Cablegate: Media Reaction: The Rise of China
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
302315Z Jun 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002853
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: THE RISE OF CHINA
Summary: The Taipei dailies continued June 30 to focus
their news coverage on local politics and the Executive
Yuan's approval of a package of revisions to the
Referendum Law, but some newspapers turned to the topic
of China's rise and the possible threat it could pose
to the United States and Taiwan on their editorial
pages. An editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty
Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, urged the world to be
vigilant about the expansion of Chinese hegemony. A
centrist "China Times" commentary, however, noted that
the United States' plan to contain the rise of China
completely meets the interests of the Chen Shui-bian
administration. End summary.
A) "People All over the World Should Be Alert about the
Expansion of the Chinese Hegemony"
The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation:
800,000] asserted in its editorial (6/30):
". To eliminate the world's vigilance about its rise,
China has deliberately put out a theory about China's
peaceful rising in an attempt to put on a fake mask of
`peace'. But the emergence of China is like a rocket
soaring into the sky; once it loses control and
crashes, it will not only generate a big economic shock
but will also create a big disaster for global peace
and order. . Taiwan's first-ever National Security
Report, to be released soon, has clearly listed
`China's rise' as the biggest variable in the security
of Taiwan's exterior environment. China's enactment of
the `Anti-Secession Law' is in reality an element of
its strategy to expand its sea power, an attempt to
annex Taiwan and use it as a `forward base' for its
long-term sea power expansion strategy. China also put
its hand into Southeast Asia by promoting the `good
neighbor policy,' `ASEAN plus Three,' and `China-ASEAN
free trade zone.'
"In a nutshell, the rise of China does not indicate the
positive interaction of globalizing economics but a
potential regional military conflict crisis. It
symbolizes disaster rather than opportunity. Taiwan
will be the first to bear the brunt of [such an
impact], and thus it must not have any unrealistic
illusions about the Chinese market. Taiwan needs to
thoroughly `de-sinicize' in terms of economic
development and national identity so that it can become
a normal country in the short term and establish itself
into a paradise for its people and the generations to
come in the long term."
B) "Bian Echoes United States' [Call to] Contain the
Rise of China"
Journalist Lin Shu-ling commented in the "My Views"
column of the centrist, pro-status quo "China Times"
[circulation: 600,000] (6/30):
"Even though the contents of [Taiwan's first] `National
Security Report,' currently drafted by the Presidential
Office, are not yet clear, the policy direction
released by high-ranking officials recently shows that
it is quite evident that the Bian administration
intends to jump on the U.S. wagon of containing `the
rise of China' and strengthen the alliance between
Taiwan and the United States. .
"The United States has shown great concern lately about
the threat caused by `the rise of China.' China,
heeding the U.S. concern, has been acting very
cautious, trying to avoid talking about this issue in a
big way. It also uses the words "China's development'
to replace `the rise of China' to avoid goading the
United States excessively. But no matter how China
tries to package [its intent], its significant
increases in military expenses, the active expansion
overseas of its state-run enterprises, and its
resistance to the appreciation of its currency have all
posed threats to the United States and both countries
continue to compete with each other without really
talking about it. .
"Judged from the perspective of opposing the `rise of
China,' many voices in the United States are saying the
main reason behind the soaring Chinese economy is
Taiwan businessmen's capital and technology invested in
China. Lately, similar discussions are underway as a
result of the heated discussion about China National
Offshore Oil Corporation's plan to buy U.S.-based
Unocal Corporation. The Chen Shui-bian
administration's recent move to discuss plans to
tighten Taiwan's cross-Strait trade policy again seems
to be an echo of the Unocal case and an attempt to
curry favor [with the United States].
"Washington's attempt to contain the `rise of China'
completely meets the interests of the Chen Shui-bian
administration. The Taiwan authorities' intention to
ride on the wagon [with the United States] is more than
evident. But it remains to be seen whether the Taiwan
businesses which have relied deeply on China's economy
can stand the government's sudden change of policy and
what the government's follow-up actions will be."
PAAL