Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S. Arms Procurements

VZCZCXYZ0007
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #1043 1290855
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 090855Z MAY 07
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5191
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6740
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7990

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001043

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - LLOYD NEIGHBORS
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS PROCUREMENTS

Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage May 9 on the fist fighting in the Legislative Yuan Tuesday
over the Organic Law of the Central Election Commission; on the 2008
presidential election; and on a scandal over a local TV network
allegedly falsifying information in a documentary on the 2-28
Incident of 1947. The pro-status quo "China Times" front-paged a
banner headline that said, "China Times' Latest Opinion Survey: Ma
Wins Hsieh by Nine Percentage Points Only." In terms of editorials
and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times" discussed the Legislative Yuan's
failure to pass the government's annual budget. The article said
the pan-Blue camp's obstruction of a special budget for the U.S.
arms procurements was "a setback for Taiwan's security and foreign
relations." End summary.

"Obstructionist Tactics Hurt Everyone"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (5/9):

"... However, the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has forced the
legislature to review its proposed - possibly unconstitutional -
amendment to the Organic Law of the Central Election Commission
before passing the budget, causing more than five months of
deadlock. As a result, the opposition should bear the greatest
responsibility.

"The pan-blue camp, which has refused to pass a special budget for
the US arms procurement package, now wants it put in the annual
budget. Therefore, it, too, remains frozen in the legislature.
Taiwan's efforts to update its military have been stalled, and
friends like the US have begun to doubt whether Taiwan has the
resolve to defend itself and whether it is sincere as an ally. This
has been a setback for Taiwan's security and foreign relations.
..."

YOUNG

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