Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI910
2009-07-30 08:13:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE
how-toVZCZCXYZ0003 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0910/01 2110813 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 300813Z JUL 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2013 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9306 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0739
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000910
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 STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage July 30 on the Taiwan government's plan to sign an Economic
Cooperation Framework Agreement with China and developments in
cross-Strait relations; on former President Chen Shui-bian's legal
cases; and on the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. In
terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the
pro-independence "Liberty Times" discussed the U.S.-China Strategic
and Economic Dialogue and called it a "war of saliva." The article
said U.S. President Barack Obama's addressing China as a "partner"
has certainly propped up China's international status, but, in the
meantime, it has also roused concerns among the United States'
traditional allies in Asia, such as Japan and Australia. An op-ed
piece in the pro-unification "United Daily News," however, said the
formal launch of the U.S.-China dialogue indicated that the United
States and China will jointly lead the trends of the globe and share
the decision-making authority on global political and economic
issues. End summary.
A) "U.S.-China Dialogue Is Reduced to War of Saliva"
Washington correspondent Nadia Tsao wrote in the "Observation from
Washington D.C." column in the pro-independence "Liberty Times"
[circulation: 700,000] (7/30):
"... As a matter of fact, Washington has already set the tone on its
strategic guidelines regarding the United States' China policy since
former Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick defined China as a
'responsible stakeholder' [in 2005]. For this year's meeting, China
wants 'strategy' while the United States wants 'economics.' Both
sides got what they want, except that during the Bush
administration, in addition to cooperation, Washington also attached
great importance to 'taking refuge from danger.' Since [President
Barack] Obama took over the helm, however, Washington has
deliberately underplayed the 'differences' in U.S.-China relations
by evading the important bilateral disputes for the easy issues, in
an attempt to resolve the international economic crisis.
"Yet even with the strategic dialogue, problems will not necessarily
be resolved, nor does it indicate that Washington and Beijing will
become strategic partners overnight. But by addressing China as a
'partner' and saying U.S.-China relations are the most important
bilateral relationship [for the United States], which will shape the
21st century, this time Obama has certainly propped up China's
international status, an issue that Beijing cares most. But in the
meantime, it has caused concern among the [United States']
traditional allies in Asia, such as Japan and Australia, which are
worried about the long term growth of China's strength in Asia and
the decline of the United States' strength."
B) "Policy Changes Deeply Concealed in U.S.-China Dialogue"
Associate Professor Chen Hsin-chih from National Cheng Kung
University Department of Political Science opined in the
pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (7/30):
"The formal launch of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
indicated that both China and the United States will jointly lead
the trends of the globe and share the decision-making authority on
global political and economic [issues]. ... First, the United
States abandoned the strategy it had previously clung tightly to --
namely, counterbalancing the exchange rate for the Renminbi;
[instead], it guaranteed the stable market value of U.S. treasury
bonds, a move indicating that the two strong powers will work
together to stabilize the status of the U.S. dollar. ...
"Second, the economic growth patterns of the United States and China
will have tremendous revisions. China's domestic market will serve
as a locomotive for its economic growth, while the United States
will gradually move toward a new direction of having its exports
direct its economic growth. ... Such a huge change in the
strategies of economic and trade development, in contrast to the
vision of Beijing and Washington coordinating and working together
on a green economy, will inevitably create a profound impact on the
developments of future Doha Round WTO negotiations and post-Kyoto
Protocol talks.
"Finally, neither side has bothered to spend more time on disputes
such as human rights and carbon taxes. Add the fact that
long-stagnated U.S.-China military exchanges will resume soon, it
showed that the two strong powers share strong ambitions to reduce
mutual strategic misunderstanding. The United States will no longer
adopt a tit-for-tat counterbalance strategy to deal with China's
growth in strength. Whether such impressive economic and trade
cooperation will bolster the two powers to move from mistrust to
mutual cooperation in the military field will be a major milestone
that will affect the development of international relations for this
century. Further, it will create a profound, decisive impact on the
development of cross-Strait relations. ..."
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.-CHINA STRATEGIC AND ECONOMIC DIALOGUE
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage July 30 on the Taiwan government's plan to sign an Economic
Cooperation Framework Agreement with China and developments in
cross-Strait relations; on former President Chen Shui-bian's legal
cases; and on the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. In
terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the
pro-independence "Liberty Times" discussed the U.S.-China Strategic
and Economic Dialogue and called it a "war of saliva." The article
said U.S. President Barack Obama's addressing China as a "partner"
has certainly propped up China's international status, but, in the
meantime, it has also roused concerns among the United States'
traditional allies in Asia, such as Japan and Australia. An op-ed
piece in the pro-unification "United Daily News," however, said the
formal launch of the U.S.-China dialogue indicated that the United
States and China will jointly lead the trends of the globe and share
the decision-making authority on global political and economic
issues. End summary.
A) "U.S.-China Dialogue Is Reduced to War of Saliva"
Washington correspondent Nadia Tsao wrote in the "Observation from
Washington D.C." column in the pro-independence "Liberty Times"
[circulation: 700,000] (7/30):
"... As a matter of fact, Washington has already set the tone on its
strategic guidelines regarding the United States' China policy since
former Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick defined China as a
'responsible stakeholder' [in 2005]. For this year's meeting, China
wants 'strategy' while the United States wants 'economics.' Both
sides got what they want, except that during the Bush
administration, in addition to cooperation, Washington also attached
great importance to 'taking refuge from danger.' Since [President
Barack] Obama took over the helm, however, Washington has
deliberately underplayed the 'differences' in U.S.-China relations
by evading the important bilateral disputes for the easy issues, in
an attempt to resolve the international economic crisis.
"Yet even with the strategic dialogue, problems will not necessarily
be resolved, nor does it indicate that Washington and Beijing will
become strategic partners overnight. But by addressing China as a
'partner' and saying U.S.-China relations are the most important
bilateral relationship [for the United States], which will shape the
21st century, this time Obama has certainly propped up China's
international status, an issue that Beijing cares most. But in the
meantime, it has caused concern among the [United States']
traditional allies in Asia, such as Japan and Australia, which are
worried about the long term growth of China's strength in Asia and
the decline of the United States' strength."
B) "Policy Changes Deeply Concealed in U.S.-China Dialogue"
Associate Professor Chen Hsin-chih from National Cheng Kung
University Department of Political Science opined in the
pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (7/30):
"The formal launch of the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue
indicated that both China and the United States will jointly lead
the trends of the globe and share the decision-making authority on
global political and economic [issues]. ... First, the United
States abandoned the strategy it had previously clung tightly to --
namely, counterbalancing the exchange rate for the Renminbi;
[instead], it guaranteed the stable market value of U.S. treasury
bonds, a move indicating that the two strong powers will work
together to stabilize the status of the U.S. dollar. ...
"Second, the economic growth patterns of the United States and China
will have tremendous revisions. China's domestic market will serve
as a locomotive for its economic growth, while the United States
will gradually move toward a new direction of having its exports
direct its economic growth. ... Such a huge change in the
strategies of economic and trade development, in contrast to the
vision of Beijing and Washington coordinating and working together
on a green economy, will inevitably create a profound impact on the
developments of future Doha Round WTO negotiations and post-Kyoto
Protocol talks.
"Finally, neither side has bothered to spend more time on disputes
such as human rights and carbon taxes. Add the fact that
long-stagnated U.S.-China military exchanges will resume soon, it
showed that the two strong powers share strong ambitions to reduce
mutual strategic misunderstanding. The United States will no longer
adopt a tit-for-tat counterbalance strategy to deal with China's
growth in strength. Whether such impressive economic and trade
cooperation will bolster the two powers to move from mistrust to
mutual cooperation in the military field will be a major milestone
that will affect the development of international relations for this
century. Further, it will create a profound, decisive impact on the
development of cross-Strait relations. ..."
WANG