Cablegate: Media Reaction: Taiwan's Diplomacy

VZCZCXYZ0011
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #1053 1990811
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170811Z JUL 08
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9530
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 8458
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 9681

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001053

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - NIDA EMMONS
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: TAIWAN'S DIPLOMACY

Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news
coverage July 17 on the crash of a Taiwan army AH-1W Super Cobra
attack helicopter; on the government's relaxation of regulations
governing cross-Strait matters; and on Tropical Storm Kalmaegi. In
terms of editorials and commentaries, an op-ed in the
pro-unification "United Daily News" said that, given that
cross-Strait relations are in different circumstances from before,
Taipei should be wise about diplomatic competition with China, and
perhaps President Ma Ying-jeou should for the United States' help in
consolidating Taiwan's diplomatic relations with Paraguay. End
summary.

"Contest-of-Wits Diplomacy, Using Wisdom to Find Ways"

Chen Yu-chun, a Taiwan academic and now a senior research fellow at
China's Tsinghua University, opined in the pro-unification "United
Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (7/17):

"... [Taiwan's President] Ma Ying-jeou is set to visit South America
in August to consolidate [Taiwan's] diplomatic relations with
Paraguay. However, the degree of difficulty in terms of handling
[the task to consolidate Taiwan's relations with Paraguay] is
formidable. The leftist Paraguayan government which is about to
take office has great interest in establishing diplomatic ties with
Beijing. [What if] new [Paraguayan] President [Fernando Lugo]
proposes the request [of establishing diplomatic ties to Beijing];
can Beijing reject the request? Can Taipei lambast this as 'China's
suppression' [of Taiwan's diplomacy]? On the other hand, [the
prospect for Taiwan's diplomacy] is not dim at all. Maybe Ma could
win using the 'Nicaragua model,' in which Nicaragua suspended its
establishment of diplomatic ties with Beijing but strengthened
practical economic and trade relations with China. Recently, there
has been an argument that the United States is suspending arms sales
to Taiwan in order not to sabotage the atmosphere on the eve of the
Beijing Olympic Games. Another argument alleges that Taipei took
the initiative to suspend arms procurement from the United States in
order to maintain improving cross-Strait relations. If the latter
argument is true, Ma will have room to maneuver, because showing
goodwill to reconcile [with China] may make Beijing persuade
Paraguay to suspend the establishment of diplomatic ties [between
China and Paraguay]. On the other hand, Ma could ask for the United
States' help by using leverage on Paraguay, more or less, because
the United States has military bases in Paraguay. (sic) ..."

WANG

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