Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI208
2009-02-24 09:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: SECRETARY CLINTON'S ASIA TRIP
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0208/01 0550953 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 240953Z FEB 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0971 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8946 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0396
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 00208
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: SECRETARY CLINTON'S ASIA TRIP
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused February
24 news coverage on the debate between the ruling and opposition
parties over whether Taiwan should sign a Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with China; on the 81st Academy Awards
held in Hollywood Sunday; and on the on-going investigation into the
corruption case against former President Chen Shui-bian and his
family. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the
centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" discussed what it believes to be
U.S. President Barack Obama's "twofold" diplomatic mechanism. The
article said that Obama did not hand his heavy diplomatic
responsibilities over to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton but has
appointed special envoys to help to resolve his diplomatic problems.
An editorial in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language
"China Post" hailed the United States for having shown refreshing
changes in its foreign policy, including its China policy. End
summary.
A) "Obama's Twofold Diplomatic Mechanism"
The "International Lookout" column in the centrist, KMT-leaning
"China Times" [circulation: 150,000] wrote (2/23):
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has concluded her
diplomatic visit to Asia, and her first diplomatic trip overseas can
be summed up in just two words: 'nothing remarkable.' Why so? It
is because [what she did] does not represent the entirety of [U.S.
President Barack] Obama's foreign [policy], and Obama did not hand
his heavy diplomatic responsibilities over to Clinton. Perhaps the
importance of National Security Council will outweigh that of the
State Department in the future. Obama will grasp the diplomatic
decision-making authority tightly in his hands, and he is to divide
[the United States'] foreign relations into two pillars -- namely,
one will be general foreign relations and the other will be foreign
relations done by special envoys. The State Department will take
the lead in terms of general foreign relations, and it is the
responsibility of the Secretary of State to convey the diplomatic
ideas of the Obama Administration to other countries in the world.
Coordinating with other countries to work with the United States is
a task for which Hillary is quite competent, and her background
weighs significantly in the political arenas in most countries in
the world. ...
"The special-envoy type of foreign relations refers to those who are
designated to resolve [diplomatic] disputes. Vice President Joseph
Biden went to Europe to resolve problems; ... U.S. Mideast envoy
George Mitchell has completed the first round of his mediation job,
whereas Richard Holbrooke's mission in South Asia is to strive for
breakthroughs in Afghanistan and Pakistan. ... There are quite a
few candidates in the Democratic Party capable of doing the job of
Secretary of State, and they are surely more outstanding than
Clinton. It appears that Obama appointed Clinton because he wants
her to do the first kind of diplomatic job, and he himself will be
in charge of the second type of [diplomatic] tasks. The Secretary
of State will use soft [power] to promote the diplomatic ideas of
the Obama Administration, while the appointed envoys will push
forward Obama's diplomatic tasks more powerfully. Judging from the
current situation, Vice President Biden's influence will likely
prevail over that of Clinton in terms of foreign decision-making.
If Clinton wants to be a Secretary of State who gets the ascendancy,
the chances are zero, or she will definitely clash with the White
House, and the seeds of a breakup will be sowed between the two."
B) "U.S. Changing Tone on China"
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (2/24):
"Barely in office for a month, President Barack Obama has redefined
the United States' China policy - no longer placing human rights
concerns above pressing strategic issues. ... To re-establish
America as a trusted great power, Washington needs to listen, learn
and lead. Thus far, the report card shows that the Obama
administration has underscored the importance of one America's
closest allies, Canada, with the president's first international
trip last week. Obama has also acknowledged the growing role of
Asia in global affairs with his Secretary of State's visit to Japan,
Indonesia, Korea and China, also last week. All of these moves are
refreshing. Still, the most effective element so far of Obama's
foreign policy is that he has not made any rash foreign policy
decisions and has focused instead on pressing economic problems -
which, of course, will have a global impact. Obama understands what
needs attention and is moving the United States in a constructive
direction.
"Beijing wants to size up the Obama administration's China policy -
and Clinton herself, whom they view somewhat suspiciously from her
presidential campaign rhetoric. Does Washington view Beijing as a
genuine global collaborator - in a 'comprehensive partnership,' as
Clinton has indicated - or will it continue the 'strategic hedging'
policy of the Bush administration? Beijing naturally believes that
it is easier to work on specific issues if common trust and mutual
understanding are established first. If Clinton succeeded in
assuring Beijing that the U.S. truly sees China as a global partner,
and not as a rival, she will find far greater cooperation on the
issues that really matter. The Obama administration hopes to make
climate change the centerpiece of a broader, more vigorous
engagement with China. For Mrs. Clinton, the Beijing stop at the
end of a weeklong Asian tour represented an effort to put her own
stamp on a relationship that was once dominated by the Treasury
Department in the latter years of the Bush administration. ... The
big rhetoric about good, evil and the war on terror is gone. Times
are changing. So is Washington's agenda."
WANG
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: SECRETARY CLINTON'S ASIA TRIP
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused February
24 news coverage on the debate between the ruling and opposition
parties over whether Taiwan should sign a Comprehensive Economic
Cooperation Agreement (CECA) with China; on the 81st Academy Awards
held in Hollywood Sunday; and on the on-going investigation into the
corruption case against former President Chen Shui-bian and his
family. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the
centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" discussed what it believes to be
U.S. President Barack Obama's "twofold" diplomatic mechanism. The
article said that Obama did not hand his heavy diplomatic
responsibilities over to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton but has
appointed special envoys to help to resolve his diplomatic problems.
An editorial in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language
"China Post" hailed the United States for having shown refreshing
changes in its foreign policy, including its China policy. End
summary.
A) "Obama's Twofold Diplomatic Mechanism"
The "International Lookout" column in the centrist, KMT-leaning
"China Times" [circulation: 150,000] wrote (2/23):
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has concluded her
diplomatic visit to Asia, and her first diplomatic trip overseas can
be summed up in just two words: 'nothing remarkable.' Why so? It
is because [what she did] does not represent the entirety of [U.S.
President Barack] Obama's foreign [policy], and Obama did not hand
his heavy diplomatic responsibilities over to Clinton. Perhaps the
importance of National Security Council will outweigh that of the
State Department in the future. Obama will grasp the diplomatic
decision-making authority tightly in his hands, and he is to divide
[the United States'] foreign relations into two pillars -- namely,
one will be general foreign relations and the other will be foreign
relations done by special envoys. The State Department will take
the lead in terms of general foreign relations, and it is the
responsibility of the Secretary of State to convey the diplomatic
ideas of the Obama Administration to other countries in the world.
Coordinating with other countries to work with the United States is
a task for which Hillary is quite competent, and her background
weighs significantly in the political arenas in most countries in
the world. ...
"The special-envoy type of foreign relations refers to those who are
designated to resolve [diplomatic] disputes. Vice President Joseph
Biden went to Europe to resolve problems; ... U.S. Mideast envoy
George Mitchell has completed the first round of his mediation job,
whereas Richard Holbrooke's mission in South Asia is to strive for
breakthroughs in Afghanistan and Pakistan. ... There are quite a
few candidates in the Democratic Party capable of doing the job of
Secretary of State, and they are surely more outstanding than
Clinton. It appears that Obama appointed Clinton because he wants
her to do the first kind of diplomatic job, and he himself will be
in charge of the second type of [diplomatic] tasks. The Secretary
of State will use soft [power] to promote the diplomatic ideas of
the Obama Administration, while the appointed envoys will push
forward Obama's diplomatic tasks more powerfully. Judging from the
current situation, Vice President Biden's influence will likely
prevail over that of Clinton in terms of foreign decision-making.
If Clinton wants to be a Secretary of State who gets the ascendancy,
the chances are zero, or she will definitely clash with the White
House, and the seeds of a breakup will be sowed between the two."
B) "U.S. Changing Tone on China"
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (2/24):
"Barely in office for a month, President Barack Obama has redefined
the United States' China policy - no longer placing human rights
concerns above pressing strategic issues. ... To re-establish
America as a trusted great power, Washington needs to listen, learn
and lead. Thus far, the report card shows that the Obama
administration has underscored the importance of one America's
closest allies, Canada, with the president's first international
trip last week. Obama has also acknowledged the growing role of
Asia in global affairs with his Secretary of State's visit to Japan,
Indonesia, Korea and China, also last week. All of these moves are
refreshing. Still, the most effective element so far of Obama's
foreign policy is that he has not made any rash foreign policy
decisions and has focused instead on pressing economic problems -
which, of course, will have a global impact. Obama understands what
needs attention and is moving the United States in a constructive
direction.
"Beijing wants to size up the Obama administration's China policy -
and Clinton herself, whom they view somewhat suspiciously from her
presidential campaign rhetoric. Does Washington view Beijing as a
genuine global collaborator - in a 'comprehensive partnership,' as
Clinton has indicated - or will it continue the 'strategic hedging'
policy of the Bush administration? Beijing naturally believes that
it is easier to work on specific issues if common trust and mutual
understanding are established first. If Clinton succeeded in
assuring Beijing that the U.S. truly sees China as a global partner,
and not as a rival, she will find far greater cooperation on the
issues that really matter. The Obama administration hopes to make
climate change the centerpiece of a broader, more vigorous
engagement with China. For Mrs. Clinton, the Beijing stop at the
end of a weeklong Asian tour represented an effort to put her own
stamp on a relationship that was once dominated by the Treasury
Department in the latter years of the Bush administration. ... The
big rhetoric about good, evil and the war on terror is gone. Times
are changing. So is Washington's agenda."
WANG