Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI465
2009-04-15 10:00:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0465/01 1051000 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 151000Z APR 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1407 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9123 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0558
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000465
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 April 15
news coverage on a New York Yankees' game with the Tampa Bay Rays
Tuesday, in which the Yankees' Taiwan pitcher Wang Chien-ming
suffered his worst setback with a 15-5 loss to the rival team; on
developments in cross-Strait relations; on chaos in Thailand; and on
the KMT's chairmanship elections this coming summer. In terms of
editorials and commentaries, an op-ed in the pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times," written by former AIT chairman Nat
Bellocchi, discussed U.S.-China-Taiwan relations. The article
concluded by saying that "one wonders whether it is wise to tie
Taiwan's economy to what is now a faltering export-driven economy in
China" and "whether the US Congress might seek to restrict trade
with its largest importer and perhaps work for some gains for Taiwan
in terms of recognition in the international community." A separate
"Taipei Times" editorial discussed Taiwan's possibly successful
attempt to join the World Health Assembly as an observer this year.
The article said that "Taiwan's participation at the health body
would never be 'meaningful' if it became an instrument with which
Beijing could make demands of the international community." End
summary.
A) "Changes in Taiwan, China, US Ties"
Nat Bellocchi, former chairman of AIT and a special adviser to the
Liberty Times Group, opined in the pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (4/15):
"... Through the years, the TRA has helped maintain the 'status quo'
in relations between Taiwan and China, as well as the US'
relationship to both. However, it has done little to advance the
cause of Taiwanese or their fight for a place in the world
community. The TRA anniversary is a good time to reflect on the
status of trilateral relations. ... During a visit to Taipei last
month, American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Raymond Burghardt
reiterated US support for Taiwan, but said that the level of
cross-strait engagement should be decided by Taiwan and China.
Washington will support Taiwan whenever it can in international
bodies, he said, but would not mediate between the two sides. He
added that military dialogue between Taiwan and the US would
continue. With the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou
favoring closer ties with China, relations between the US, China and
Taiwan have changed. ...
"The Ma government has stated repeatedly that signing an EFCA with
China is vital to Taiwan's competitiveness in the world market and
that failing to do so would result in Taiwan being marginalized when
China and ASEAN forms a trade bloc next year. The government,
however, overlooks the fact that China has tried in every way to
block Taiwan's efforts to sign free-trade agreements with other
countries. ... The ECFA issue in Taiwan is still not clear. Many
Taiwanese are looking to the US - especially Congress - for support.
... However, one wonders whether it is wise to tie Taiwan's economy
to what is now a faltering export-driven economy in China. Another
question is whether the US Congress might seek to restrict trade
with its largest importer and perhaps work for some gains for Taiwan
in terms of recognition in the international community."
B) "A Participant, Not a Beggar"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (4/14):
"Based on a US State Department report leaked to this newspaper over
the weekend and a report in the China Times yesterday, Taiwan may be
on the brink of obtaining observer status at the World Health
Assembly (WHA),the decision-making body of the WHO. After many
years of unsuccessful attempts to join either the WHO or at least
the WHA, the US' charm offensive on Taipei's behalf, combined with
Beijing's ostensible flexibility of late, is cause for satisfaction,
as Taiwan may finally have a voice at and benefit from the global
health body, thereby filling a senseless gap in the global health
network. As Taipei, Beijing, Washington and the WHO work on an
agreement, one key element to keep an eye out for will be
'compromise' -- often a euphemism for political gains by Beijing.
...
"One such compromise -- supported by the US, as the State Department
report seems to indicate -- is the possibility that Taiwan's
observer status at the WHA would be renewable on an annual basis.
This would be a grave mistake, however, as it would put Beijing in a
position to blackmail Taiwan and the US every time renewal is at
hand. Each year, China could make demands of Taipei, Washington and
the international community. To keep what it has, Taipei and its
supporters would have to beg to China, while the latter could use
the carrot of participation in the WHA to exert political influence.
... To prevent this potential subjugation from becoming reality,
Taiwan's observer status at the WHA should be permanent and not
subject to Beijing's whims. Given the right of Taiwanese to have
representation at the global health organization, observer status
should not be used to give Beijing any leverage over Taiwan. ...
Taiwan's participation at the health body would never be
'meaningful' if it became an instrument with which Beijing could
make demands of the international community. Condescending as the
terminology is (who would want meaningless participation?),Taiwan's
role at the WHA could amount to little more than self-harm if it
were hostage to ulterior political motives."
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 April 15
news coverage on a New York Yankees' game with the Tampa Bay Rays
Tuesday, in which the Yankees' Taiwan pitcher Wang Chien-ming
suffered his worst setback with a 15-5 loss to the rival team; on
developments in cross-Strait relations; on chaos in Thailand; and on
the KMT's chairmanship elections this coming summer. In terms of
editorials and commentaries, an op-ed in the pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times," written by former AIT chairman Nat
Bellocchi, discussed U.S.-China-Taiwan relations. The article
concluded by saying that "one wonders whether it is wise to tie
Taiwan's economy to what is now a faltering export-driven economy in
China" and "whether the US Congress might seek to restrict trade
with its largest importer and perhaps work for some gains for Taiwan
in terms of recognition in the international community." A separate
"Taipei Times" editorial discussed Taiwan's possibly successful
attempt to join the World Health Assembly as an observer this year.
The article said that "Taiwan's participation at the health body
would never be 'meaningful' if it became an instrument with which
Beijing could make demands of the international community." End
summary.
A) "Changes in Taiwan, China, US Ties"
Nat Bellocchi, former chairman of AIT and a special adviser to the
Liberty Times Group, opined in the pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (4/15):
"... Through the years, the TRA has helped maintain the 'status quo'
in relations between Taiwan and China, as well as the US'
relationship to both. However, it has done little to advance the
cause of Taiwanese or their fight for a place in the world
community. The TRA anniversary is a good time to reflect on the
status of trilateral relations. ... During a visit to Taipei last
month, American Institute in Taiwan Chairman Raymond Burghardt
reiterated US support for Taiwan, but said that the level of
cross-strait engagement should be decided by Taiwan and China.
Washington will support Taiwan whenever it can in international
bodies, he said, but would not mediate between the two sides. He
added that military dialogue between Taiwan and the US would
continue. With the administration of President Ma Ying-jeou
favoring closer ties with China, relations between the US, China and
Taiwan have changed. ...
"The Ma government has stated repeatedly that signing an EFCA with
China is vital to Taiwan's competitiveness in the world market and
that failing to do so would result in Taiwan being marginalized when
China and ASEAN forms a trade bloc next year. The government,
however, overlooks the fact that China has tried in every way to
block Taiwan's efforts to sign free-trade agreements with other
countries. ... The ECFA issue in Taiwan is still not clear. Many
Taiwanese are looking to the US - especially Congress - for support.
... However, one wonders whether it is wise to tie Taiwan's economy
to what is now a faltering export-driven economy in China. Another
question is whether the US Congress might seek to restrict trade
with its largest importer and perhaps work for some gains for Taiwan
in terms of recognition in the international community."
B) "A Participant, Not a Beggar"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (4/14):
"Based on a US State Department report leaked to this newspaper over
the weekend and a report in the China Times yesterday, Taiwan may be
on the brink of obtaining observer status at the World Health
Assembly (WHA),the decision-making body of the WHO. After many
years of unsuccessful attempts to join either the WHO or at least
the WHA, the US' charm offensive on Taipei's behalf, combined with
Beijing's ostensible flexibility of late, is cause for satisfaction,
as Taiwan may finally have a voice at and benefit from the global
health body, thereby filling a senseless gap in the global health
network. As Taipei, Beijing, Washington and the WHO work on an
agreement, one key element to keep an eye out for will be
'compromise' -- often a euphemism for political gains by Beijing.
...
"One such compromise -- supported by the US, as the State Department
report seems to indicate -- is the possibility that Taiwan's
observer status at the WHA would be renewable on an annual basis.
This would be a grave mistake, however, as it would put Beijing in a
position to blackmail Taiwan and the US every time renewal is at
hand. Each year, China could make demands of Taipei, Washington and
the international community. To keep what it has, Taipei and its
supporters would have to beg to China, while the latter could use
the carrot of participation in the WHA to exert political influence.
... To prevent this potential subjugation from becoming reality,
Taiwan's observer status at the WHA should be permanent and not
subject to Beijing's whims. Given the right of Taiwanese to have
representation at the global health organization, observer status
should not be used to give Beijing any leverage over Taiwan. ...
Taiwan's participation at the health body would never be
'meaningful' if it became an instrument with which Beijing could
make demands of the international community. Condescending as the
terminology is (who would want meaningless participation?),Taiwan's
role at the WHA could amount to little more than self-harm if it
were hostage to ulterior political motives."
YOUNG