Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI652
2009-06-04 08:30:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0652 1550830 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 040830Z JUN 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1677 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9224 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0654
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000652
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
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage June 4 on the statements of President Ma Ying-jeou and the
opposition DPP in commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the
Tiananmen Square Protest; on the results of senior high school
entrance exams; on the National Communications Commission (NCC)'s
handling of the change of management of the two TV stations owned by
the China Times Group. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a
column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" commented on
United States Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg's current
visit to East Asia as part of the United States' efforts to deal
with North Korean nuclear problems. The column said that, although
the United States wants to keep the framework of the Six-Party Talks
as well as impose sanctions on North Korea, it is still very
difficult to contain North Korea, because all countries involved
have highly divergent national interests. End summary.
"It Is Difficult for the United States to Build a Net to Besiege
North Korea"
The "International Lookout" column in the centrist, KMT-leaning
"China Times" [circulation: 130,000] (6/4):
"... Washington's strategies have become more and more distinct;
whether or not the Six-Party Talks are able to resolve problems, it
is still necessary to keep them and not dissolve them hastily, even
though North Korea has announced it will not return to the Six-Party
Talks. As far as Washington is concerned, the North Korean nuclear
issue is a security issue not for the United States alone. Instead,
the issue involves many countries, so it requires relevant countries
to resolve it jointly. However, the United States also understands
that, in reality, the United States and North Korea are the key.
Since this cannot be made too obvious, it is necessary to keep the
framework of the Six-Party Talks. Even if North Korea wants to
boycott [the Six-Party Talks], the situation will be one versus
five, which will not do much to enhance North Korea's interests.
"The second step is to impose sanctions on North Korea. The purpose
of [United States Deputy Secretary of State James] Steinberg's visit
to East Asia is not so much for the Six-Party talks but in fact for
sanctions. However, sanctions are a complex issue. As a result,
the composition of [Steinberg's] delegation is complex as well. It
is insufficient to conduct diplomatic negotiations at United Nations
Headquarters, because the issue requires relevant countries to have
a full understanding of the items [contained] in the sanctions.
"However, it is not easy to establish a 'common strategy' among the
five countries [the United States, Japan, South Korea, China and
Russia] simply based on concerns mentioned above. It is because
[the five countries] have different vital interests that the five
have their own calculations. Although on the surface, [the five
countries] are equally angry at North Korea's nuclear test, the
vital interests affected by [North Korea's nuclear test] are not
necessarily the same. The so-called 'common strategy' is simply
that everyone agrees [to impose] sanctions, but there is a great
divergence in terms of what kinds of sanctions [might be imposed].
Japanese media said the United States wants to build a net to
besiege North Korea. It appears to be that way on the surface.
However, it is actually a broken net which cannot make North Korea
yield."
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: NORTH KOREA
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage June 4 on the statements of President Ma Ying-jeou and the
opposition DPP in commemoration of the twentieth anniversary of the
Tiananmen Square Protest; on the results of senior high school
entrance exams; on the National Communications Commission (NCC)'s
handling of the change of management of the two TV stations owned by
the China Times Group. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a
column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" commented on
United States Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg's current
visit to East Asia as part of the United States' efforts to deal
with North Korean nuclear problems. The column said that, although
the United States wants to keep the framework of the Six-Party Talks
as well as impose sanctions on North Korea, it is still very
difficult to contain North Korea, because all countries involved
have highly divergent national interests. End summary.
"It Is Difficult for the United States to Build a Net to Besiege
North Korea"
The "International Lookout" column in the centrist, KMT-leaning
"China Times" [circulation: 130,000] (6/4):
"... Washington's strategies have become more and more distinct;
whether or not the Six-Party Talks are able to resolve problems, it
is still necessary to keep them and not dissolve them hastily, even
though North Korea has announced it will not return to the Six-Party
Talks. As far as Washington is concerned, the North Korean nuclear
issue is a security issue not for the United States alone. Instead,
the issue involves many countries, so it requires relevant countries
to resolve it jointly. However, the United States also understands
that, in reality, the United States and North Korea are the key.
Since this cannot be made too obvious, it is necessary to keep the
framework of the Six-Party Talks. Even if North Korea wants to
boycott [the Six-Party Talks], the situation will be one versus
five, which will not do much to enhance North Korea's interests.
"The second step is to impose sanctions on North Korea. The purpose
of [United States Deputy Secretary of State James] Steinberg's visit
to East Asia is not so much for the Six-Party talks but in fact for
sanctions. However, sanctions are a complex issue. As a result,
the composition of [Steinberg's] delegation is complex as well. It
is insufficient to conduct diplomatic negotiations at United Nations
Headquarters, because the issue requires relevant countries to have
a full understanding of the items [contained] in the sanctions.
"However, it is not easy to establish a 'common strategy' among the
five countries [the United States, Japan, South Korea, China and
Russia] simply based on concerns mentioned above. It is because
[the five countries] have different vital interests that the five
have their own calculations. Although on the surface, [the five
countries] are equally angry at North Korea's nuclear test, the
vital interests affected by [North Korea's nuclear test] are not
necessarily the same. The so-called 'common strategy' is simply
that everyone agrees [to impose] sanctions, but there is a great
divergence in terms of what kinds of sanctions [might be imposed].
Japanese media said the United States wants to build a net to
besiege North Korea. It appears to be that way on the surface.
However, it is actually a broken net which cannot make North Korea
yield."
YOUNG