Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI232
2009-03-03 09:32:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0010 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0232 0620932 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 030932Z MAR 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1039 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8985 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0435
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000232
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
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused March 3
news coverage on the continuing depreciation of the New Taiwan
dollar against U.S. dollar, on the island's sagging economy, and on
the debate over whether Taiwan should sign an Economic Cooperation
Framework Agreement (ECFA) with China. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, an editorial in the conservative, pro-unification,
English-language "China Post" discussed the recent resumption of
military talks between the United States and China and said "[T]he
U.S. is growingly convinced that China's emergence as a military
power is not a threat to American interests, but a stabilizing force
in an uncertain world." An editorial in the pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times," on the other hand, discussed the
"controversial" appointment of Charles Freeman as the chairman of
the U.S. National Intelligence Council. The article concluded that
now is "too early to be overly alarmed by the appointment" as
"despite Freeman's positions on Taiwan and China -- which are indeed
worrying -- others in the US government will counterbalance him."
End summary.
A) "U.S., PRC Hold Military Talks"
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (3/3):
"... The resumption of military talks less than two months after
President Bush left office demonstrates China's eagerness for a
fresh start. Factors including the new Obama administration, the
depth of the American financial crisis, China's increased
confidence, and growing instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan have
combined to produce the most frank and open talks in years. The
PLA's main goal remains defending the position and interests of the
Communist Party leadership, a purpose unaltered by the military's
active new diplomacy and recent improvements in China's relationship
with Taiwan.
"The U.S. is growingly convinced that China's emergence as a
military power is not a threat to American interests, but a
stabilizing force in an uncertain world. For many years, American
officials, and especially the military, have expressed concern that
China is buying weapons systems specifically designed to deny
American access to the region should there be a conflict over
Taiwan. Now there is little concern that China can threaten the
continental United States, and great efforts have been made to make
China a partner in regional peace."
B) "Obama's NIC Chief Causes a Stir"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (3/3):
"The appointment by the administration of US President Barack Obama
of Charles Freeman as National Intelligence Council (NIC) chairman
has caused a stir in many circles, not least among China/Taiwan
watchers. Freeman, John Chait warned in the Washington Post, is from
the "realist school" and would drop friends like Israel or Taiwan if
it were in the US' interest. ... But Chait, and the many Zionist
organizations who have criticized Freeman's appointment, overstate
the impact he would have on foreign policy. Part of their mistake is
to assume that governments speak in one voice, as if the Obama
administration would be homogeneously realist. ... Despite
Freeman's appointment to the NIC, it is unlikely the US will abandon
Israel for the sake of its own 'interest,' because the US foreign
policy establishment is a plurality of voices. ...
"The same applies to Obama's Asia team. For one, a purely realist
administration would not have tapped Harvard University professor
Joseph Nye, the high priest of 'soft power,' as ambassador to Japan.
In other words, despite Freeman's positions on Taiwan and China -
which are indeed worrying - others in the US government will
counterbalance him. The NIC is but one of many government bodies
involved in US foreign policy. It is not even the most powerful one,
as demonstrated by the lack of traction that its principal product,
the National Intelligence Estimate, has had in the White House under
previous administrations. It is too early, therefore, to be overly
alarmed by the appointment."
YOUNG
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
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused March 3
news coverage on the continuing depreciation of the New Taiwan
dollar against U.S. dollar, on the island's sagging economy, and on
the debate over whether Taiwan should sign an Economic Cooperation
Framework Agreement (ECFA) with China. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, an editorial in the conservative, pro-unification,
English-language "China Post" discussed the recent resumption of
military talks between the United States and China and said "[T]he
U.S. is growingly convinced that China's emergence as a military
power is not a threat to American interests, but a stabilizing force
in an uncertain world." An editorial in the pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times," on the other hand, discussed the
"controversial" appointment of Charles Freeman as the chairman of
the U.S. National Intelligence Council. The article concluded that
now is "too early to be overly alarmed by the appointment" as
"despite Freeman's positions on Taiwan and China -- which are indeed
worrying -- others in the US government will counterbalance him."
End summary.
A) "U.S., PRC Hold Military Talks"
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (3/3):
"... The resumption of military talks less than two months after
President Bush left office demonstrates China's eagerness for a
fresh start. Factors including the new Obama administration, the
depth of the American financial crisis, China's increased
confidence, and growing instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan have
combined to produce the most frank and open talks in years. The
PLA's main goal remains defending the position and interests of the
Communist Party leadership, a purpose unaltered by the military's
active new diplomacy and recent improvements in China's relationship
with Taiwan.
"The U.S. is growingly convinced that China's emergence as a
military power is not a threat to American interests, but a
stabilizing force in an uncertain world. For many years, American
officials, and especially the military, have expressed concern that
China is buying weapons systems specifically designed to deny
American access to the region should there be a conflict over
Taiwan. Now there is little concern that China can threaten the
continental United States, and great efforts have been made to make
China a partner in regional peace."
B) "Obama's NIC Chief Causes a Stir"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (3/3):
"The appointment by the administration of US President Barack Obama
of Charles Freeman as National Intelligence Council (NIC) chairman
has caused a stir in many circles, not least among China/Taiwan
watchers. Freeman, John Chait warned in the Washington Post, is from
the "realist school" and would drop friends like Israel or Taiwan if
it were in the US' interest. ... But Chait, and the many Zionist
organizations who have criticized Freeman's appointment, overstate
the impact he would have on foreign policy. Part of their mistake is
to assume that governments speak in one voice, as if the Obama
administration would be homogeneously realist. ... Despite
Freeman's appointment to the NIC, it is unlikely the US will abandon
Israel for the sake of its own 'interest,' because the US foreign
policy establishment is a plurality of voices. ...
"The same applies to Obama's Asia team. For one, a purely realist
administration would not have tapped Harvard University professor
Joseph Nye, the high priest of 'soft power,' as ambassador to Japan.
In other words, despite Freeman's positions on Taiwan and China -
which are indeed worrying - others in the US government will
counterbalance him. The NIC is but one of many government bodies
involved in US foreign policy. It is not even the most powerful one,
as demonstrated by the lack of traction that its principal product,
the National Intelligence Estimate, has had in the White House under
previous administrations. It is too early, therefore, to be overly
alarmed by the appointment."
YOUNG