MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS, OBAMA'S

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000135 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - NIDA EMMONS DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS, OBAMA'S LEADERSHIP, U.S. CAPITALISM ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their February 7-9 news coverage on the island's sagging economy, on a Central Election Commission decision Friday to revoke the elected status of a former KMT legislator who resigned in January over her U.S. citizenship status; and on the island-wide celebrations of the Lantern Festival. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an analysis in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" criticized what it believes to be the China-tilting cross-Strait policy of the Ma Ying-jeou administration, saying it has caused Taiwan to lose the trust of the United States and Japan. A separate "Liberty Times" op-ed piece also chimed in by saying that Taiwan's security has been pushed to the brink of a precipice because of the Ma administration's strategic ignorance. An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" urged the Ma administration to issue a clear, official response to Chinese President Hu Jintao's six-point speech delivered in December, 2008, and assert Taiwan's sovereignty and independent status. A column in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" commended the Obama administration, saying "the performance of President Obama has conveyed an impression that he has been trying hard to reform the long-standing undesirable bureaucratic way of doing things in Washington, D.C." A separate "China Post" editorial, on the other hand, discussed U.S.-style capitalism and said "it is obvious that U.S.-brand capitalism is in need of change." End summary. ¶2. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations A) "Unable to Tell Friend from Foe, [Ma Ying-jeou's] Tilting toward China Has Cost [Him] the Trust of the United States and Japan" Journalist Su Yung-yao said in an analysis in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 700,000] (2/8): "The international situation always changes in the blink of an eye. Since the Obama administration took office, it is generally believed that the United States will be so fully occupied with its domestic economic [problems] and the Middle East situation that it can hardly find time to attend to other issues. But the newly sworn-in Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has picked Japan as the first leg of her first overseas visit after taking office. The message subtly revealed here may likely run counter to the China-tilting policy promoted by the Ma administration. ... [The message] showed that the United States still regards Japan as its most important ally in the Asia-Pacific region and that the Obama administration of the Democratic Party will continue the Asia-Pacific policy previously upheld by the Clinton administration. But the Ma administration's cross-Strait policy, which is completely tipped in China's favor, will not only result in Taiwan's losing the trust of the United States and Japan but will also let Beijing get whatever it wants. With friends gone and foes remaining, Taiwan will be 'locked in by China.'" B) "It [Taiwan] is Being Marginalized Strategically, Not that [China's] Threats [against Taiwan] are being Minimized" Lai I-chung, an executive committee member of the Taiwan Thinktank, opined in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 700,000] (2/9): "... The manipulations of the Ma administration over the past eight months have resulted in the gradual erosion of the six-decade-old strategic foundation between the United States and Taiwan, the same as what happened to the U.S.-Korean alliance during the Roh Moo-Hyun administration. The episode in which Seoul was marginalized because of nuclear proliferation on the Korean Peninsula at that time is now being repeated in Taiwan's marginalization in the Taiwan Strait. Given that Taiwan is unilaterally tilting toward China, the United States will naturally negotiate with China in order to ensure its interests in the Taiwan Strait. This will happen because Taiwan has abandoned its own bargaining chips, which have caused Washington to believe that it now has no need to talk with Taiwan. ... What the island is facing now are not minimized threats [from China] but being marginalized strategically. Ma Ying-jeou was very pleased with himself for the fact that Taiwan was not mentioned in the [recent] U.S.-China dialogue. Taiwan's security has [in fact] been pushed to the brink of a precipice due to the Ma administration's strategic ignorance." C) "Ma Must Issue Clear Response to Hu Now" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (2/9): "... While the world community may be encouraged by Hu's call for both sides of Taiwan Strait to end political antagonisms, what lies behind the PRC leader's sugar-coated pill is a demand for Taiwan's acceptance of Beijing's 'one China principle,' which posits that Taiwan is part of the PRC, as a precondition for any political negotiations. Ma's delay [to respond] threatens to consolidate the growing impression in the world community that the current Taiwan government has accepted Hu's demand and thus risks undermining both Taiwan's sovereignty and any future claim for a international status distinct from the PRC. ... "Given the lack of domestic consensus on Ma's one-sided push toward cross-strait reconciliation and the insistence by the Taiwan-centric opposition camp led by the DPP that Ma has sacrificed Taiwan's sovereignty and compromised his democratic mandate, such concerns are not trivial for the KMT in a crucial election year, especially since the promised economic benefits of closer ties have failed to materialize. Most importantly, the excessive haste of the KMT's rush to reconciliation with Beijing is sparking concern in Washington and Tokyo over whether this process will lead to genuine "peace and stability" or turn the Taiwan Strait into a "Chinese lake" that would be unfavorable to U.S. and Japanese interests. ... "It is therefore imperative for Ma to cease delay and clearly issue an official response that takes into consideration Taiwan's domestic interests and diverse viewpoints, the threats embedded in Hu's six-point statement and the danger of the perpetuation of a distorted international impression that "Taiwan is moving toward becoming part of China." Ma should first affirm the majoritarian consensus that only the 23 million Taiwan people can decide Taiwan's future and highlight both Taiwan's pluralistic public opinion on the direction and process for the development of cross-strait relations. ... On the other hand, if Ma allows his adoption of "ambiguity" on Taiwan's sovereignty to be overwhelmed by Hu's clear declaration of China's sovereignty over a democratic and independent Taiwan, then neither he or the KMT government deserves the support of the Taiwan people." ¶3. Obama's Leadership "Obama's Refreshing New Leadership" Columnist William Fang wrote in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] (2/7): "'Change' was the main theme of Barack Obama's campaign for the U.S. presidency. He has kept his promise after winning the election. And the first impressive change he has brought to the White House is his startling readiness and sincerity in admitting mistakes. ... When a national leader like Obama publicly admits his misbehavior, he not only demonstrates that he is an upright politician but also he has self-confidence and will strive to improve himself by learning from his mistakes. In this sense, the election of Obama as the president should be considered a blessing for the American people. ... In short, the performance of President Obama so far has conveyed an impression that he has been trying hard to reform the long-standing undesirable bureaucratic way of doing things in Washington D.C." ¶4. U.S. Capitalism "U.S.-Style Capitalism Certainly Needs a Revamp" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (2/7): "... It is obvious that U.S.-brand capitalism is in need of change, and the time for change has come with Obama's election to the White House. 'It is shameful' and 'the height of irresponsibility' for Wall Street executives to reward themselves for bad management with taxpayer's money, Obama bellowed last week. While Obama deserves two cheers for his bold action, there are still voices in his administration arguing that 'governments make poor bank managers.' Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, for one, said recently 'we have a financial system run by private shareholders and managed by private institutions, and we'd like to preserve that system.' What he was in fact arguing is that the shibboleth of American capitalism must be preserved, even though it is no longer the same. In politics it seems, the fig leaf means a lot." YOUNG