Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09AITTAIPEI927
2009-08-03 09:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS
how-toVZCZCXYZ0011 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #0927 2150946 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 030946Z AUG 09 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2037 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9316 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0749
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000927
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 news
coverage August 1-3 on the H1N1 flu epidemic, which is quickly
spreading across Taiwan; on the heat wave hitting the island; on the
year-end mayor and magistrates' elections; and on developments in
cross-Strait relations. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an
editorial in the KMT-leaning "China Times" discussed the impact of
the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. The article said
Taiwan needs to calmly ponder its role in light of the developments
in U.S.-China relations. A separate "China Times" op-ed piece
described U.S.-China relations as "inseparable" and said if one just
looks at the results, the dialogue certainly has generated good
results for world peace. End summary.
A) "View with Calmness the New Situation in the Wake of the
U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue"
The KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 120,000] editorialized
(8/1):
"... When it comes to strategic issues, this year's [dialogue]
focused on the nuclear issue in North Korea and Iran and issues such
as the war on terrorism and non-proliferation. The issue Taipei is
concerned about most -- Taiwan -- apparently was never brought up in
this year's dialogue. The [U.S.-Taiwan] arms sales issue was not
touched on, nor was the so-called 'one China' position reiterated;
it looks as if this once believed to be the core issue in U.S.-China
relations did not even appear in this year's dialogue. Some people
might be worried if such a development indicated that the 'Taiwan
issue' has been marginalized, but this paper does not think so. The
fact that the Taiwan issue was not included in this year's dialogue
agenda merely indicated that currently there is no major difference
between Washington and Beijing on the Taiwan issue. In particular,
cross-Strait dialogue is now under way, so Beijing did not need
Washington to state its position on the Taiwan issue again. ...
"What Taiwan really needs to pay attention to is how the island
should view the new situation [particularly] when the two strong
powers -- the United States and China -- are working more and more
closely on many issues. How is Taipei going to define its role in
such a completely new situation when Washington has clearly
indicated that U.S.-China relations are 'the most important
bilateral relations in the world?' What this involves is not merely
[Taiwan's] role in regional politics, but also the new situation
concerning trade, economics, energy and environmental protection.
It is time that the ruling and opposition elites confront and ponder
[such questions] coolly now."
B) "Beijing, Washington Inseparable"
Taiwan's former Ambassador to South Africa Loh I-cheng wrote in his
column in the KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 120,000]
(8/3):
"... It was not easy for U.S.-China relations to get to its current
state since the two countries formally established diplomatic ties
30 years ago. [U.S. Secretary of State] Hillary Clinton first put
out the word in New York in early February that it was very
important to develop U.S.-China relations, then immediately in the
same month she flew to Beijing. In April, [U.S. President Barack]
Obama met with [his Chinese counterpart] Hu Jintao in London and
both agreed to establish the mechanism of a strategic and economic
dialogue. In late May, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury
Secretary Timothy Geithner visited Beijing, respectively, and in
mid-July, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Energy Secretary Steven
Chu, both Chinese Americans, also visited Beijing under orders. All
these showed Washington's deliberate intent to befriend Beijing.
"Frankly speaking, the relations between Beijing and Washington can
actually be described using the six-character phrase of Mao Zedong:
namely, the two are 'cooperating with and fighting against each
other' at the same time. Obama has obviously picked up this [new]
skill. The old history of love and hatred between China and the
United States is an inextricable knot, which is hard to untangle.
But if one just looks at the results, [the dialogue] results
certainly have every advantage and not a single disadvantage for
world peace."
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-TAIWAN RELATIONS
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage August 1-3 on the H1N1 flu epidemic, which is quickly
spreading across Taiwan; on the heat wave hitting the island; on the
year-end mayor and magistrates' elections; and on developments in
cross-Strait relations. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an
editorial in the KMT-leaning "China Times" discussed the impact of
the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue. The article said
Taiwan needs to calmly ponder its role in light of the developments
in U.S.-China relations. A separate "China Times" op-ed piece
described U.S.-China relations as "inseparable" and said if one just
looks at the results, the dialogue certainly has generated good
results for world peace. End summary.
A) "View with Calmness the New Situation in the Wake of the
U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue"
The KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 120,000] editorialized
(8/1):
"... When it comes to strategic issues, this year's [dialogue]
focused on the nuclear issue in North Korea and Iran and issues such
as the war on terrorism and non-proliferation. The issue Taipei is
concerned about most -- Taiwan -- apparently was never brought up in
this year's dialogue. The [U.S.-Taiwan] arms sales issue was not
touched on, nor was the so-called 'one China' position reiterated;
it looks as if this once believed to be the core issue in U.S.-China
relations did not even appear in this year's dialogue. Some people
might be worried if such a development indicated that the 'Taiwan
issue' has been marginalized, but this paper does not think so. The
fact that the Taiwan issue was not included in this year's dialogue
agenda merely indicated that currently there is no major difference
between Washington and Beijing on the Taiwan issue. In particular,
cross-Strait dialogue is now under way, so Beijing did not need
Washington to state its position on the Taiwan issue again. ...
"What Taiwan really needs to pay attention to is how the island
should view the new situation [particularly] when the two strong
powers -- the United States and China -- are working more and more
closely on many issues. How is Taipei going to define its role in
such a completely new situation when Washington has clearly
indicated that U.S.-China relations are 'the most important
bilateral relations in the world?' What this involves is not merely
[Taiwan's] role in regional politics, but also the new situation
concerning trade, economics, energy and environmental protection.
It is time that the ruling and opposition elites confront and ponder
[such questions] coolly now."
B) "Beijing, Washington Inseparable"
Taiwan's former Ambassador to South Africa Loh I-cheng wrote in his
column in the KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 120,000]
(8/3):
"... It was not easy for U.S.-China relations to get to its current
state since the two countries formally established diplomatic ties
30 years ago. [U.S. Secretary of State] Hillary Clinton first put
out the word in New York in early February that it was very
important to develop U.S.-China relations, then immediately in the
same month she flew to Beijing. In April, [U.S. President Barack]
Obama met with [his Chinese counterpart] Hu Jintao in London and
both agreed to establish the mechanism of a strategic and economic
dialogue. In late May, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury
Secretary Timothy Geithner visited Beijing, respectively, and in
mid-July, Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Energy Secretary Steven
Chu, both Chinese Americans, also visited Beijing under orders. All
these showed Washington's deliberate intent to befriend Beijing.
"Frankly speaking, the relations between Beijing and Washington can
actually be described using the six-character phrase of Mao Zedong:
namely, the two are 'cooperating with and fighting against each
other' at the same time. Obama has obviously picked up this [new]
skill. The old history of love and hatred between China and the
United States is an inextricable knot, which is hard to untangle.
But if one just looks at the results, [the dialogue] results
certainly have every advantage and not a single disadvantage for
world peace."
WANG