Cablegate: Media Reaction: Bush's Asia Trip
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
212308Z Nov 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 004652
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC
BARBORIAK
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: BUSH'S ASIA TRIP
1. Summary: The Taiwan dailies gave extensive reporting and
editorial coverage November 19-21 to the APEC summit in
Pusan and U.S. President George W. Bush's visit to Beijing,
with a special emphasis on Bush's summit with Chinese
President Hu Jintao Sunday. Coverage also focused on the
campaigns for the upcoming 3-in-1 elections, the cross-
Strait deal on holiday charter flights, and the
International Commission on Conserving Atlantic Tuna's
decision to slash Taiwan's big-eye tuna quota for 2006. The
pro-independence newspapers in general covered the Bush-Hu
summit by focusing on Washington's disappointment with
China's human rights and religious freedom, while the pro-
unification and pro-status quo papers described both
Washington and Beijing's desire to strengthen cooperation in
not only bilateral, but also global issues. With regard to
Taiwan, several newspapers reported the United States'
determination to maintain military balance in East
Asia and its reiteration that it does not support
independence nor the use of force in the Taiwan Strait.
2. Almost all major Taiwan dailies editorialized on Bush's
Asia trip, his speech in Kyoto, and the Bush-Hu summit. The
pro-independence "Liberty Times" and "Taiwan Daily" asserted
in their editorials that Washington should adjust and review
its one China policy, adding that since Bush
endorsed Taiwan's democracy, it should not try to suppress
Taiwan's democracy simply to curry favor with China. An
editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence,
English-language "Taiwan News" urged Washington to
contemplate on the degree to which Washington can keep a
balance between safeguarding its own national interests and
protecting Taiwan's democracy from China's military
expansion. The centrist "China Times" ran an editorial on
the Bush-Hu summit, saying that Washington evidently looks
to use more direct contact to resolve U.S.-China disputes.
Professor Chu Yun-han of National Taiwan University said in
a commentary in the "China Times" that Bush's trip to East
Asia indicated that the United States is trying its best to
safeguard its strategic leadership in the region and prevent
China from undermining Washington's role in East Asia. An
editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-
unification, English-language "China Post" called Bush's
speech in Kyoto a "pat on the back" but urged Taiwan not to
overlook the fact that Washington needs Beijing's
cooperation in most crucial areas. End summary.
A) "[While] Endorsing Taiwan's Democracy, [Washington]
Should Not Suppress Taiwan's Democracy"
The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000]
asserted in an editorial (11/21):
". [W]e want to remind [Washington] that even though [U.S.
President George W.] Bush endorsed Taiwan's democratic
achievements, the U.S. government, constrained by China, has
constantly shown reluctance in its policy toward Taiwan's
further development of its democracy. For example, in order
for Taiwan to become a normal country, rectifying its name
and writing a new constitution are necessary steps for its
democracy. But the U.S. government, perhaps out of its need
to work with China in dealing with international issues or
due to China's military intimidation against Taiwan, has
constantly suppressed Taiwan's democracy to curry favor with
China. .
"The United States as a democratic model and China's
military intimidation are the two forces that have a strong
influence on Taiwan's political evolution. . The fact that
Bush hailed Taiwan's democracy on the one hand while the
U.S. draws a red line on Taiwan's democracy on the other is
incomprehensible to most Taiwan people. ."
B) "Since Bush Lauds Taiwan's Democracy, [Washington] Should
Adjust Its `One China Policy' in an Attempt to Push for Both
Sides of the Taiwan Strait to Engage in a Dialogue That
Carries No Pre-Condition"
The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000]
editorialized (11/21):
". President [George W.] Bush's [Kyoto] speech turned Taiwan
into an international focus. Whether this speech represents
a change in Washington's cross-Strait policy and what impact
the speech will have on Washington-Beijing-Taipei ties are
also issues of concern. . But while endorsing Taiwan's
democratic development, Bush should adopt concrete measures
to consolidate Taiwan's democracy in an attempt to prevent
the island from being annexed by China. The Bush
administration should establish a channel to engage in
direct contact and dialogue with Taiwan and adjust its `one
China policy' so as to create a sound environment for
Taiwan's democracy. .
"The United States has always supported Taiwan's democracy.
To sustain Taiwan's democracy and to ensure that political
freedom will become the foundation of human rights
protection ., the United States must support Taiwan in
becoming a sovereign nation worthy of its name. . The
United States should also make good use of Taiwan's
strategic position, quickly and significantly enhancing
Taiwan's strength to prevent the island from being
marginalized. ."
C) "The Right Course for U.S.-Taiwan Ties"
The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News"
[circulation: 20,000] commented in an editorial (11/21):
"In a speech delivered last week in Kyoto, Japan, United
States President George W. Bush lauded Taiwan as a model for
freedom and prodded the leaders of the People's Republic of
China to respond positively to meet their citizens' demands
for liberty and openness. . What the Bush administration
should really contemplate is the degree to which Washington
can keep a balance between safeguarding its own national
interests and protect Taiwan's full-fledged democracy from
China's military expansionism while engaging in building a
`constructive, candid and cooperative' relations with an
undemocratic PRC regime.
"The efforts of Taiwan's DPP government to initiate
constitutional reforms should be treated as a process of
democratic maturation and institutionalization. Washington
should encourage Taiwan's efforts to upgrade its
institutional foundations for democratic governance as a
solid basis for a sustainable relationship."
D) "The Changing Washington-Beijing Relations as Viewed from
the Bush-Hu Summit"
The centrist, pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation:
400,000] commented in an editorial (11/21):
". In other words, when the rise of China is no longer a
theory [but a fact], how will the United States address such
a development? It is an issue of concern not only for
Taiwan but for Asia as a whole. Following a series of
events such as the U.S.-China jet collision, war on
terrorism, and the Six-Party Talks, the United States has in
fact been constantly fine-tuning its policy. This year is
in particular a critical year [for U.S.-China relations].
U.S. officials ranging from Secretary of State Condoleezza
Rice, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Secretary of
the Treasury John Snow, to the heads of Commerce Department
have all visited mainland China in tow; even Secretary of
Defense Donald Rumsfeld, who holds a tough attitude toward
Beijing, went to Beijing a month ago. Perhaps these moves
may not be sufficient enough to judge whether the United
States has changed its policy, but evidently, Washington
looks to use greater contact to resolve U.S.-China disputes.
Looking at the [official U.S.] language, [it is noteworthy
that] more and more American officials choose to use
`manage' rather than `challenge' to describe current
Washington-Beijing relations. ."
E) "George W. Bush's Diplomatic Quandary"
Chu Yun-han, professor of political science of National
Taiwan University, noted in the "Weekly Commentary" column
of the centrist, pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation:
400,000] (11/21):
"[U.S. President George W.] Bush started his trip to East
Asia last week, and he plans to visit four Northeast Asian
countries including Mongolia. But has devoted the most time
and energy to this trip [than any other trip] since he
started his second term. The trip indicates that the United
States is trying its best to safeguard its strategic
leadership in East Asia, in particular, to prevent the rise
of China from undermining Washington's leadership in the
region. But basically the situation has developed to an
extent that it is out of U.S. control. In just the past
five years, East Asia has evolved and is no longer the same
as it used to be. For many years, the last thing Washington
wanted to see was the rise of regionalism in East Asia and
China playing a leading role in that process. It is exactly
during the five years under Bush's term, however, that these
two trends have taken shape. The vision of East Asian
regionalism gradually emerges and assembles political
support mainly because the United States has failed to come
up with a plan that attracts most countries [in the region].
The Bush administration's deliberate manipulation which led
China to confront Japan step by step also agitated many East
Asian countries. The climax of Bush's trip this time was
the APEC summit in Pusan. But many international observers
sense that APEC has lost its focus and the function to
continue developing. . Just as Joe Nye of Harvard
University said, the real climax on this year's East Asian
political stage is the first-ever East Asia summit to be
held in Kuala Lumpur. [Unfortunately], this big show will
feature Beijing, and the United States will be excluded. ."
F) "A Pat on the Back from President Bush"
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China
Post" [circulation: 30,000] said in an editorial (11/19):
"Taiwan got an unexpected pat on the back this week when
U.S. President George W. Bush praised this `self-governing
island' as `a model of freedom' and urged mainland China to
emulate it. Nothing would have gladdened Taiwan more than
the American president's warm praise of Taiwan and
gratuitous criticism of Beijing . As there are many other
`models of freedom' in Asia, why did Bush single out Taiwan
which he knew would irritate Beijing? He must have decided
to do it purposely.
"President Bush chose Kyoto, Japan, as the venue to deliver
his speech on democracy to send a blunt message to Beijing.
Wrapped in democracy, the message is `getting tough on
China' on most issues, political, military, and economic. .
President Bush's lavish praise for Taiwan, and his lecturing
to Beijing should make President Chen Shui-bian and his pro-
independence party jump about in glee. For too long, Taiwan
has been under Beijing's heavy hand to squeeze its
international living space, including this week's Asia
Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Busan, South Korea.
Bush's speech has put Taiwan on the map, to the chagrin of
Beijing.
"But realpolitik is about political reality. Bush's `pat on
the back' for Taiwan had to be followed by his reiteration
of Washington's support for the `one China' policy.
President Bush has to confront the reality that Mainland
China is a rising power that challenges American supremacy
in Asia if not the world. He knows that U.S. relations with
the Mainland are the most important of its foreign
relations. Washington needs Beijing's cooperation in most
crucial areas - including the six-party talks on North
Korea's nuclear weapons programs. ."
PAAL