MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA NAVY SHIPS CONFRONTATION

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000292

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 NAVY SHIPS CONFRONTATION

Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused March 17
news coverage on the largest-ever group of Chinese tourists coming
to Taiwan Monday, on the island's economic prospects, and on the
controversy caused by the alleged anti-Taiwan remarks by a
Toronto-based Government Information Office official. In terms of
editorials and commentaries, a column in the mass-circulation "Apple
Daily" discussed the recent confrontation between USNS Impeccable
and several Chinese vessels in the South China Sea. The article
said such incidents between China and the United States are
expected, as both sides have huge strategic conflicts in the area.
An editorial in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language
"China Post" said the incident "will further stimulate a naval arms
race in the region," but "it would not have a major impact on ties
between the two countries." An editorial in the pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times" discussed the PLA Navy's mission in
the Gulf of Aden to combat piracy, saying it is "contributing to the
transformation of the PLA Navy from a coastal defense force to one
capable of operating offensively at long range and for an extended
period of time." A separate "Taipei Times" op-ed, written by
Hawaii-based freelance writer Richard Halloran, however, said the
navy ships confrontation between the United States and China "was
far more than a skirmish at sea," and instead, it "has turned into
an early test for US President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to
meet Chinese President Hu Jintao at the G20 economic summit meeting
in London next month." End summary.

A) "China-U.S. Collision"

Columnist Antonio Chiang wrote in his column in the mass-circulation
"Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (3/17):

"The U.S.-China relations have grown more intimate in the wake of
the financial storm; the U.S. secretary of state and the Chinese
foreign minister both received the best treatment when they visited
each other's country. Yet the confrontation between a U.S. ocean
surveillance ship, USNS Impeccable, and the Chinese vessels occurred
near Hainan in such a harmonious atmosphere [recently]. In reality,
such incidents happened all the time, which is not surprising at
all. ... Here [i.e. Hainan] is the strategic base where China is
building its blue-water navy and nuclear submarines, and the reason
why U.S. fighter jets and submarines show up irregularly here is
thus quite evident. This incident happened when China's National
People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative
Conference were in session, and it happened right before the Chinese
foreign minister was about to visit the United States. The
political signal revealed by this incident was particularly
thought-provoking.

"Such an incident is in reality expected, because it is unlikely
that the U.S. will easily give up its control over the South China
Sea. China, on the other hand, not only regards the Nansha
[Islands] as its territorial waters, but it also views the South
China Sea as a gateway for its rise. Both sides have huge strategic
conflicts in this area. But the two sides have also accumulated
quite a few experiences in dealing with such incidents. ..."

B) "U.S. PRC Navy Ships: The Game Is on"

The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (3/17):

"The U.S. Navy has dispatched a guided-missile destroyer to the
South China Sea after Chinese ships 'harassed' an American ship
operating there 10 days ago. ... The People's Liberation Army is
building what will become China's biggest submarine base in Hainan.
That has alarmed the United States, Japan and other countries in the
region, so the Impeccable was sent there to gather information. ...

"The PLA Navy has become more aggressive since last year. Besides
setting up the Hainan base, it began a deployment of three vessels
to escort Chinese ships in pirate-infested waters off Somalia,
sailing through Japan's Tsugaru Strait to the Pacific Ocean for the
first time. ... The incident will further stimulate a naval arms
race in the region. But obviously it would not have a major impact
on ties between the two countries. The U.S. needs China's
cooperation and money to deal with the global financial crisis. But
it is a subtle sign that the two still lack fundamental confidence
in each other despite greater cooperation in many fields."

C) "A New Role for the PLA Navy?"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (3/17):

"Military analysts have been slowly coming to grips with Beijing's
decision in December to dispatch naval forces to the Gulf of Aden to
combat piracy - China's first deployment of such forces abroad since
the 15th century. China's decision was part of its goal to play a
role commensurate with its status as a 'great power,' US National

War College professor Bernard Cole said on March 4 during testimony
before the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Aside
from considerations of image - a show of force to consolidate the
Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) grip on power - the mission was
meant to safeguard China's international interests. Furthermore, by
participating in a UN-sanctioned, multinational effort to combat
piracy at sea, China is sending a signal that it is willing to - and
now capable of - being a responsible stakeholder. By interacting
with naval forces of other countries, making port calls abroad and
securing transit agreements, China is strengthening the image of a
'peaceful rise' and 'peaceful development' advocated by Chinese
President Hu Jintao and other Chinese leaders. What this mission
also tells us is that for the first time, the People's Liberation
Army (PLA) Navy is capable of sustaining task group operations
outside its waters for an extended period of time. ...

"There is no doubt that the Gulf of Aden mission is contributing to
the transformation of the PLA Navy from a coastal defense force to
one capable of operating offensively at long range and for an
extended period of time. The mission is also increasing the
capabilities of the Navy should it be called upon to use force in
the Taiwan Strait. The deployment will have given it firsthand
experience of other navies at work, during which commitment we can
expect that intelligence will have been collected and analyzed back
in Beijing. Yes, China is helping fight piracy in international
waters and appears to be doing a good job. But the battle it is
gearing up for is still in the future - and much closer to home."

D) "US- Chinese Contacts Are Imperative for Military"

Richard Halloran, a Hawaii-based freelance writer, opined in the
pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] (3/17):

"A touch of irony surfaced when a US destroyer patrolling the South
China Sea sailed to the aid of the US ocean surveillance ship
Impeccable after it was harassed by three Chinese government vessels
and two trawlers. ... This confrontation, however, was far more
than a skirmish at sea. It has turned into an early test for US
President Barack Obama, who is scheduled to meet Chinese President
Hu Jintao at the G20 economic summit meeting in London next month.
Sino-US military relations are certain to be on the agenda.

"A question being addressed in Pacific Command headquarters above
Pearl Harbor is whether political authorities in Beijing ordered the
assault or if the People Liberation Army (PLA) mounted it
independently. ... The educated consensus holds that Beijing
authorized the confrontation as it was conducted deliberately and
timed to test the new US president. ..."

YOUNG