Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI245
2009-03-06 05:12:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S APPOINTMENT OF CHARLES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0245 0650512 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 060512Z MAR 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1061 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8995 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0445
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000245
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: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S APPOINTMENT OF CHARLES
FREEMAN
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage March 6 on the Ministry of Economic Affairs' plan to
salvage Taiwan's DRAM industry; on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's work
report in China's National People's Congress (NPC); and on the
situation of the local economy. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, an editorial in the conservative, pro-unification,
English-language "China Post" commented on Washington's announcement
last week of Charles W. Freeman, Jr., to be the Chairman of the
United States National Intelligence Council. The editorial
disagreed with widespread criticism of Freeman's suitability for the
position. Instead, the editorial said by having Freeman, a fluent
Mandarin Chinese speaker familiar with Taiwan and China,
cross-Strait issues will not be "put on the back burner" when the
United States is preoccupied with many other issues. End summary.
"Freeman A Good Choice"
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (3/6):
"Last week, Washington announced that veteran U.S. diplomat Charles
W. Freeman, Jr., was chosen to become the next chairman of U.S.
President Barack Obama's National Intelligence Council. The
appointment, made by Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair,
has prompted widespread criticism because of Freeman's vast contacts
with foreign governments. Known by his nickname 'Chas,' Freeman has
formerly served as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and special envoy
to Beijing. ...
"Freeman's appointment is controversial, because he will gain access
to the most sensitive intelligence secrets. ...
"Many people in Taiwan remember Freeman because he served a stint at
the U.S. embassy in Taipei in the 1960s when he was working for the
U.S. Foreign Service, and headed the Republic of China Desk at the
U.S. State Department in the 1970s before diplomatic relations were
cut. ...
"Freeman is a fluent speaker of Mandarin Chinese and served as
Richard Nixon's personal translator during the former U.S.
president's history-making trip to mainland China in 1972. At
times, Freeman has expressed views sharply critical of our
government, such as when he blamed Taiwan for causing much of the
tension in the Taiwan Strait. ...
"In practice, Freeman will just be coordinating between different
government agencies in hopes of improving the quality of
intelligence presented to President Obama. In the end, it will be
President Obama, and not Freeman, who makes important decisions
about what actions to take based upon this intelligence. We are
pleased to see someone like Freeman, who speaks Chinese and is
highly familiar with this region, serving in such an important post.
This means that while Washington remains preoccupied with its war
against terrorism, Iraq and Afghanistan, events in this region will
not be put on the back burner. ..."
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: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S APPOINTMENT OF CHARLES
FREEMAN
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage March 6 on the Ministry of Economic Affairs' plan to
salvage Taiwan's DRAM industry; on Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's work
report in China's National People's Congress (NPC); and on the
situation of the local economy. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, an editorial in the conservative, pro-unification,
English-language "China Post" commented on Washington's announcement
last week of Charles W. Freeman, Jr., to be the Chairman of the
United States National Intelligence Council. The editorial
disagreed with widespread criticism of Freeman's suitability for the
position. Instead, the editorial said by having Freeman, a fluent
Mandarin Chinese speaker familiar with Taiwan and China,
cross-Strait issues will not be "put on the back burner" when the
United States is preoccupied with many other issues. End summary.
"Freeman A Good Choice"
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (3/6):
"Last week, Washington announced that veteran U.S. diplomat Charles
W. Freeman, Jr., was chosen to become the next chairman of U.S.
President Barack Obama's National Intelligence Council. The
appointment, made by Director of National Intelligence Dennis Blair,
has prompted widespread criticism because of Freeman's vast contacts
with foreign governments. Known by his nickname 'Chas,' Freeman has
formerly served as U.S. ambassador to Saudi Arabia and special envoy
to Beijing. ...
"Freeman's appointment is controversial, because he will gain access
to the most sensitive intelligence secrets. ...
"Many people in Taiwan remember Freeman because he served a stint at
the U.S. embassy in Taipei in the 1960s when he was working for the
U.S. Foreign Service, and headed the Republic of China Desk at the
U.S. State Department in the 1970s before diplomatic relations were
cut. ...
"Freeman is a fluent speaker of Mandarin Chinese and served as
Richard Nixon's personal translator during the former U.S.
president's history-making trip to mainland China in 1972. At
times, Freeman has expressed views sharply critical of our
government, such as when he blamed Taiwan for causing much of the
tension in the Taiwan Strait. ...
"In practice, Freeman will just be coordinating between different
government agencies in hopes of improving the quality of
intelligence presented to President Obama. In the end, it will be
President Obama, and not Freeman, who makes important decisions
about what actions to take based upon this intelligence. We are
pleased to see someone like Freeman, who speaks Chinese and is
highly familiar with this region, serving in such an important post.
This means that while Washington remains preoccupied with its war
against terrorism, Iraq and Afghanistan, events in this region will
not be put on the back burner. ..."
YOUNG