Cablegate: Media Reaction: U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations

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

UNCLAS TAIPEI 004743

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: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS

Summary: The major Chinese-language Taiwan dailies gave
significant reporting and editorial coverage on November 29
to the campaigns and mud-slinging of Taiwan's 3-in-1
elections, which will be held December 3. Taiwan Think Tank
Director for Foreign Policy Studies Lai I-chung commented on
U.S.-China-Taiwan relations in an opinion piece in the
centrist "China Times." According to Lai, the United
States' policy toward the Asia-Pacific region is
transforming; it is changing from the `congagement'
strategy, which sees China as the main target, toward a
`tuning strategy' that is aimed at adjusting America's role
in the Asia-Pacific region. End summary.

"United States' Asia-Pacific Policy Under Adjustment"

Lai I-chung, Taiwan Think Tank Director for Foreign Policy
Studies, commented in the centrist, pro-status quo "China
Times" [circulation: 400,000] (11/29):

"The United States' policy toward the Asia-Pacific area is
under transformation! Such a development is related to the
rise of China, normalization of Japan, strategic about-face
of South Korea, emergence of India, and the fact that the
United States' composite national strength is incapable of
sustaining its `unilateral' requests. Washington's entire
Asia-Pacific policy has started to move from the
`congagement' strategy which sees China as the main target
toward a `tuning strategy' that is aimed at adjusting its
[America's] role in the Asia-Pacific region. .

"First, regarding its China policy, Washington is rid of its
prior polarized `containment vs. engagement' view. The
speech by the U.S. Deputy Secretary of State at Asia Society
in late September showed that Washington hopes that China
will become a `stakeholder' that shares joint interests with
the United States. This change of perception [by
Washington] is related to its realization of China's
powerful strength and the deep co-dependence between the two
nations. As a result, the `containment' [policy] to counter
China's rise and the `engagement' [policy] that attempts to
change China are neither viable. That is why Washington
sought to persuade China to see which development direction
would meet the common interests of both nations and [affirm
to China] that it has no intention to [play a part] in
China's `peaceful evolution.' In the meantime, Washington
has been re-organizing its cooperative relationships in the
Asia-Pacific region so that it can be ready in the event
China confronts the United States; Washington also sought to
restore its influence in Asia, some of which has been
nibbled away by China.

"[Such a trend] explains why U.S. President George W. Bush,
in his speech [delivered in Kyoto], hailed Taiwan's
democracy and `encouraged' China to move toward democracy
instead of `blaming' it for not being democratic. Likewise,
it also explains why the United States is seeking to enhance
security and cooperative relations with major Asian nations,
the United States' old allies in the region, and the
countries neighboring China all at the same time. .

"Judging from this perspective, unless China intends to go
right ahead and challenge the United States' domain of
influence in the Taiwan Strait, chances are slim for the
United States and China to `co-manage' Taiwan. But if pro-
China or pro-U.S. forces arise inside Taiwan ., `co-
management' will definitely occur under the request of
strategic adjustment by the United States and China."

PAAL

© Scoop Media