MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS, HAITI, GOOGLE

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000077 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/P, EAP/PD - THOMAS HAMM DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS, HAITI, GOOGLE ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage January 16-19 on the Legislative Yuan's passage of a disputed amendment to the Local Government Act on Monday amid fistfights between ruling KMT and opposition DPP legislators; on the devastating situation in Haiti in the wake of a major earthquake last Tuesday; and on developments in cross-Strait relations. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the China-focused "Want Daily" discussed Beijing's harsh criticism of U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The article urged both sides of the Taiwan Strait to put aside their dispute over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan, saying that a Taiwan with a moderate degree of military strength actually serves the interests of the Chinese nation. An op-ed in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times," written by former AIT Chairman Nat Bellocchi, discussed an article recently published by U.S. scholar Bruce Gillery on Taiwan being "Finlandized." The article argued that Gillery's viewpoint was wrong and urged the United States to "pursue a policy of stronger engagement with Taiwan by helping the country defend itself against a belligerent neighbor. ..." A column in the pro-unification "United Daily News" discussed the U.S. role in Haiti and said the United States' generosity is incomparable and yet its brute force also makes people speechless. An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" praised Google's threat to quit China, saying the company is "taking a stand for the liberties that the great majority of human beings cherish and aspire to." ¶3. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations A) "Maintaining Taiwan's Military Strength Serves the Interests of the Chinese Nation -- Both Sides of the Taiwan Strait Should Put aside Their Dispute over [U.S.] Arms Sales [to Taiwan]" The China-focused "Want Daily" [circulation: 10,000] editorialized (1/18): "... Given the rise of China's synthesized national strength in economics, politics and armed forces, it will be unlikely for Taiwan to become a threat [to China] no matter how many modernized weapons are introduced to Taiwan or how advanced these weapons are. On the contrary, a moderate security defense capability will increase Taiwan's confidence in the conciliatory process across the Taiwan Strait, which will surely contribute to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. "Moreover, Taiwan with a certain degree of military strength will be conducive to defending the territory near the Nansha Islands, protecting the fishing boats [in the areas], fighting terrorists and smugglers and blocking pirates in the West Pacific. Also, countries such as Vietnam, the Philippines and Japan will not underestimate Taiwan's military strength and seek to provoke the island. These all help to serve the interests of the Chinese nation. Judging from this perspective, Beijing's dogged opposition to U.S. arms sales to Taiwan will not only affect Taiwan's willingness to talk with mainland China, but will also make the 23 million people of Taiwan mistakenly believe that Beijing hopes to disarm the island first and force it to yield or surrender. Therefore, we believe that when it comes to [U.S.] arms sales to Taiwan, Beijing really needs to slow down its pace, or it will affect the normal development of cross-Strait relations. ..." B) "Gillery's 'Finlandization' Is Wrong" Nat Bellocchi, former chairman of AIT and now a special adviser to the Liberty Times Group, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (1/18): "... On this point he [i.e. Bruce Gillery] is correct: Taiwan has tremendous strategic importance, not only for Japan and South Korea, but also for US interests in the East Asia and Pacific region. And this is precisely the reason why it was most wise for the US to stand by Taiwan in recently offering it anti-missile technology. From the perspective of the Taiwanese, a drift in China's direction would mean a loss of the freedom and democracy they worked so hard to achieve. US credibility around the world -- and particularly in East Asia -- does depend on its adherence to the basic principles for which we stand. Allowing a free and democratic Taiwan to slide into the sphere of influence of an authoritarian China is not acceptable. Thus, instead of 'Finlandization' of Taiwan, the US should pursue a policy of stronger engagement with Taiwan by helping the country defend itself against a belligerent neighbor, and by signing a free-trade agreement to strengthen US economic and political ties with that democratic nation. Only by bringing Taiwan into the international family of nations, can real stability in East Asia be achieved." ¶4. Haiti "The United States in Haiti" The "Black and White" column in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] wrote (1/19): "... It is no news that the United States tends to lord it over others. In particular, Haiti is located in the backyard of the United States, so Washington's bossy attitude becomes all the more evident. [U.S. President Barack] Obama pledged to provide an initial 100 million U.S. dollars in aid to Haiti immediately after the latter was hit by a devastating earthquake; [the United States'] generosity is incomparable. But the U.S. air force's actions were akin to taking over control of Haiti's airport, and its brute force also rendered people speechless. The worst thing is that [the U.S. actions] have enraged France, and all Haiti can do is be a yes-man. ... "Americans do not rely on its military forces or economic power alone to reach its hands into other people's homes; its strong mass media team also plays a role. ... It used to be China that has drawn all kinds of criticism, because even the name of its country shows clearly its mindset of being the 'center of the world.' But now it looks like the United States is the one which regards itself as 'the center of the world'!" ¶5. Google "Google Can Do the Right Thing in China" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (1/19); "Google's announcement that it will stop restricting search results on its Chinese platform -- a condition set when the Internet giant entered the Chinese market in 2006 -- and the threat that it could pull out of China altogether if Beijing continues to launch cyber attacks for gathering information on human rights activists is a praiseworthy development. It shows that even large corporations that stand to make a fortune from the gigantic Chinese Internet market can abide by their principles when the state overreaches. ... As China rises and its leadership shows no sign of liberalizing, the last thing we want to embrace is defeatism, believing that we can't do anything about the impact this will have on our world. More than ever, people are starting to realize that China's philosophy on freedom of expression is threatening our way of life. Ask Australians during the Melbourne International Film Festival, or Taiwanese when newspaper editors are fired as a result of pressure from Beijing. Google's decision is not capitulation. It is taking a stand for the liberties that the great majority of human beings cherish and aspire to. Let's hope others follow Google's lead." STANTON