This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
UNCLAS TAIPEI 003551
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: BUSH-HU APEC MEETING AND U.S.
ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN
"Once Bush and Hu Meet and Talk About Arms Sales to
Taiwan . Hu Jintao [Raises the Issue] and the United
States Replies, It Will Be Like Opening Pandora's Box"
Professor Chen I-hsin of the Graduate Institute of
American Studies, Tamkang University, commented in the
conservative, pro-unification, "United Daily News"
(11/10):
"One development in the recent U.S. general elections
that is related to cross-Strait affairs is the rise of
U.S. conservative forces. This indicates that the
Republican Party will focus more on business and market
interests. As China now enjoys a huge economic appeal
and increasing national strength, the answer would be
obvious if one is asked to choose sides between the
mainland and Taiwan. Therefore, regarding the upcoming
Bush-Hu [APEC] meeting, Taiwan's national security and
foreign relation units should never be as negligent as
they were during Secretary of State Colin Powell's
visit to Beijing . If Hu Jintao raises more demands to
the United States, we can expect that, in addition to
abiding by the `one-China' policy and further bilateral
cooperation in preventing `Taiwan independence,' he
would certainly ask for reduced U.S. arms sales to
Taiwan.
". Limiting U.S. arms sales to Taiwan has always been
Beijing's goal. The main reason is that arms deals are
made between sovereign states. Beijing knows that as
long as the United States continues to sell arms to
Taiwan, it cannot totally deny the de facto and de jure
existence of Taiwan's sovereignty. . Should [the U.S.
side] reply to Beijing's question about U.S. arms sales
to Taiwan, it may result in something like the opening
of Pandora's box and bring about many problems. .
Therefore, whether Hu Jintao will raise the arms sale
issue during his meeting with President Bush at APEC is
an important indicator that is worth watching closely."
KEEGAN