Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI499
2009-04-27 07:50:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0499 1170750 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 270750Z APR 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1454 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9135 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0573
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000499
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
25-27 news coverage on the third round of negotiations between
Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China's Association
for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) in Nanjing, China
over the weekend and the three agreement signed between the two
sides; on the swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the United States;
and on a crane crash accident in Taipei last Friday, which killed
two and injured three Chinese tourists. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, a column in the pro-unification "United Daily News"
discussed a recent digital video conference (DVC) held between
President Ma Ying-jeou and the Washington-based Center for Strategic
and International Studies celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of
the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). The article said the DVC "has not
only cleverly involved the United States in the interaction
framework across the Taiwan Strait but also implicitly contained
unique strategic thinking on national security." End summary.
"Overtones behind the Taiwan-U.S. Digital Video Conference"
Journalist Lee Ming-hsien noted in the "United Notes" column in the
pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (4/25):
"While both sides of the Taiwan Strait were busy preparing talks
with each other, the Ma Ying-jeou Administration had been hosting a
series of activities [celebrating] the [thirtieth anniversary of
the] Taiwan Relations Act (TRA),including a digital video
conference (DVC) with the Center for Strategic and International
Studies, an important think tank based in Washington D.C. The move
has not only cleverly involved the United States in the interaction
framework across the Taiwan Strait but also implicitly contained
unique strategic thinking on national security. Having undergone
the 'break-in' period for several months, a stable structure for
[relations among] the United States, China and Taiwan has gradually
taken shape -- just as [National Security Council Secretary-General]
Su Chi described, 'a regular triangle has been formed.' In other
words, issues concerning national defense, cross-Strait and foreign
relations must be conducted under such a structure, and none of the
three sides will be happy to see any mishaps. ...
"For Taipei, its strategic thinking in terms of national security is
'to net as many interests as possible, quietly' -- namely, to vie
for the greatest possible substantive interests for Taiwan under the
stable Washington-Beijing-Taipei triangular structure. Even
[Taipei's] bid to become an observer in the World Health Assembly
(WHA) in May is being conducted in a low-profile manner. Through
the interaction and the DVC between Taiwan and the United States,
the Ma Administration conveyed the message to [people on] the island
that 'reconciliation and diplomatic truce across the Taiwan Strait
is the trend of the time,' refuting a pro-China policy, as the Green
camp has accused. [Former AIT Director] Douglas Paal also held the
same opinion, which was tantamount to strong support for the
cross-Strait policy of the Ma Administration. In addition, the move
to highlight the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) via various activities
was akin to declaring that, in addition to the three U.S.-China
communiques, sitting on the other side of the scale is the TRA. The
TRA is not only a legal document but also a political commitment
Washington made to Taipei, which will maintain a stable triangular
structure on the foundation of 'one act and three communiques.'
"While both sides of the Taiwan Strait are entering a time of
intense talks, politics will unavoidably be touched upon, no matter
whether the talks are between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation
(SEF) and China's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait
(ARATS),about the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA),
the WHA, a military confidence-building mechanism or a peace pact
between the two sides. With TRA reinforced, it would be akin to
building a defensive mechanism for cross-Strait talks. Washington,
[on the other hand,] remains as a stable force behind the talks
across the Taiwan Strait. The hotline conversation between [former
U.S. President George W.] Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao last
year served as a turning point for both sides of the Taiwan Strait
to resume dialogue. In the future, when it comes to the various
exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, Washington
will continue to provide steady support for Taiwan under the
framework of the TRA. Such were the overtones that the Ma
Administration was trying to convey to Beijing."
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
25-27 news coverage on the third round of negotiations between
Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation (SEF) and China's Association
for Relations across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS) in Nanjing, China
over the weekend and the three agreement signed between the two
sides; on the swine flu outbreak in Mexico and the United States;
and on a crane crash accident in Taipei last Friday, which killed
two and injured three Chinese tourists. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, a column in the pro-unification "United Daily News"
discussed a recent digital video conference (DVC) held between
President Ma Ying-jeou and the Washington-based Center for Strategic
and International Studies celebrating the thirtieth anniversary of
the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). The article said the DVC "has not
only cleverly involved the United States in the interaction
framework across the Taiwan Strait but also implicitly contained
unique strategic thinking on national security." End summary.
"Overtones behind the Taiwan-U.S. Digital Video Conference"
Journalist Lee Ming-hsien noted in the "United Notes" column in the
pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (4/25):
"While both sides of the Taiwan Strait were busy preparing talks
with each other, the Ma Ying-jeou Administration had been hosting a
series of activities [celebrating] the [thirtieth anniversary of
the] Taiwan Relations Act (TRA),including a digital video
conference (DVC) with the Center for Strategic and International
Studies, an important think tank based in Washington D.C. The move
has not only cleverly involved the United States in the interaction
framework across the Taiwan Strait but also implicitly contained
unique strategic thinking on national security. Having undergone
the 'break-in' period for several months, a stable structure for
[relations among] the United States, China and Taiwan has gradually
taken shape -- just as [National Security Council Secretary-General]
Su Chi described, 'a regular triangle has been formed.' In other
words, issues concerning national defense, cross-Strait and foreign
relations must be conducted under such a structure, and none of the
three sides will be happy to see any mishaps. ...
"For Taipei, its strategic thinking in terms of national security is
'to net as many interests as possible, quietly' -- namely, to vie
for the greatest possible substantive interests for Taiwan under the
stable Washington-Beijing-Taipei triangular structure. Even
[Taipei's] bid to become an observer in the World Health Assembly
(WHA) in May is being conducted in a low-profile manner. Through
the interaction and the DVC between Taiwan and the United States,
the Ma Administration conveyed the message to [people on] the island
that 'reconciliation and diplomatic truce across the Taiwan Strait
is the trend of the time,' refuting a pro-China policy, as the Green
camp has accused. [Former AIT Director] Douglas Paal also held the
same opinion, which was tantamount to strong support for the
cross-Strait policy of the Ma Administration. In addition, the move
to highlight the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) via various activities
was akin to declaring that, in addition to the three U.S.-China
communiques, sitting on the other side of the scale is the TRA. The
TRA is not only a legal document but also a political commitment
Washington made to Taipei, which will maintain a stable triangular
structure on the foundation of 'one act and three communiques.'
"While both sides of the Taiwan Strait are entering a time of
intense talks, politics will unavoidably be touched upon, no matter
whether the talks are between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation
(SEF) and China's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait
(ARATS),about the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA),
the WHA, a military confidence-building mechanism or a peace pact
between the two sides. With TRA reinforced, it would be akin to
building a defensive mechanism for cross-Strait talks. Washington,
[on the other hand,] remains as a stable force behind the talks
across the Taiwan Strait. The hotline conversation between [former
U.S. President George W.] Bush and Chinese President Hu Jintao last
year served as a turning point for both sides of the Taiwan Strait
to resume dialogue. In the future, when it comes to the various
exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, Washington
will continue to provide steady support for Taiwan under the
framework of the TRA. Such were the overtones that the Ma
Administration was trying to convey to Beijing."
YOUNG