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

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000337 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, U.S.-CHINA NAVAL CONFRONTATION ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused March 25 news coverage on Taiwan's economic prospects; on the controversies surrounding the anti-Taiwan remarks by a former Toronto-based Government Information Office official; and on the ongoing investigation into former President Chen Shui-bian and his family's legal cases. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" discussed China's plan to build its own aircraft carriers. The article said the move has little significance for Taiwan, as without the United States' support, Taiwan's military is no match for its Chinese counterpart in any way. An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" criticized recent remarks by U.S. Representative Eni Faleomavaega, which the paper believes "would attempt to weaken application of the Taiwan Relations Act" and "hearten Beijing." A column in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" continued to discuss the recent naval confrontation between the United States and China in the South China Sea and follow-on developments. The article said "China is backing down in its confrontation with the United States while strengthening its position vis-a-vis the smaller countries of the region." End summary. ¶2. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations A) "China's Aircraft Carriers Have Little Significance to Taiwan" The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] editorialized (3/25): "... Building aircraft carriers is an inevitable [development] for China during its rising process. Taiwan is not the one among China's neighboring countries that is most concerned [about such a development], because even though [Chinese] aircraft carriers will likely conduct an upside-down combat [tactics] by reversing [Taiwan's] eastern coast into the frontline, making the island vulnerable on all sides and leaving it with no rearguard, China actually does not need aircraft carriers in order to invade Taiwan. India will be the first country that will perceive the threat posed by [Chinese] aircraft carriers, following by Japan and the United States. It is generally estimated [and agreed] among experts that the purpose for China to build a blue-water navy is to control the lifeline of resources from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific. Whichever country gains control over the Indian Ocean will be able to control the sea routes for oil and precious metal. ... "China's plan to build its own aircraft carriers does not indicate that it wants to wage war, but the move will certainly be able to deter [other nations], inspire awe and fulfill China's domestic psychological needs. ... For Taiwan's security, China's building aircraft carriers carries little significance. Given the muddle-headedness of the Taiwan military, it is no match for [the Chinese military] in any way without the United States' support. It really does not matter whether [Taiwan's soldiers] are killed by knives or by cannons." B) "Faleomavaega: No Friend of Taiwan" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (3/25): "On Thursday, US Representative Eni Faleomavaega was again a wrench in the US' efforts to support Taiwan - this time ahead of the 30th anniversary of the most important piece of US legislation concerning Taiwan, the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). ... It was not the first time his actions have belied his professed stance on Taiwan and the spirit of the TRA. The resolution amended last week was proposed by 18 representatives voicing staunch support for the content of the TRA and for Taiwan, but Faleomavaega took issue with the strength of the wording, making changes that would attempt to weaken application of the TRA. ... Last March, Faleomavaega even said that the US should not support Taiwan's referendums on bidding for UN membership because of the US' 'position on one country, two systems.' This revealed shocking ignorance of the US stance on Taiwan from someone who is in a position to frustrate House efforts such as the TRA anniversary resolution. More disturbingly, it sounded like the rambling of an official from Beijing." ¶3. U.S.-China Naval Confrontation Columnist Frank Ching wrote in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] (3/25): "With the first meeting between U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jintao scheduled to take place in London next week, China has backed down, temporarily at least, in its dispute with the United States on whether American navy ships require Chinese permission before conducting activities in the South China Sea. ... From the variety of Chinese ships deployed -- a naval NAVAL CONFRONTATION ship, a fisheries patrol vessel, an oceanographic administration patrol vessel and two trawlers -- it seems that the operation was coordinated at high levels of the government. ... "Not surprisingly, some countries in Southeast Asia feel that China is flexing its muscles. However, the fact that China is dispatching fisheries patrol bats rather than its navy indicates that Beijing is attempting to appear less threatening. Nonetheless, it would not escape the notice of Southeast Asian countries that China is backing down in its confrontation with the United States while strengthening its position vis-a-vis the smaller countries of the region." YOUNG