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

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000058 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, PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused January 14 news coverage on an AIT statement issued Tuesday confirming that it has discussed with Taiwan the problem of piracy in the Gulf of Aden and that the U.S. Navy has a responsibility to render assistance to any vessel in distress that requests assistance; on U.S. President George W. Bush's final press conference; and on a bill passed by the Legislative Yuan Tuesday for integrating several electronic cash cards in Taiwan. The pro-unification "United Daily News" front-paged a banner headline reading "Escorting [Taiwan Vessels] -- Beijing Makes an Opening Move, While Americans Meddle with It." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" discussed a recent report by China's Xinhua News Agency saying that Chinese warships began carrying out an escort mission for four merchant ships, including one from Taiwan, in the Gulf of Aden off Somalia. The article criticized the Ma Ying-jeou Administration for attempting to hand over Taiwan's sovereignty to China. An op-ed piece in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" also discussed whether Taiwan should join in the escorting efforts in the Gulf of Aden. A column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily," on the other hand, discussed U.S. President George W. Bush's final press conference. The article said it is still too early to talk about Bush's legacy. An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" discussed an annual report released by Washington-based Freedom House in Taipei Tuesday. The article criticized President Bush, saying, "[B]esides sullying the values of democracy and freedom, Bush II's adventurism diverted attention away from fundamental global and national political, social, environmental and economic problems and, combined with militant market fundamentalism, trigged the current global financial crisis." End summary. ¶1. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations A) "Ma Administration Unexpectedly Seeks to Delegate Taiwan's Sovereignty to China" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 700,000] editorialized (1/14): "... Now China has shown interest in meddling with the convoying of Taiwan ships [sailing through the Gulf of Aden], taking advantage of such an opportunity to impose its sovereignty emblem on Taiwan. The move is tantamount to China taking action to emphasize to the international community that Taiwan is part of China and that [such a concept] is widely accepted by the Taiwan people. [Taiwan's] government authorities, such as President Ma, unexpectedly did not dare to refute such a stance and turned a blind eye to the damage done to Taiwan's sovereignty. ... It goes without saying that various international factors must be put into consideration with regard to whether Taiwan can send warships to escort its vessels. But should there be any difficulty, it should at least ask other friendly nations, such as the United States, to assist in providing protection [to Taiwan vessels]. By no means should our country let China encroach on our authority and seize such an opportunity to take [unfair] advantage of Taiwan's sovereignty. If the Ma Administration wants to delegate Taiwan's national defense and foreign relations to China, subcontract Taiwan's economy to China and, further, hand over tasks such as protecting its fishing and cargo vessels to China, totally disregarding Taiwan's sovereign status, the Taiwan people, who are in possession of Taiwan's sovereignty, will surely stand up and fight." B) "Should We Join Efforts in the Gulf of Aden?" Wang Jyh-perng, a captain in Taiwan's naval reserve, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (1/14): "... China's offer to protect Taiwanese ships is an expression of its concern for and willingness to protect the lives and property of Taiwanese people under the 'one China' principle and is in line with a softer approach to Taiwan. On the other hand, some people no doubt worry that China intends to use the offer to undermine Taiwan's sovereignty. But such concerns are not a good reason to send our warships. If we want to avoid directly accepting China's offer, we can instead say we accept help from any and all countries participating in the patrol mission, as we would in any emergency in international waters. ... "Participating in the international drive to combat piracy by dispatching warships would, of course, benefit Taiwan in some respects. It would provide training opportunities and demonstrate Taiwan's willingness to cooperate with international organizations on military matters. However, the possible reactions of the US, Japan and China must be considered. ..." GEORGE W. BUSH ¶2. President George W. Bush A) "Evaluation of [President George W.] Bush" Columnist Antonio Chiang wrote in his column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (1/14): "... [U.S. President George W.] Bush is about to step down dejectedly in the midst of catcalls. He is determined to be a loser, or even the worst president in history by [various] opinion surveys. But now may still be too early to talk about his legacy. ... No matter what, Bush is an honest and straightforward person. His brain and ability may not be very good, but his moral character and personality have rarely been criticized...." B) "Freedom House Puts KMT on Notice" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (1/14): "The release by the New York-based [sic] Freedom House of its annual 'Freedom in the World 2009' survey of political rights and civil liberties in over 190 countries in Taipei yesterday both marked an affirmation of the strategic value of Taiwan`s democratic transition and a veiled alert over whether the restoration of the right-wing Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang) to power is leading to a reversal in our democratic progress. In general, the Freedom House report warned that democratic systems and values faced serious pressure generally in the past year and would face even more difficult challenges in the coming year for numerous reasons, including the differential impact on free, partly free and unfree countries of the global financial crisis that erupted in the United States last year. Importantly, the Freedom House surveys point to an erosion in worldwide freedom since 2005 that is worrying for both the global community and Taiwan as well. "In our views, this trend may well be connected with the misguided and deceptive 'war on terror' launched by rightist outgoing Republican U.S. President George W. Bush, whose eight years of 'America first' unilateralism featured a deceptive illegal colonial war in Iraq under the false colors of 'promoting freedom' and flagrant violations of the Geneva conventions and other human rights covenants. Besides sullying the values of democracy and freedom, Bush II's adventurism diverted attention away from fundamental global and national political, social, environmental and economic problems and, combined with militant market fundamentalism, trigged the current global financial crisis. "More directly relevant, Bush's myopic obsession with the 'war on terror' opened space for autocratic regional hegemonic powers, notably Russia and the People`s Republic of China, to extend political and economic domination over their neighbors. Besides facing intensifying pressure from an autocratic PRC, Taiwan's democracy has also been a victim of the Bush imperium's strategy of 'regime change' in order to punish the former Democratic Progressive Party administration of ex president Chen Shui-bian 'trouble-making' assertive defense of Taiwan sovereignty and commitment to deepening democracy despite opposition from PRC, which Bush II was determined to appease to achieve 'war on terrorism.' ..." [Ed. Note: Freedom House is actually based in Washington, D.C., at Dupont Circle.] YOUNG