MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000648 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: NORTH KOREA, U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage June 3 on President Ma Ying-jeou's trip in Central America, including the Ma Administration's latest foreign aid policies and his interaction with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton; on two local companies' alleged insider trading; and on the exchange of harsh criticisms between Taiwan's National Communications Commission and the China Times Group over a recent NCC ruling concerning the ownership of the media group. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" discussed North Korea's nuclear test. The article urged Washington to stop detouring through Beijing and start to engage with Pyongyang fearlessly, saying this is the only to meet the most compelling interests of the two countries. An op-ed piece in the pro-unification "United Daily News" discussed President Ma Ying-jeou's recent transit stops in the United States and bilateral relations. The article said the Ma Administration's cross-Strait policy has made every party feel relieved, and with mutual trust restored between Taipei and Washington, the two sides can talk about almost anything. End summary. ¶2. North Korea "Build a Direct Route, Not a Beijing Detour" Apple Daily Publisher James Tu wrote in his column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (6/3): "... Again, Pyongyang is causing trouble using its nuclear weapons and missiles, and all its moves are aimed at the United States. This is North Korea's typical 'courtship'; it may be coarse and rash, but absolutely there are signs that can be detected. Pyongyang hopes that Washington will offer economic aid, engage in dialogue, and eventually recognize North Korea. But for a long time, the United States has outsourced its foreign relations with Pyongyang to China; Washington lacks the impetus [to deal with] North Korea, and it has never had a comprehensive policy concept [toward North Korea]. If Washington is willing to engage in dialogue with Iran and Cuba, why can it not do so with North Korea? For Pyongyang, Washington could engage with it in both a hard and a soft way. Kim Jong Il's health is getting weaker since his stroke, and Pyongyang has started to make preparations for someone to take over his duties. If Washington does not start to contact, engage or even have multilateral exchanges with North Korea in a timely manner, the influence the United States will be able to exercise should a great change happen in North Korea will be greatly reduced. For now, Washington has always tried to have dealings with Pyongyang through Beijing, which, without a doubt, has increased Beijing's bargaining chips and reduced [the U.S.'s] prestige. Washington should stop its Beijing detour and start to build a direct route to Pyongyang fearlessly. After all, a direct route will be [the only way] to meet the most compelling interests of both Pyongyang and Washington." 3) U.S.-Taiwan Relations "Diplomatic Truce: Neither Side of the Taiwan Strait Wants to Be a Fathead" Professor Edward Chen from Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of American Studies, opined in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (6/3): "... Prior to his departure this time, President Ma only requested in a very low-profile manner to have a 'transit stop on the West Coast' of the United States en route to and back from [Central America]; he has never asked to transit the East Coast. In return, the United States has not only agreed that [Ma] can expand his dinner party with overseas Taiwan people but also allowed Ma to meet with many Congressional representatives. Washington has also said it is pondering [Taiwan's] proposal for an extradition agreement with the United States. Additionally, Ma sat at the same dinner table with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in El Salvador, and the two reached a consensus that 'a stable cross-Strait relationship will do everyone good.' "The United States is willing to consider signing an extradition agreement with Taiwan mainly because the Ma Administration's cross-Strait policy has made every party feel relieved. [For Ma,] a transit stop is simply a transit stop, and he did not make any extraordinary moves or anything that would surprise the United States. With mutual trust restored, [both Taiwan and the United States] can talk about almost anything." YOUNG