MEDIA REACTION: IRAN

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000762 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 Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage June 24 on the Ministry of the Interior's approval of upgrading Taipei County to "special municipality status," and the upgrading and mergers of Taichung City and Taichung County, Kaohsiung City and Kaohsiung County, respectively; on a local lottery winner's generous donation to a charity; and on various local political issues. Most local newspapers, including the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times," which ran a banner headline on page eight, reported that Taiwan is likely to open its market to U.S. beef, including bone-in beef, fully in the near future. In terms of editorials and commentaries, regarding the political turmoil in Iran, a column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said the United States as well as other countries should restrain themselves from interfering in the current unrest in Iran, because it is more likely that a revolution will succeed if no foreign influence is directly involved. Another column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" praised United States President Barack Obama's insistence on dealing cautiously with the unrest in Iran, even though he faces harsh criticism from conservative politicians in the United States for being too cowardly to condemn Iran. End summary. A) "Let the Revolution Evolve Quietly" Apple Daily Publisher James Tu wrote in his column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (6/24): "... The United States did not help to materialize the Tehran Spring in 1997. China also failed to coach Iranian clerics on how to suppress the Tehran Spring. Now, the Tehran Spring is coming again. Facing unrest in Iran, the United States, just as China, is still at a loss as to what to do. Rather than getting involved in [the unrest in Iran] actively, [the United States] might as well let it [a revolution in Iran] evolve quietly!" B) "Obama's Calm in Dealing with the Storm in Iran" Columnist Lin Po-wen wrote in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 120,000] (6/24): "... [United States President Barack] Obama and his foreign affairs and national security staff certainly know that, at this sensitive juncture, the United States must not talk big. Whatever [the United States] speaks out on must be materialized by deeds. If it [the United States] cannot fulfill what it has said, then it is better not to brag. The Obama Administration of course loathes conservative [Iranian President Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad deep in its heart. However, loathing is one thing, [but on the other hand,] you [the United States] still have to deal with him, and speak out cautiously, and not be regarded by the Iranian authorities as interfering with domestic affairs, thereby giving [Iran] a pretext to fan anti-American sentiment. Although this time Iran accuses the United States, the United Kingdom and Israel of stirring up trouble, its choice of [accusatory] words is much better than before. In the minds of Iran's Islamic clerics and politicians, the most evil ones are the United Kingdom and Israel. ..." YOUNG