Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S.-Taiwan Relations

VZCZCXYZ0003
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #1789 2210851
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 090851Z AUG 07
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6308
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 7111
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 8360

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001789

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD -NIDA EMMONS
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies August 9
focused their news coverage on the meeting of Randall Schriver,
former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and
Pacific Affairs, and President Shui-bian; on a ruling by the U.S.
immigration court to release fugitive Taiwan tycoon Wang You-theng
on bail; on Vice Economics Minister Hou Ho-shong, former Kaohsiung
mayor Frank Hsieh's deputy, who was detained for corruption; and on
the results of Taiwan's university entrance examination.

2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, the pro-unification
United Daily News said in an editorial that President Chen Shui-bian
and the ruling DPP's manipulation of a proposed referendum on
Taiwan's UN bid has turned advocacy for Taiwan independence into an
anti-America confrontation. End summary

"'Taiwan Independence' Turned into 'Anti-America[nism]'"

The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000]
editorialized (8/9):

"... Even Frank Hsieh admits that the [DPP] proposed referendum on
Taiwan's bid for [membership in] the United Nations under the name
of 'Taiwan' is only a campaign game. Chen Shui-bian wanted to
infuriate China. But thus far China has not yet made any major
moves. Chen Shui-bian also wanted to provoke a counterattack from
Ma Ying-jeou. But the KMT 'followed suit [with the DPP].' The
Chinese Communists were not fooled. Ma Ying-jeou did not play along
[with Chen]. All of a sudden, it has turned out that Chen Shui-bian
and the DPP are directly and acutely confronting the U.S.
authorities ...

"The Taiwan Strait is able to 'keep its status quo' mainly because
the United States is holding the ladder. Although he is well aware
of this fact, Chen Shui-bian deliberately has been making the ladder
shake fiercely as he stands on it. This naturally angers the United
States, which is holding the ladder from below. Without U.S.
support, Taiwan's international security framework would be totally
de-structured. Is it self-destruction for Chen Shui-bian and the
DPP to fight against the United States? ...

"Particularly noteworthy is that the 'proposed U.N. bid referendum'
issue has not only resulted in a dispute between Chen Shiu-bian
himself and U.S. authorities. It has also developed into the whole
DPP against the U.S. cross-Strait policy and deprived Frank Hsieh of
taking an independent position toward U.S.-Taiwan relations after
the wording of the [DPP's] 'Normal Nation Resolution' was leaked
out. This can be described as a major destruction of mutual
confidence between the DPP and the U.S. authorities. These major
injuries have harmed Taiwan, the DPP and, in fact, Taiwan
independence. The reason is that, no matter what, 'Taiwan
independence' has been turned into 'anti-America[nism].' This
violates all political rationality. ..."

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