Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI694
2009-06-12 05:45:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN ARMS SALES
how-toVZCZCXYZ0005 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0694 1630545 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 120545Z JUN 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1730 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9239 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0672
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000694
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.-TAIWAN ARMS SALES
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused June 12
news coverage on the Executive Yuan's proposal to revise the Income
Tax Law, scrapping the income tax exemption long enjoyed by military
servicemen and teachers; on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Company (TSMC)'s decision to have TSMC Chairman Morris Chang double
as the TSMC Chief Executive; and on the World Health Organization's
declaration of the H1N1 pandemic. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence, English-language
"Taipei Times" reiterated Taiwan's need for F-16 C/D fighter jets
and the importance of U.S. support of Taiwan's need. The editorial
also commented on the choice of Kurt Campbell as Assistant Secretary
of State for East Asian Affairs as a good sign for Taiwan, because
Campbell has a "strong record of support for Taiwan." End summary.
"Military Hopes Raised by US Signals"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (6/12):
"Signs from Washington over the last few days must have encouraged
those in the military who are clamoring for the purchase of 66
F-16C/D fighter jets from the US. Politicians attending a
Taiwan-themed conference this week gave indications there was broad
consensus on Capitol Hill to support such a move, and this was
followed by more positive news on future arms sales from Kurt
Campbell during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday for the
post of assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs.
"Let's be blunt: Taiwan's AIR FORCE is in desperate need of some new
hardware. ... Compare this situation with China's rapidly
modernizing military arsenal and it is clear that the AIR FORCE
needs the US to act fast on this matter if it is to maintain any
semblance of credibility in AIR power.
"Support from US lawmakers, however, does not necessarily translate
to a green light, as any arms sale would also need the approval of
the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon. The
likelihood of that approval is hard to assess because after five
months in office there is no clear indication of the Obama
administration's policy direction on Taiwan.
"Campbell's confirmation would be a good sign, as he has a strong
record of support for Taiwan. But he alone will not be enough, as
there are others in the administration, such as special envoy to
North Korea Stephen Bosworth, who see Taiwan's democracy as an
irritant in the US' relations with China.
"There has been talk of a Taiwan policy review and this will surely
be the key to determining the scope and scale of any sales, but
Chinese relations with the US will also have a bearing on future
deals, despite Washington's claims to the contrary.
"But the biggest hurdle to sales of more advanced weaponry may be
Taiwan itself. Although there has been lots of positive feedback
from US officials on the direction of cross-strait relations since
the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) returned to power in May last
year, the rapid pace of the rapprochement must also have raised
concerns about the wisdom of selling advanced weaponry to Taipei
while noises emanate from both sides of the Taiwan Strait about
'military confidence-building measures.'
"President Ma Ying-jeou's policy of downplaying Taiwan's military
capacity to curry favor with Beijing and elicit economic favors
could also make Taiwan reluctant to pursue such a high-profile deal.
..."
WANG
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.-TAIWAN ARMS SALES
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused June 12
news coverage on the Executive Yuan's proposal to revise the Income
Tax Law, scrapping the income tax exemption long enjoyed by military
servicemen and teachers; on Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing
Company (TSMC)'s decision to have TSMC Chairman Morris Chang double
as the TSMC Chief Executive; and on the World Health Organization's
declaration of the H1N1 pandemic. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence, English-language
"Taipei Times" reiterated Taiwan's need for F-16 C/D fighter jets
and the importance of U.S. support of Taiwan's need. The editorial
also commented on the choice of Kurt Campbell as Assistant Secretary
of State for East Asian Affairs as a good sign for Taiwan, because
Campbell has a "strong record of support for Taiwan." End summary.
"Military Hopes Raised by US Signals"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (6/12):
"Signs from Washington over the last few days must have encouraged
those in the military who are clamoring for the purchase of 66
F-16C/D fighter jets from the US. Politicians attending a
Taiwan-themed conference this week gave indications there was broad
consensus on Capitol Hill to support such a move, and this was
followed by more positive news on future arms sales from Kurt
Campbell during his Senate confirmation hearing on Wednesday for the
post of assistant secretary of state for East Asian affairs.
"Let's be blunt: Taiwan's AIR FORCE is in desperate need of some new
hardware. ... Compare this situation with China's rapidly
modernizing military arsenal and it is clear that the AIR FORCE
needs the US to act fast on this matter if it is to maintain any
semblance of credibility in AIR power.
"Support from US lawmakers, however, does not necessarily translate
to a green light, as any arms sale would also need the approval of
the White House, the State Department and the Pentagon. The
likelihood of that approval is hard to assess because after five
months in office there is no clear indication of the Obama
administration's policy direction on Taiwan.
"Campbell's confirmation would be a good sign, as he has a strong
record of support for Taiwan. But he alone will not be enough, as
there are others in the administration, such as special envoy to
North Korea Stephen Bosworth, who see Taiwan's democracy as an
irritant in the US' relations with China.
"There has been talk of a Taiwan policy review and this will surely
be the key to determining the scope and scale of any sales, but
Chinese relations with the US will also have a bearing on future
deals, despite Washington's claims to the contrary.
"But the biggest hurdle to sales of more advanced weaponry may be
Taiwan itself. Although there has been lots of positive feedback
from US officials on the direction of cross-strait relations since
the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) returned to power in May last
year, the rapid pace of the rapprochement must also have raised
concerns about the wisdom of selling advanced weaponry to Taipei
while noises emanate from both sides of the Taiwan Strait about
'military confidence-building measures.'
"President Ma Ying-jeou's policy of downplaying Taiwan's military
capacity to curry favor with Beijing and elicit economic favors
could also make Taiwan reluctant to pursue such a high-profile deal.
..."
WANG