MEDIA REACTION: NORTH KOREA, PAKISTAN

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000881 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: NORTH KOREA, PAKISTAN ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage July 22 on a security breach in Taiwan's Presidential Office in late June; on the solar eclipse that happened on the morning of the 22nd; and on developments in cross-Strait relations. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" discussed the Obama administration's policy toward North Korea. The article said the proposed 'comprehensive package' approach to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula is no different from gambling, which will only make tension on the Korean Peninsula go on and on. With regard to the United States and Pakistan, a column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said that without Pakistan's help, Afghanistan will eventually become a quagmire that will trap U.S. President Barack Obama. End summary. ¶2. North Korea "Obama's Gambling Game over North Korea's Nuclear Issue" The "International Lookout" column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 120,000] wrote (7/22): "... Why was Pyongyang so anxious to launch a nuclear test and test-fire its ballistic missiles? It was because Pyongyang knows that there is a big gap between itself and the United States. North Korea had awaited a [new U.S.] policy after [President Barack] Obama took over the helm, but it discovered afterwards that Obama's policy toward North Korea's nuclear issue was even tougher than that of [former President] Bush, and that the establishment of diplomatic ties [between the two countries] and a security mechanism on the Korean Peninsula are nothing but a dream. What is the point then [for Pyongyang] to walk a long way and gain nothing in the end? The Obama administration's decision to transfer [former Assistant Secretary of State Christopher] Hill was already an omen, and the appointment of pro-Japan Kurt Campbell to be the new Assistant Secretary was no different from strengthening the United States' relations with Japan and South Korea to work jointly against North Korea. "According to the United States, North Korea has no intention at all to abandon its nuclear programs, yet it has pretended to talk [with other countries] so as to net real benefits for itself before it canceled all the agreements. [Pyongyang] has been constantly acting shamelessly, [the United States said]. But in reality, since the beginning of the Six-Party talks, how many 'real benefits' has Pyongyang got? Why not let Hill do the math? 'Being removed from the U.S. list of countries supporting terrorism' was fundamentally a result of secret negotiations between the two sides outside of the [Six-Party] talks; such secret meetings were held in Berlin as well as in Singapore. The United States was removing [Pyongyang] from the blacklist on the one hand, while on the other hand it was strengthening sanctions against it. North Korea saved its face but lost more substantive interests. "Washington, Tokyo and Seoul are now saying that such an approach to talks would not work and they want to adopt 'a comprehensive package' approach. To put it more bluntly, this is gambling -- gambling to see which side has the better cards, and the results are immediate and clear. [The new approach] either works or fails, and tension over North Korea's nuclear issue will only go on and on. The United States finds such a gambling game worth a try, because severe sanctions would make it very difficult for Pyongyang to break free, and the chances are that it will likely yield once heavier pressure were placed on it to talk. The United States has a firm belief that 'North Korea has no alternative but to return to the negotiating table.' Let's just wait and see." ¶3. Pakistan "Battles Fought to Show Other People" Apple Daily Publisher James Tu wrote in his column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (7/22): "Pakistan's army recently fought a civil war, which lasted for a total one month. ... Objectively speaking, Pakistan was compelled by the United States to launch such a battle. The Taliban is expanding rapidly in the northwestern part [of Pakistan], but Pakistan seldom pays attention to it. The president of Pakistan merely touched on the situation lightly, while Pakistani military leaders have been acting indifferently [to it]. It is the United States which is really worried. Washington believes that the Taliban in Pakistan has linked together with the Taliban in Afghanistan, resulting in the constant setbacks suffered by the NATO military [forces] in Afghanistan. Washington is also worried that the nuclear weapons deployed near Islamabad will fall into the hands of Taliban. Due to United States coercion and inducements, Pakistan finally sent its troops into the battle. ... "The United States needs Pakistan's cooperation to fight the war in Afghanistan, but Pakistan's strategic interests differ greatly from those of the United States. [President] Obama is anxious to achieve military success in Afghanistan, but unfortunately, if Washington cannot persuade Pakistan [into doing what it wants], Afghanistan will be doomed to be a deadlock. It will eventually become a quagmire that will trap Obama deeply and he will find it hard to extricate himself." WANG