Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI745
2009-06-22 09:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:  

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

Tags:  OPRC KMDR KPAO TW 
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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #0745/01 1730940
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 220940Z JUN 09
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1799
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9253
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0682
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000745 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/P, 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, IRAN

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000745

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/P, 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, IRAN


1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused June
20-22 news coverage on Tropical Storm Linfa's brush past Taiwan,
local economic problems, and on the development of cross-Strait
relations.


2. Among editorials and commentary, an editorial in the
mass-circulation "Apple Daily" urged President Ma Ying-jeou not to
implement a pro-China policy unilaterally at the expense of Taiwan's
relations with the United States, Japan and European countries.
Otherwise, Taiwan will fall into China's hands and become a
dependency of China, the editorial warned. A column in the
centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" cast doubts on the effect of the
first-ever BRIC summit, which just concluded, on the global
financial system, because of the divergent interests among Brazil,
Russia, India and China. For example, the reason that China refused
to endorse Russia's idea of developing new reserve currencies to
challenge the dominance of the U.S. dollar was because China has
great common interests with the United States and does not want to
challenge the United States. Another editorial in the
pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" urged the
opposition DPP to bolster dialogue with the United States, including
setting up a office in Washington, so as to let different voices in
Taiwan be heard in the United States. Regarding the current unrest
in Iran, an editorial in the conservative, pro-unification,
English-language "China Post" urged the United States to open
dialogue with Iran after Iran's post-election unrest settled. The
editorial also reminded Taiwan that while maintaining a close
economic and trade relationship with Iran, Taiwan should not export
any sensitive technologies to Iran that could violate the
international embargo against Iran led by the United States. End
summary.


3. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations

A) "Ma Ying-jeou's Dangerous Unilateralism"

The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000]
editorialized (6/22):

"... As a result, Taiwan, instead of excessively depending on China
now, must simultaneously establish a multilateral equilibrium,
through building diverse, extensive and constructive relationships,
including in non-governmental sectors, with the United States, Japan
and the European Union. The current Taiwan-style of

'unilateralism,' which only leans toward China and estranges the
United States and Japan, or passively maintains relations with the
United States and Japan, is extremely stupid and dangerous.
President Ma Ying-jeou must reverse the situation, so as to avoid
becoming a dependency of China before it is too late."

B) "China Does Not Want to Use BRIC to Pound on the U.S."

"The so-called developed countries, especially the United States,
all felt relieved after the 'BRIC' summit that 'Eh! [The BRIC
summit] was only so-so.' ...

"Although China mentioned the issue of global currency reserves
before the 'G20' London summit, it declined, however, to treat this
BRIC summit as a meeting to confront the United States. It is
because far greater common interests exist between China's economic
rise and the United States. Although China is not a 'G8' country
member, China is the major beneficiary of the current international
economic order, and also the largest creditor of -- as well as
exporter to -- the United States. Furthermore, as far as
geopolitical and international 'strategic thinking' is concerned, it
is not appropriate for [China] to use 'BRIC' to pound on the United
States. Such a position [for China] is far different from that of
Russia. How could China be willing to let the [BRIC] meeting become
a tool of Russia to earn the right to speak and contend with the
United States?"

C) "DPP Must Bolster Dialogue with U.S."

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] editorialized (6/22):

"... The urgency of the DPP's re-entry into diplomacy is
demonstrated by the very fact that the new Democratic administration
under President Barack Obama favors the 'cross-strait
reconciliation' approach adopted by the Ma government toward the
Chinese Communist Party-ruled PRC, evidently unaware of the negative
impact of the KMT-CCP rapprochement on Taiwan's internal democracy
and human rights, Taiwan's substantive independence and on the hopes
for democratic transitions in China and elsewhere in the world. ...

"First, the DPP must put serious effort into identifying
authoritative channels for communications and messages and should
also engage in honest discussion with its American counterparts
across the political spectrum regarding both the U.S. views on core
or controversial issues and honestly and effectively express its own
views and reflect the long-term concerns of the Taiwan people.
Moreover, the DPP needs to realize that prior and full consultation
about mutual interests and priorities is essential to sustaining
mutual trust and to appreciate that allowing Washington to
understand major steps or statements that Taiwan leaders are about
to make does not constitute a disgrace to the dignity of our
leaders. ...

"More concretely, the DPP's first priority should be the restoration
of frequent and high-profile contact between [DPP Chairperson] Tsai
[Ing-wen] and other DPP leaders and the U.S. Democratic
administration, Congress and opinion leaders.

"No less urgent is re-establishment of a high-profile office in
Washington, D.C. to serve as a hub and a listening post to build
connections among present and future U.S. policy makers and serious
policy thinkers and as a channel to train DPP staffers and talented
activists and thereby build up the ranks of DPP staffers who can
thoroughly and comfortably elaborate the party's policies and
perspectives in foreign languages."


4. Iran

"Protest Sparking Curiosity about Iran"

The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (6/21):

"... After the present unrest subsides, Iran should go ahead with
plans to open a representative office in Taipei and expand its
unofficial ties with Taiwan. The R.O.C. should make sure not to
export any sensitive or dual-use technologies that could violate the
U.S.-led embargo against Iran or assist Iran with its ambitions to
become a nuclear power. ...

"Like most other governments, Taipei would like to see a dialogue
opened between Iran and the United States that would ultimately lead
to a normalization of Iran-U.S. relations. U.S. President Barack
Obama has opened the door to opening such a dialogue by agreeing to
talk to Iran, but Washington's plans have been put on hold by the
unexpected domestic turmoil in Iran. After the turmoil subsides,
Tehran and Washington should proceed with opening that dialogue so
that 30 years of animosity can finally be laid to rest. While the
U.S. and Iran will surely continue to disagree on many important
issues, the two countries should cooperate to stabilize the
situation in Iraq so that tensions in the region can subside."

YOUNG