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

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000777 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 Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused June 26 news coverage on the Kaohsiung District Prosecutors' Office's search of the Kaohsiung City Council Thursday for evidence connected to an embezzlement case; on President Ma's upcoming overseas trip; on the continuous probe into the legal cases involving former President Chen Shui-bian; and on South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford's affair and his disappearance for several days. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" discussed the "Six Assurances" the Reagan administration made to Taiwan in 1982. The article pointed out one of the assurances, on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, and the defense talks between Beijing and Washington this week, and said "a public reiteration of these assurances from Washington would be more than welcome." A separate "Taipei Times" op-ed piece discussed the theories of some U.S. experts on China and said they "should change the way they think." End summary. A) "Assurances on Assurances" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (6/26): "In July 1982, the US government informed Congress of the 'six assurances,' a clarification of the Taiwan Relations Act that would serve as guiding principles for continued US-Taiwan relations. ... One of the assurances agreed to by the US was: 'The United States will not consult with China in advance before making decisions about US arms sales to Taiwan.' However, if recent media reports are to be believed, U.S. and Chinese officials did exactly that in talks in Beijing and Washington this week. "It is no secret that Taiwan has wanted to buy 66 F16C/D fighter jets from the US for several years, and recent signs from Washington indicate that support for a deal is gathering pace. Such a sale would be anathema to Beijing, and Chinese officials must have made their objections loud and clear during this week's talks. If it were just a case of the usual Chinese protestations then it would be nothing to worry about, but the problem for Taiwan is that over the past few years the U.S. has found itself increasingly reliant on China, both financially and diplomatically. This is a problem the U.S. has brought on itself by relying heavily on the Chinese government for help in dealing with North Korea, an approach that has been of questionable value. With Washington under such pressure, it would come as no surprise to discover that arms sales to Taiwan had been affected by the relentless efforts of Beijing. ... "The joint communique signed between Beijing and Washington in 1982 advocated a gradual reduction in the amount of arms the US would sell Taiwan. But writing in 2007, late US ambassador Harvey Feldman said that after signing the communique, former US president Ronald Reagan was so concerned over 'its possible effect on Taiwan' and put so little trust in Chinese promises, that in addition to the six assurances he also filed a secret memorandum in the National Security Council files. ... In light of this week's meetings and given Beijing's continued military buildup, which is largely focused on settling the Taiwan issue in its favor, a public reiteration of these assurances from Washington would be more than welcome." B) "U.S. 'Experts' on China Have Got It All Wrong" James Wang, a Taiwan-based senior media commentator, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (6/26): "... There is no question that economic exchanges between Taiwan and China should be normalized. But if integration means political compromise on Taiwan's sovereignty and annexation by China, then how could it reduce Taiwan's security problem? Ever since President Ma Ying-jeou took office, Chinese military invasion has not been one of Taiwan's security problems: The problem has been the 'peaceful annexation' of Taiwan by China. Those US China experts should change the way they think. Neither China's peaceful rise nor collapse is a bad thing since such an anti-humanistic regime as China's should be overthrown at any rate. If the Chinese leadership wanted to engage in an external adventure to distract attention from its serious internal situation, it would dig its own grave. Chinese President Hu Jintao is not as stupid as those experts think." YOUNG