Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI58
2009-01-14 09:58:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO TW 
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VZCZCXYZ0009
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #0058/01 0140958
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 140958Z JAN 09
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0743
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8879
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0331
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

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