Cablegate: Media Reaction: Kmt Chairman Ma's Japan Trip, Middle East

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RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #2448/01 2010750
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 200750Z JUL 06
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1176
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5436
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 6641

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002448

SIPDIS

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

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: KMT CHAIRMAN MA'S JAPAN TRIP, MIDDLE EAST

1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their
coverage July 20 on Vice Minister of Interior Yen Wan-chin, who with
five other officials was taken into custody Wednesday on suspicion
that of taking kickbacks in a cable car construction project; First
Lady Wu Shu-chen's alleged involvement in the Presidential Office's
allowance for state affairs; a Taipei-bound China Airlines flight
from Ho Chi Minh City which was forced to land in Kaohsiung Thursday
after an Vietnamese-American passenger allegedly broke a window and
attacked flight attendants; and the results of this year's
island-wide university entrance exams. All three English-language
papers front-paged the launch of direct cargo charter flights from
Taiwan to China Thursday, while the Chinese-language papers gave
very limited coverage to the news.

2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, KMT Spokeswoman Cheng
Li-wen opined in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" how the KMT
exchanged views with high-ranking Japanese officials during KMT
Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's recent trip to Japan. Cheng said the
Japanese officials showed support and respect for the KMT's
pragmatic attitude toward cross-Strait relations and its East Asian
security policy. An editorial in the limited-circulation,
pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times," however, said Ma
had an embarrassing experience when meeting with Japanese Diet
members, as they are concerned about the KMT's cross-Strait policy.
With regard to the Middle East, an editorial in the
limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language
"China Post" urged the U.S. to play a more active role in making
Israel and Lebanon restrain themselves. An editorial in the
limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan
News," however, said it disagreed with the U.S. view that Israel
should be given some time to pound Hezbollah targets and that
Hezbollah should be "rubbed out." End summary.

3. KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's Trip to Japan

A) "Sharing Ma Ying-jeou's Experience Gained from His Japan Tour"

KMT Spokeswoman Cheng Li-wen opined in the mass-circulation "Apple
Daily" [circulation: 500,000] (7/20):

"... Judged from our meetings with Japanese political leaders, it
seemed very clear that the Japanese government's position is quite
different from what the DPP perceives. First, the DPP leadership
has emphasized the importance of Taiwan's participation in the
U.S.-Japan military alliance. But the DPP's real purpose is to use
such a move to continue playing the 'Taiwan independence card,'
which does not tally with the strategic goal of the U.S.-Japan
alliance at all. The DPP and the pro-independence activists have
been unwilling to face an important international political fact -
that is, given the strong demand by all parties involved for the
maintenance of the status quo and stability across the Taiwan
Strait, it is unlikely that they will support or cover up for Taiwan
independence. In fact, the Japanese authorities very clearly
expressed their doubts about Taiwan independence, because it totally
violates Japan's wish for cross-Strait peace.

"Second, the DPP authorities' wishful thinking is that Japan does
not hope to see Taiwan develop a sound relationship with mainland
China because it will threaten Japan's interests. But both Japan
and the United States have directly expressed that they are happy to
see both sides of the Taiwan Strait improve relations under the
premise that the cross-Strait status quo is maintained.

"Third, the DPP has deliberately tried to create the impression that
the Japanese government and the KMT lack mutual trust; it has even
repeatedly claimed that the KMT is 'anti-Japan' and a 'Japan-hater.'
In order to seek Japan's support for Taiwan independence, the DPP
even tried its best to flatter the Japanese right wing. ... But
such an attitude of deliberate flattery actually stunned the
Japanese authorities. In comparison, Japanese officials expressed a
certain degree of support and respect for the KMT's pragmatic
attitude towards cross-Strait relations and its East Asian security
policy. ..."

B) "Japan, Ma Ying-jeou and Reality"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (7/20):

"... This negative view among Japanese lawmakers was palpable during
last week's trip by KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou to Japan, especially
during an uncomfortable forum last week in which members of the Diet
grilled Ma about his party's policies. ... All of Ma's fevered
dissembling could do nothing to change the realities of regional
politics when he was in Tokyo last week, and a few carefully tweaked
e-mails sent to members of the Japanese Diet will do nothing to
change those realities this week. Japan should be concerned about
the KMT's intentions. Tokyo has every right to be concerned about
how closely into Beijing's orbit Ma will bring Taiwan if he is
elected president. So, for that matter, do the people of Taiwan.
... Ma will need to do more to reassure the Japanese - and all
Taiwanese who cherish their liberty - that this country's future is
not tied to the whims of the autocrats in Beijing. ..."

4. Middle East

A) "Brokering a Lasting Peace in Lebanon"

The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (7/20):

"... The differences between the two warring countries should be
worked out as soon as possible to halt the killing and suffering the
war is causing. Parties such as the United States, France and the
United Nations should work promptly together to broker a cease-fire.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said a cease-fire is
impossible unless the soldiers captured by Hezbollah are released.
Washington has also urged that the Israeli soldiers held hostage be
released. The U.S.'s call is valid and deserves to be supported.
However, many lives and stability in the region depend on the
restoration of peace. The U.S. should play a more active role in
making the warring parties restrain themselves."

B) "Peace Is First Priority in Lebanon"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] editorialized (7/20):

"... The first priority must, however, be the restoration of peace.
We therefore add our voice in opposition to the notion, backed by
the United States administration of President George W. Bush, that
the IDF [i.e. Israeli Defense Forces] should be 'given some time,'
perhaps weeks, to pound 'Hezbollah targets' and other residential
areas and road and ports throughout Lebanon before allowing the
United Nations or other combination of international forces to set
up a buffer zone. This position does not imply any endorsement of
the rocket attacks by the Hezbollah military wing, but it is clear
that the Israeli government has launched an offensive on the entire
economy and social structure of Lebanon in over reaction to the
attack by one political and military group, whoever influential.

"We also do not agree with the expressed intention by some U.S.
officials that Hezbollah, whose political wing is a legal political
party in Lebanon, should be 'rubbed out.' What is legitimate is
that armed factions in Lebanon should in principle disarm in order
to protect the peace and security of citizens in Lebanon as well as
Israel, but such disarmament should be negotiated and not promoted
by an offensive against the entire country of Lebanon, a method
which will only exacerbate tensions instead of improving security
and at the cost of even more Lebanese and Israeli lives. ..."

YOUNG

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