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Cablegate: Media Reaction: Rumsfeld's China Trip, Avian

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 004290

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC
BARBORIAK
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW ESTH
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: RUMSFELD'S CHINA TRIP, AVIAN
FLU, CHINA'S SPACE PROGRAM

1. Summary: Major Chinese-language Taipei dailies gave
extensive coverage October 21 on the Council of
Agriculture's (COA) confirmation of the first case of
avian flu in Taiwan, and the follow-up probe into the
alleged Kaohsiung mass rapid transit system scandal.
The COA's confirmation that some birds smuggled from
China to Taiwan have tested positive for the H5N1 bird
virus carried the front-page headlines in most major
Taiwan newspapers. The pro-independence "Liberty
Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, is the only newspaper
that reported on former President Lee Teng-hui's speech
in Washington DC on its front page. The newspapers ran
a banner headline on its front page that read: "Lee
Teng-hui Speaks in Washington, Advocating the
Rectification of Taiwan's Name and Writing a New
Constitution."

2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, Chinese
Council for Advanced Policy Studies Secretary-General
Andrew Yang commented on U.S. Defense Secretary Donald
Rumsfeld's China trip in an opinion piece in the
centrist, pro-status quo "China Times." According to
Yang, Rumsfeld's visit to China signified that the Bush
administration is still fine tuning its China policy,
but it is not an easy job for Washington and Beijing to
break their long-term distrust via high-level military
exchanges. The "Free Talk" column of the pro-
independence "Liberty Times" discussed Taiwan's first
case of avian flu, saying that Taiwan should take
effective action to stop Chinese goods from being
smuggled into the island. Wang Kun-yi, associate
professor in Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of
International Affairs and Strategic Studies, discussed
China's space program in the limited-circulation, pro-
independence, English-language "Taipei Times." Wang
said given the fact that Taiwan's opposition parties
continue to obstruct the passage of the arms-
procurement package in the legislature, China's efforts
to enhance its advanced military capabilities will
result in a growing imbalance in the cross-Strait
military strength, which is of the utmost significance
for Taiwan's ongoing security. End summary.

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1. Rumsfeld's China Trip

"Donald Rumsfeld's Visit to China"

Andrew Yang, Secretary-General of the Chinese Council
for Advanced Policy Studies, commented in an opinion
piece in the centrist, pro-status quo "China Times"
[circulation:400,000] (10/21):

". The Bush administration stated clearly that
Washington-Beijing relations are complex and that it
hopes China will become as a stakeholder that joins the
United States in sustaining the development of the
international system. [Bush's statement] indicated
that the United States still, to a certain extent,
distrusts China and that it hopes Beijing will take
concrete actions or make changes in accordance with the
United States' expectations and thinking. This
statement not only demonstrated the pragmatism shown in
the Bush administration's China policy in its second
term of office but also served as a major backdrop for
the constant exchange of visits and interactions
between American and Chinese high-ranking officials
over the past year. Since U.S. Defense Secretary
Donald Rumsfeld has also jumped on this pragmatic
wagon, it is a major purpose of his China trip this
time to see if such a visit will be able to promote
bilateral military interactions that will help to build
mutual trust between the two sides. Nonetheless, it is
not easy for Washington and Beijing to break their long-
term distrust via high-level military exchanges.

"Before his departure for China, Rumsfeld had
repeatedly and strongly questioned China's military
expansions over the past few years and doubted
Beijing's strategic intentions. Rumsfeld's moves
clearly indicated the core of Washington's mistrust
toward China's military. . Rumsfeld's performance and
attitude [in China] are an effective demonstration that
there is still a long and difficult road for the
military of both sides to establish mutual trust. Even
though the United States' military interactions with
China seem pragmatic on the surface, but [in reality,]
they still stuck to Rumsfeld's usual style and attitude
toward China, namely, he can act softly but can also be
very tough sometimes. Such an atmosphere of military
interaction between the United States and China seems
unlikely to be changed during Bush's term of office. .

"Rumsfeld's visit to China symbolized that the Bush
administration is still fine tuning its China policy.
But given the fact that President Bush's power will
continue to grow weaker [as he moves toward the end of
his second term], Washington-Beijing relations will
remain swinging in the trials."

2. Avian Flu

"China's Bird Flu Attacks Taiwan"

The "Free Talk" column of the pro-independence "Liberty
Times" [circulation: 600,000] wrote (10/21):
". The Council of Agriculture confirmed Thursday that a
seized cargo of birds smuggled from China to Taiwan
have tested positive for the H5N1 bird virus. Even
though these birds have been destroyed and chances are
therefore slim for the avian flu to spread [in Taiwan]
this time, this incident can be viewed as a major
warning signal for the island. If Taiwan continues to
overlook the problem of growing smuggled Chinese goods
into the island and fails to take effective action to
prevent them, things such as harmful foods or guns will
enter Taiwan that will deteriorate the island's social
order and the health of Taiwan people. An even worse
case will be the bird flu which will be spread from
China to Taiwan . and put all Taiwan people in the
purgatory of plague. ."

3. China's Space Program

"PRC's Space Program a Concern for Taiwanese"

Wang Kun-yi, associate professor in Tamkang
University's Graduate Institute of International
Affairs and Strategic Studies, said in the pro-
independence, English-language "Taipei Times"
[circulation: 30,000] (10/21):

". Since 1992, China has included manned spacecraft in
its national development planning, which was later
dubbed the Shenzhou manned flight project. China
successfully launched its first unmanned spacecraft in
1999. With the launch of the Shenzhou VI this year,
China's second manned space flight, the rapidity and
efficiency of China's space program can be observed.

"Missiles that are capable rapidly changing their
course and altitude during flight are also being
developed as part of China's space program. These
missiles will be better able to evade interception from
missile defense systems and will be extremely efficient
themselves at intercepting other missiles.

"After China has acquired such technology, it will be
able to use long-range missiles to successfully counter
the US missile defense system, which is currently under
development. This is one of the reasons for the US'
expression of concern over China's development of space
technology.

"While China continues to enhance its advanced military
capabilities, the opposition parties in Taiwan continue
to obstruct the passage of the arms-procurement package
in the legislature. As a result, there will be a
growing imbalance in cross-strait military strength,
which is of the utmost significance for Taiwan's
ongoing security."

KEEGAN

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