Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI888
2009-07-24 10:05:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: U.S. AND ASEAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0888 2051005 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 241005Z JUL 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1986 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9294 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0727
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000888
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. AND ASEAN
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage July 24 on a DPP Central Review Committee's decision
Thursday to suspend two senior DPP members for attending a recent
KMT-CCP forum; and on the Control Yuan motions passed Thursday to
censure the Ministry of National Defense for corrupt military
discipline and for the ministry's inactivity in handling a
30-year-old defection case. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, a column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times"
discussed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent remarks at the
ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand. The article said the United
States wants to "come back" to Southeast Asia because it wants to
cope with China. End summary.
"What Is the United States 'Back' to Southeast Asia for?"
The "International Lookout" column in the centrist, KMT-leaning
"China Times" [circulation: 120,000] wrote (7/24):
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during an annual
meeting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Thailand that '[T]he
United States is back in Southeast Asia.' This [statement] sounded
like bald-faced big talk, because [she] could hardly explain clearly
when the United States left [the region] and why it wants to 'come
back' now. As a matter of fact, the United States had paid little
attention to ASEAN in the wake of the Cold War era, because the
latter not only seemed valueless [for the United States] to exploit
but also lacked a common sense of value [among its members]. ...
"If one must ask when the United States left [Southeast Asia], then
the answer should be: right after it lost the war in Vietnam. Now
[Washington said] it wants to come back, [does that mean that] it
will send large forces to Southeast Asia again? If the signing of
the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation can be regarded [as a move
to] come back [to the region], then why has [the United States]
procrastinated over it for so many years and did not want to sign it
until now? The reason is simple and straight: It is aimed at
coping with China. ...
"When it comes to returning [to the region], one must bring with
oneself some gifts and deeds. What Clinton brought is the [United
States'] 'cooperation with the countries of the Lower Mekong.' This
gift seems interesting, but it is actually not viable, because it
will cost a lot of money. Now that Washington is in serious debt
trouble, where can it find the cash to carry out such a plan? ...
The four countries of the Lower Mekong -- Thailand, Cambodia, Laos,
and Vietnam -- all have close economic ties with China. Will they
be willing to shake off an old friend who is generous with money to
accommodate a new friend who is penniless?"
WANG
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. AND ASEAN
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage July 24 on a DPP Central Review Committee's decision
Thursday to suspend two senior DPP members for attending a recent
KMT-CCP forum; and on the Control Yuan motions passed Thursday to
censure the Ministry of National Defense for corrupt military
discipline and for the ministry's inactivity in handling a
30-year-old defection case. In terms of editorials and
commentaries, a column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times"
discussed Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's recent remarks at the
ASEAN Regional Forum in Thailand. The article said the United
States wants to "come back" to Southeast Asia because it wants to
cope with China. End summary.
"What Is the United States 'Back' to Southeast Asia for?"
The "International Lookout" column in the centrist, KMT-leaning
"China Times" [circulation: 120,000] wrote (7/24):
"U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said during an annual
meeting of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers in Thailand that '[T]he
United States is back in Southeast Asia.' This [statement] sounded
like bald-faced big talk, because [she] could hardly explain clearly
when the United States left [the region] and why it wants to 'come
back' now. As a matter of fact, the United States had paid little
attention to ASEAN in the wake of the Cold War era, because the
latter not only seemed valueless [for the United States] to exploit
but also lacked a common sense of value [among its members]. ...
"If one must ask when the United States left [Southeast Asia], then
the answer should be: right after it lost the war in Vietnam. Now
[Washington said] it wants to come back, [does that mean that] it
will send large forces to Southeast Asia again? If the signing of
the ASEAN Treaty of Amity and Cooperation can be regarded [as a move
to] come back [to the region], then why has [the United States]
procrastinated over it for so many years and did not want to sign it
until now? The reason is simple and straight: It is aimed at
coping with China. ...
"When it comes to returning [to the region], one must bring with
oneself some gifts and deeds. What Clinton brought is the [United
States'] 'cooperation with the countries of the Lower Mekong.' This
gift seems interesting, but it is actually not viable, because it
will cost a lot of money. Now that Washington is in serious debt
trouble, where can it find the cash to carry out such a plan? ...
The four countries of the Lower Mekong -- Thailand, Cambodia, Laos,
and Vietnam -- all have close economic ties with China. Will they
be willing to shake off an old friend who is generous with money to
accommodate a new friend who is penniless?"
WANG