Cablegate: Media Reaction: Cross-Strait Relations

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

020850Z Nov 05

UNCLAS TAIPEI 004433

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: CROSS-STRAIT RELATIONS

1. Summary: Major Chinese-language Taipei dailies on
November 2 continued to provide extensive coverage on the
row between the Government Information Office (GIO) and a
local cable station, TVBS, over whether or not the station
complies with local laws governing foreign ownership of
media outlets. They also focused on the probe into the
Kaohsiung Mass Rapid Transit system scandal and KMT Chairman
Ma Ying-jeou's father, who passed away Tuesday at the age of
86. President Chen Shui-bian's remarks on Tuesday that he
will not close down any TV station during his term of office
was the front-page headline story of all Taiwan newspapers
except for Taiwan's biggest daily, the pro-independence
"Liberty Times," which reported the news story on page
three. Several newspapers also carried in their inside
pages a statement by a senior State Department official
Tuesday with regard to the GIO's investigation into TVBS's
shareholder structure that "the United States places great
importance on freedom of the press and hopes press freedom
will continue to be guaranteed in Taiwan."

2. Several newspapers continued on November 2 to
editorialize on the GIO-TVBS row about the station's
ownership structure. An editorial in the "Liberty Times"
discussed Taiwan's national security, saying that the
control of Chinese capital over Taiwan's media is
undermining the island's "political security." End summary.

"National Security Is No Child's Play"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000]
editorial (11/2):

".The ratio of China-made products in Taiwan's overall
exports has soared to more than 41 percent this year, which
has had an impact on Taiwan's political climate and created
problems with regard to Taiwan's `national defense security'
and `political security.' The Procedure Committee of
Taiwan's Legislative Yuan (LY), totally disregarding
Washington's concerns, has blocked the [U.S.] arms
procurement package proposed by the Cabinet for the 35th
time. The LY's move is akin to trampling Taiwan's national
defense and military security under the LY's feet. Is
national security issue child's play? Should it be blocked
simply because one political party dislikes it? Why do the
Executive Yuan and the President seem to be at their wit's
end about how to deal with such traitorous behavior [by the
LY]? Can they not resort to public opinion [to resolve the
issue]? .

"The control of Chinese capital over Taiwan's media is
undermining the island's `political security.' The invasion
of China's `unrestricted warfare' has practically handed
Taiwan's right to dictate the island's financial and
economic direction and to interpret its culture in the hands
of those pro-China media outlets; Taiwan's identity has
nearly crumbled to dust. This China-centered way of
thinking is also infiltrating[the minds of] some key DPP
members, who began to question [the DPP's] movements pushing
for the rectification of Taiwan's name, Taiwan's
localization, and love for Taiwan. Such developments have
quickly shattered the DPP's founding ideals and ambitions to
transform Taiwan into a country. This explains why the DPP
is fighting a tough battle in order to win this year's 3-in-
1 elections. Taiwan's `political security' is truly in
danger. ..."

KEEGAN

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