Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TAIPEI 002527
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ROBERT
PALLADINO
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations
SUMMARY: 1. Taiwan dailies focused June 9 on a protest by
Taiwan fishermen scheduled to take place this day in
response to expulsions of Taiwan fishing boats by the
Japanese government from an area where both Taiwan's and
Japan's exclusive economic zones overlap. The conservative,
pro-unification "United Daily News" carried a banner-
headline on its front page that read: "Taiwan Fishing Boats
Gathered Together Offshore Taiwan Island to Stage A Protest
Against Japan." The centrist, pro-status quo "China Times"
had a similar banner-headline that read: "Around One Hundred
Taiwan Fishing Boats Will Surround Japanese Patrol Ships."
2. With regard to editorials and commentaries, most of the
June 9 editorials commented on local issues such as the plan
for a second stage of constitutional reform, the mortuary
offerings scandal, and KMT Chairman Lien Chan's decision not
to remain in the chairman's position. The pro-independence,
limited-readership, English-language "Taipei Times" carried
a commentary, however, regarding the possible impact of the
visits to China by Taiwan's opposition-party leaders on pro-
United States feelings in Taiwan.
A) "China Visit Shift Balance in Region"
Chen Hurng-yu, a National Chengchi University's Department
of History professor, commented in the pro-independence,
English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (6/9):
"Both Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan and
People First Party (PFP) Chairman James Soong visited China
recently. As it is difficult to assess the impact of these
visits on Taiwan's political situation, it is only
appropriate that we take a closer look. ...
If reconciliation between the KMT and the PFP on the one
hand and China on the other merely meant the development of
exchanges, it would not have much of an effect. If, however,
it introduces China's influence into Taiwan's party
politics, then the effects can no longer be ignored. ...
Since [World War II], only a pro-US force has existed in
Taiwan, together with a domestic ideology bent on
unification, and this is what allowed a stable transition to
democracy.
For a long time, the anti-KMT forces in Taiwan ... also took
a pro-US stance. Although the many elections have brought
competition and clashes, that is what kept the political
movement on track.
Although the different political parties have remained pro-
American, none has been backed by the US, and Washington has
always been very positive toward democratic competition.
What's more, the political parties have not relied on US
support as a way to win voter support.
The cross-strait relationship is unique because of the
ethnic ties between people on each side of the Taiwan
Strait, and the emotional attachment to China held by those
who moved to Taiwan after 1949.
This is why the situation will change once a pro-China
stance appears among political parties in Taiwan. This is
because the parties will be influenced by Beijing's policies
on Taiwan. China's policies affecting Taiwan will polarize
local political opinion, intensifying confrontation.
One foreseeable negative impact will be that new pro-Western
and pro-China positions will appear among Taiwan's political
parties.
Is Taiwan's democracy mature enough to withstand such a
challenge? History shows that unification-independence
issues involving ideological positions aren't easily
resolved through democratic means. It will not be difficult
to imagine the serious consequences of political parties
introducing Chinese forces into Taiwan's political arena.
We must face up to one thing: Taiwan remains a link in the
structure of the US-Japanese security alliance. The recent
reiteration by the two countries that the Strait falls
within the scope of their security concerns clearly explains
Taiwan's strategic situation. I don't think this situation
will change in the short term, and attempts to change it
will have tragic consequences for Taiwan.
We will see changes to Taiwan's party politics in the
foreseeable future. If pro-China parties were to gain voter
support, would that change the current pro-US direction, or
even lead to a serious clash? Are the government and voters
prepared for this?"
PAAL