Cablegate: Media Reaction: Former Deputy Assistant
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 003041
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: FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT
SECRETARY OF STATE RANDY SCHRIVER'S TAIWAN TRIP, U.S.-
SIPDIS
CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS
1. Summary: Local politics and the arrest of one of
Taiwan's most wanted fugitives remained the focus of
attention for the major Taipei daily newspapers July
14. The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" was the only
Chinese-language newspaper that reported on a Central
News Agency (CNA) interview with visiting former Deputy
Assistant Secretary of State Randy Schriver prior to
his departure Wednesday. The "Taiwan Daily" ran the
news story on an inside page with the headline: "Randy
Schriver: Taiwan will likely have to pay a price if it
fails to enhance its defense capability." The
newspaper also carried short reports on the reactions
of the DPP and the Pan-Blue Camp to Schriver's remarks
on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. The first "Taiwan Daily"
article ran with the headline: "DPP agrees with
Schriver's remarks on [U.S.] arms sales." The second
short article ran with the two-part headline: "Blue
Camp: [the special arms procurement budget] will be
listed in [the government's] fiscal budgets; PFP:
Taiwan will not buy anti-missile equipment." In the
meantime, while the pro-independence "Liberty Times,"
Taiwan's biggest daily newspaper, did not run the CNA
interview with Schriver, it did run an article on its
page four with a headline that read: "A U.S. decision-
making official complemented Taiwan as the most stable
[U.S.] ally." The sub-headline added: "A Presidential
Office official emphasized that Washington-Taipei ties
are developing stably. It will benefit the bilateral
relations all the more if both the ruling and
opposition parties could quickly pass the [U.S.] arms
procurement bill to prove Taiwan's determination to
defend itself."
2. In addition, the "Taiwan Daily" editorialized on
Schriver's remarks regarding the U.S. arms sales to
Taiwan. The editorial noted that perhaps the United
States could exercise its influence and persuade the
Pan-Blue legislators not to boycott the arms
procurement bill again. A "Liberty Times" commentary
also discussed U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, noting that
if Taiwan wants to maintain its independent
sovereignty, the only way to pursue peace in the Taiwan
Strait would be for Taiwan to play well its role of a
major ally to the United States in the region. End
summary.
1. Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Randy
Schriver's Taiwan Trip
"Randy Schriver, `Friend of Taiwan,' Visits the Island;
[His Remarks] Provide [an Opportunity] for the Taiwan
People to Ponder Taiwan's Strategic Position and They
Are Worthy of Contemplation by Both the Ruling and
Opposition Parties"
The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation:
150,000] editorialized (7/14):
". [Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State] Randy
Schriver, however, directly pointed out that Taiwan's
delayed decision to pass a special budget for
purchasing the U.S. weapons will, without a doubt,
cause it to `miss a chance' and Taiwan `will have to
pay for it' in the future.
"Schriver did not specify what kind of a price Taiwan
will have to pay, but he did provide the information
for Taiwan to ponder, namely, if the passage of the
arms procurement bill keeps being delayed, it would
certainly impact the U.S. Pacific Command's ability to
intervene in a Taiwan Strait crisis and could also
impact the political climate on Capitol Hill.
Moreover, in addition to the repeated requests by some
U.S. officials recently urging Taiwan to `demonstrate
its determination to defend itself,' the U.S. Congress,
which used to support Taiwan greatly, has also started
to echo calls by the U.S. executive branch. Thus, we
believe that Schriver's remarks reveal that the U.S.
executive and legislative branches are getting
impatient with Taiwan's stalled decision to pass the
arms procurement bill.
"Just as Schriver said, no one should `cover up the
fact of China's rising.' . We must point out again
that both Washington and Tokyo can tell the importance
of Taiwan's strategic position, and so can the Chinese
government in Beijing. The real intent behind China's
grave desire to take over Taiwan's sovereignty is not
entirely because it wants to `complete the grand task
of Chinese unification' but because it wants to
successfully control this strategic port in the Pacific
Ocean by taking Taiwan's territory. All Beijing
aspires to is to become a Pacific Rim country that
possesses sea dominance, and Taiwan is the perfect
gateway for China to enter the Pacific Rim area. This
is where Beijing's real intent to obtain Taiwan lies.
"It was based on such a strategic understanding that
the United States demanded that Taiwan strengthen its
national defense capabilities and not rely solely on
the military support provided under the U.S.-Japan
security pact. Nonetheless, we want to tell our
foreign friends who support Taiwan, such as Schriver,
that the DPP government has never neglected its duty to
push for the arms procurement bill that can help
safeguard our national security. The problem, on the
contrary, lies with the pro-China Pan-Blue legislators
who insist on boycotting the bill. The Taiwan
authorities, of course, have the responsibility to
negotiate and openly explain [the situation] to the Pan-
Blue legislators, in order to seek their support for
the bill. Perhaps the United States can also exercise
its influence via certain channels to persuade those
Pan-Blue political parties not to boycott the bill any
more. ."
2. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations
Journalist Su Yung-yao noted in the "Focus Review"
column of the pro-independence "Liberty Times"
[circulation: 800,000] (7/14):
". For Beijing, an unstable status quo [in the Taiwan
Strait] can better provide it with an excuse to
intervene [in Taiwan affairs.] In terms of
geopolitics, if China wants to become a hegemonic power
in the Asia-Pacific region, the key is to break through
the First Island Chain, of which Taiwan is a part.
"In terms of practical interests, unless Taiwan is
under China's sphere of influence, it will never be
able to see China's goodwill no matter what it does or
compromises on. .
"All these indicate that if Taiwan wants to maintain
its independent sovereignty and not be forced to unify
[with China], the only way to pursue peace across the
Taiwan Strait is to play well its role as a major ally
of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.
"During its two terms in office, the Bush
administration, even in the face of intense threats
posed by international terrorism, has made the American
people realize that conciliation and a perfunctory
attitude will not make their lives any safer.
"By the same token, in the face of the Beijing regime
that will not abandon using non-peaceful means to
invade Taiwan, Taiwan's only way to protect itself is
to strengthen its relationship with the United States.
."
PAAL