Cablegate: "United Daily News" Editorial On Taiwan's Cross-

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 003293

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ROBERT PALLADINO
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL KPAO TW
SUBJECT: "UNITED DAILY NEWS" EDITORIAL ON TAIWAN'S CROSS-
STRAIT POLICY

Summary: The pro-unification "United Daily News" urged in an
August 5, 2005, editorial that the government implement a
more proactive cross-Strait policy, liberalize the three
direct links as soon as possible, and not only make partial
policy decisions. The following is a full text translation
of the editorial by AIT's Public Affairs Section.

"`Loud Thunder Overriding Firecrackers': a Macroscopic way
of Thinking for Cross-Strait Policy"

Taiwan fruit exportation to the mainland has brought the
government into an embarrassing position, in which it was
first supercilious and then deferential as well as
threatening in manner but cowardly at heart.

In order to break through the dilemma, the Executive Yuan
(EY) made several policy announcements, including opening up
Taiwan to mainland tourists, promoting Penghu as a transfer
point for cross-strait transportation, allowing Taiwan
aircraft to fly over China's airspace, and agreeing to
negotiate with China simultaneously on chartered flights for
passengers and cargo.

When put into perspective, the authority has been so
insistent on "small matters," such as fruit exports to the
mainland, with repetitive mentioning of "sovereignty,"
"united front tactics," and "traps," however it has
maintained a positive attitude toward the obviously more
complicated "bigger matters" such as opening up Taiwan to
mainland tourists, promoting Penghu as a transfer point, and
allowing aircraft from Taiwan to fly over China's airspace.
One did not hear warnings about "sovereignty," "united front
tactics," or "traps."

Although this is certainly self-contradictory, it is the
correct direction for development. Under the macroscopic
structure of cross-Strait interactions, fruit exportation is
only a "small matter." Unfortunately, the government has
been caught in a very embarrassing, passive situation,
because of inappropriate operations. In order to seek a
breakthrough, the authorities have placed their hopes of
regaining control of the negotiation of relatively higher-
level matters, which involves a wider range of issues, such
as cross-Strait chartered flights. This kind of "resolving
of the small by the large" or "changing from passive to
active" strategic way of thinking is the right direction for
development.

There is a good metaphor: cross-Strait policies in the past
were like setting off firecrackers sporadically. This
cannot change the general atmosphere. It is necessary at
this time to make major moves similar to "loud thunders
overriding firecrackers" so that the sound of firecrackers
can be silenced and the bigger picture be turned around.

From Lee Teng-hui to Chen Shui-bian, [our] cross-Strait
policy in recent years has generally been like "seeing the
small rather than the large" and "seeing only the trees
rather than the forest." It seems that [we are] "trying to
keep every inch of the territories." But, in fact, [we have
been] "losing inch by inch." The policy is superficially
"no haste, be patient" but in reality "the people are hasty
and can not wait." Now, the magnetic effect from across the
Strait has moved from high technology to agricultural
products. The authorities seem to be finally alerted, for
the first time, that the trees have been destroyed, and that
the whole "forest" is caught in a storm now. At this
crucial moment, although it is already too late to adopt the
"loud thunders overriding firecrackers" and "resolving the
small by the large" way of strategic thinking, it is still
better than being impenetrably thickheaded.

Therefore, while the government keeps nagging about Taiwan's
fruit going to the mainland and saying it is a disgrace to
"sovereignty," or that farmers should be cautious of
"traps," we should turn our attention to promoting Penghu as
a transfer point for cross-Strait transportation or
simultaneous negotiations with China on chartered flights.
This is because nagging about fruits is "virtual," "small,"
and "partial." Allowing aircraft of Taiwan to fly over
China's airspace and having simultaneous negotiations with
China on chartered flights are "substantive," "big," and
"general." This is the "thunder overriding firecrackers"
tactic.

In fact, the reason why fruit exports to the mainland cannot
be prevented is that this big trend cannot be stopped. The
way to respond is never to obstinately focus on the fruits,
but to reexamine and make changes as well as to re-recognize
and control the bigger trend and situation. Not to "see
only the trees without the forest." So the EY's several
just-in-time major policy turnarounds should be applauded.
But there is also much to be done.

First, the policy goals should be elevated to the level of
the "three direct links." For example, the transitional
period for weekend chartered flights should not be too long.
The goal should be moving toward "regular flights" as soon
as possible. Also, the idea for Penghu to be a transfer
point is nothing but a "partial" viewpoint. If the three
direct links will be implemented sooner or later, then there
is no need to waste Penghu's time. Furthermore, one has
learned from Kinmen and Matsu's "mini three links" that,
with its economic and social conditions, Penghu's opening as
a transfer point may not be beneficial to the country as a
whole. Instead, this will quickly increase Penghu's
dependence on the mainland, just as what has happened to
Kinmen and Matsu. This definitely cannot be considered a
good strategy. As a result, we should give up the
"maintaining partial and harming the whole" way of thinking
and adopt the "stabilizing the whole to save the partial"
strategy.

The so-called "stabilizing the whole to save the partial"
strategy is to implement the "three direct links" as soon as
possible and try our best to pursue the goal of developing
Taiwan into an "Asian-Pacific platform." Only then can we
build a so-called "cross-Strait peaceful and stable
interactive development framework." Regarding the political
dimensions, we should realize that there is no possibility
for "name rectification and a new constitution" or "de jure
Taiwan independence." Taiwan should play the role of "a
beacon for democracy and freedom" and maintain a
relationship of mutual encouragement and mutual appreciation
with the 1.3 billion people on the mainland. It is really
not appropriate for those in charge of political affairs to
face the 1.3 billion mainlanders as "Taiwan independence
activists". This will only intensify cross-Strait hatred.
Only by doing this can cross-Strait economic and political
interactions gradually bring about mutually beneficial
results. Taiwan can thereby avoid the predication of
continual marginalization of its economy and the increasing
political hostility toward the other side across the Strait.

[Our] cross-Strait policy is in a difficult circumstance
now. The authorities cannot indulge themselves in the
practice of dealing with fruits when fruit farmers want to
go to the mainland or deal with Penghu when Penghu wants to
participate in mini three links. It must conduct overall
planning and operations on [a wide range of issues] from
constitutional thinking of "non-Taiwan independence" to the
interactive mechanism of the "three direct links." Only by
doing so can the authority restructure the bigger situation
and avoid repeating the awkwardness of being unable to
handle too many problems at the same time.

If the big noise of loud thunder is lacking, then no matter
how many firecrackers are set off, it will be impossible to
change the destined cross-Strait trend and situation.

PAAL

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