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

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000751 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: IRAN, U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused June 23 news coverage on former President Chen Shui-bian's daughter, son-in-law, and son's admission of perjury in the case of embezzlement of the state affairs fund; on Taiwan's historically high 5.82 percent jobless rate; and on the controversy around the merger of some municipalities with their surrounding counties. All four major Chinese-language newspapers and the three English-language newspapers carried reports with photos on the site dedication ceremony of the American Institute in Taiwan's future office compound. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, regarding the current post-election unrest in Iran, a column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" warned the United States that it must be cautious in dealing with current problems in Iran to avoid complicating its future relations with Iran. The column criticized the U.S. State Department at the beginning of the article, saying that the State Department's alleged interference with the social networking service Twitter's plan to upgrade its service as a way to keep Iranians connected to the rest of the world via Internet is a very stupid method. Concerning the relations among the United States, China and Taiwan, a column in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" welcomed former United States Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Susan Shirk's recent remarks in Taipei. Shirk said Washington is more than happy to see the recent improvement in cross-Strait relations. The column further emphasized that improved cross-Strait relations will benefit the United States eventually. End summary. ¶3. Iran "The U.S. Should Be Very Cautious About the Iran Situation" The "International Lookout" column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 130,000] wrote (6/23): "The term, Twitter, all of a sudden is becoming popular in news. It [Twitter] is a social networking website with a micro-blogging service as its main feature... It [Twitter] planned to upgrade its service and the U.S. State Department planned to provide assistance. This is ready evidence of the United States' interference in Iran's election. ... "During the Cold War from the 1950s to 1990s, the United States had the 'Voice of America (VOA),' with its European Station and Asian Station, and used it to encourage peaceful evolution in Communist countries. It was a tool of the CIA, which obviously interfered in other countries' domestic affairs. However, with the advance of technology and the advent of the information age, the application of Internet is more powerful than radio broadcasting. Furthermore, since the website [for Twitter] is not funded by the CIA, [the role of Twitter in Iran's election and post-election unrest] cannot be considered as interfering in the domestic affairs [of Iran, but] the State Department having a hand in Twitter's service upgrade was as stupid as it can be. ..." ¶4. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations "Improved Relations with China Benefit Not Just Us but U.S." Columnist William Fang wrote in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] (6/23): "In a speech on U.S.-China relations delivered in Taipei on June 21, Dr. Susan Shirk, U.S. a former assistant secretary of state, said that the world has been impressed by China's pragmatic policy on China-Japan relations and the question of Taiwan. She pointed out that Beijing's handling of the Taiwan issue strikes a sharp contrast with that of Tibet, indicating that it intends to further improve its image in the minds of the Taiwanese, a development that is also what Washington has long hoped for. Shirk stressed that the United States is more than happy to see the recent improvement in the cross-strait relations because it will not only lower the possibility of a cross-strait military confrontation but also contribute to the establishment of a constructive Washington-Beijing-Taipei relationship. Shirk's comments should be welcomed by all concerned as a refreshing spring breeze. ... "In this three-way relationship, Washington is certain to play a significant, and sometimes, decisive role. It has long been asserted by some observers that the U.S., deep in its heart, supports an independent Taiwan because it is in its national interest to rely on the island as a staunch anti-Communist ally. Hence, it is wary of any progress in cross-strait ties. Washington's calculation is not difficult to understand. But, this worry may not be quite justified as unification in any form may be a matter of the distant future. "Besides, America should also be concerned about the well-being of the over one-billion-strong Chinese people. Is it the U.S. policy to befriend China in the hope that its influence may help move the country gradually away from totalitarianism toward democracy, which is supposed to be the best political system for all mankind, including the Chinese? This is also the hope cherished by Taipei through an acceleration of cross-strait contacts." YOUNG