small, and that the number of Taiwan people dying from scooter accidents is far higher than that of American people getting the mad cow disease. But it is really [not right] to compare the two [figures] with each other. ... How is it possible that Stanton is not aware of this awkward situation when the [Taiwan] public is indignant and the Ma administration is being severely lambasted, how about that Stanton? "[Former President] Chen Shui-bian claimed that he was 'the administrative agent of the U.S. military government' and that he had 'constantly received instructions from AIT.' The Taiwan people in general believe that his remarks were nothing but an excuse to help exonerate himself from a charge, and they just laughed them off. But in the face of the controversy over [U.S.] beef and the United States' condescending gesture and tone, one cannot help but reflect on whether the United States has always been making repeated and unrestricted demands in terms of the long-standing Taiwan-U.S. relations. "U.S. President Barack Obama has repeatedly declared that [Washington] needs to 'treat [other countries] equally' in terms of its international relations and to 'listen to different voices.' But it appears that the [U.S.] foreign service system, which is accustomed to being bossy, has yet to adjust its practices. In terms of the U.S. beef issue, the Taiwan public is now highly indignant, and the United States' 'domineering persuasion' without considering the consequences may end up in [getting] just the opposite [of what it hopes]." C) "Could it Be That the United States Is [Trying to] Make a Fortune at the Expense of Taiwan's National Mishaps?" The KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 120,000] editorialized (10/29): "... Frankly speaking, when it comes to the storm over U.S. beef this time, even though there are mistakes on the Taiwan side, which failed to do appropriate administrative maneuvering and offer clear explanations, the real and prime culprit behind the scene is the United States. The public is asking the National Security Council and the Council of Agriculture what [Taiwan] really gets in return for opening [Taiwan's market] to U.S. beef offal, but the two agencies only offered vague and uncertain explanations. Even though we do not understand the real contents of the exchange of interests, it is not difficult to figure out why these agencies found it hard to explain [to the public]. ... "In addition to the U.S. beef, another news story related to Taiwan-U.S. relations was the hikes in the price tags for the U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. News reports said that recently the United States has requested that Taiwan install additional 'software to prevent information leaks,' ruthlessly ripping Taiwan off of a total of USD 1.8 billion. Adding the USD 1 billion worth of radar system and its peripheral facilities, [the United States] has made sure and taken advantage of the reliance of Taiwan's national defense on the United States by making a huge demand. This is another move to make a fortune at the expense of Taiwan's national mishaps. ... "Washington is actually clearly aware of Taiwan's difficult situation. We can of course understand the United States' planning for its national interests. But if Washington is just taking advantage of Taiwan's difficult situation by seizing this opportunity to pressure Taiwan to import the beef offal and bones that are unpopular in the United States or to raise the price for arms sales, then the United States is trying to make a fortune at the expense of Taiwan's 'national mishaps' -- a move that is really intolerable. ... "Judging from a different perspective, the United States hopes that China and Taiwan will sign the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement. But in the meantime, it does not want to see the two sides getting too intimate and thus making Taiwan-U.S. relations estranged, as that kind of development will result in another form of imbalance between Taiwan, China and the United States. If a gap were created between the United States and the Taiwan people because of the beef issue and the arms sales to Taiwan, it will force both sides of the Taiwan Strait to move even closer. Will that possibly meet the United States' interests? "Overall, we want to urge the United States to take a closer look at the bigger environment and situation concerning Taiwan, China and the United States and not seize the opportunity of Taiwan's predicament to make a fortune. U.S. President Barack Obama has just won the Nobel Peace Prize, and he should at least show the prestige of being the big president of a big country getting an award. Forcing Taiwan's Ma administration and representatives of Taiwan's ruling party to sign an [agreement similar to the] Treaty of Shimonoseki for [U.S.] beef offal and brains just one month prior to [Taiwan's] year-end city mayors' and country magistrates' elections is definitely a stupid strategy that will lose more in the long run. ..." D) "Ma Ying-jeou Must Take Strict Precautions to Prevent the U.S. Beef Storm from Getting out of Control" China Times' former President Wang Chien-chuang wrote in a column in the KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 120,000] (10/29): "This article will talk about its conclusion first: The 'storm overQ.S. beef' has proved that the Ma administration is not only an 'arrogant, malfunctioning government' but that it has also clearly shown the symptoms of 'early aging.'... The Ma administration claimed that it negotiated with the United States based on the 'South Korean model' or boasted that Taiwan's model is stricter than that of South Korea. But in terms of its results, the Ma administration has evidently only consulted Seoul's 'negotiation model for U.S. beef,' and it has failed to learn South Korea's lesson of 'U.S. beef storm.' ..." E) "[Getting Stuck] in a Dilemma -- a Warning Signal for the Ma Administration" DPP Legislator Ke Chien-min opined in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (10/29): "... Frankly speaking, the warning signal really revealed by the talks over U.S. beef this time was that the Ma administration has now lost its balance in terms of the strategic relations among Taiwan, the United States and China; or further, it is stuck in a dilemma where it is criticized by all sides. When it comes to the strategic equilibrium among Taiwan, the United States and China, the more that the Ma administration is tilted toward China, the more it will arouse doubts from the United States. Such a development will only result in a vicious cycle of [Taiwan's] losing its bargaining chips in talking with the United States." F) "US Beef and the Curse of Yu Wen" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (10/29): "Those familiar with Taiwan's political scene will recall the name Yu Wen, a Taipei City Government staffer during President Ma Ying-jeou's stint as mayor from 1998 to 2006. Following Ma's indictment in 2006 for misusing his special allowance, Yu became a fall guy in some observers' eyes, serving nine months in jail for failing to keep Ma's accounts in order. The term 'Yu Wen' has since become part of Taiwan's political lingo. It refers to a government official or agency that serves as a scapegoat and takes the heat for higher-ups. ... "Factor in diplomatic concerns and it is highly unlikely that the DOH or the premier would have dared to make the 'final call' on US beef without a directive from -- or at least the blessing of -- the Presidential Office and the National Security Council. Presidential Office Spokesman Wang Yu-chi on Saturday said the lifting of the beef ban was a 'joint decision' in which the government acted in concert. This is hopelessly inconsistent with Ma's attack on the health minister. Since Ma took office, a disturbing pattern has developed in which lower-order government officials shoulder responsibility for disasters created by their superiors. ... The more 'Yu Wen' figures there are, the more Taiwan will suffer as it endures an incompetent government lined with officials who bask in their power but shy away from responsibility. Will a real decision-maker stand up?" G) "Taiwan's Meat Ready for Sale by Ma to PRC" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (10/29): "The decision by President Ma Ying-jeou's Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) government to lift a ban on imports of bone-in beef, intestines and ground beef from the United States has fuelled concerns over whether Ma will similarly betray vows to defend Taiwan's interests in trade talks with the People's Republic of China. ... Indeed, the obvious incapacity of Ma and other KMT officials to resist pressure from Taiwan's long-time ally in the beef imports talks has punctured the credibility of his vocal promises not to liberalize imports of Chinese agricultural produce, allow Chinese workers into Taiwan and not denigrate Taiwan's sovereignty in the ECFA talks. The Washington debacle also provided another case study of how the Ma government has repeatedly discounted the value of Taiwan's political bargaining chips through its habitual 'black box' decision making, its refusal to engage in democratic dialogue with opposition parties or concerned civic groups and its habitual resort to manufacturing accomplished facts to short-circuit dissent. "Indeed, it is likely that last week's humiliating surrender at the negotiating table in Washington aimed to defuse rising opposition in Taiwan to the proposed ECFA with the PRC by securing a resumption of talks with the U.S. on the long-stalled 'trade and investment framework agreement' (TIFA). Exposing our consumers to the health risk of consuming U.S. offal and ground beef to defuse opposition to the ECFA would be bad enough, but the KMT government would be exposed as truly incompetent if Ma is telling the truth and our government did not secure any reciprocal benefits from Washington. Our citizens can hardly expect the KMT government to do any better in the far more critical ECFA negotiations with the no less secretive and authoritarian Chinese Communist Party-ruled PRC or to show any more respect to the Legislative Yuan's oversight. Given the Ma government's refusal to renegotiate the agreement, we urge citizens to call on their legislators to insert a direct ban on beef offal, intestines, ground beef and other high-risk animal products into the Food and Health Management Law. Last but not least, we urge all Taiwan citizens should support efforts to require that any comprehensive trade pact with the PRC be ratification by national citizen referendum." STANTON