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### Viewing cable 06AITTAIPEI3669, MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN

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Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
06AITTAIPEI3669 | 2006-10-27 09:21 | 2011-08-23 00:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei

`

    VZCZCXYZ0000
    RR RUEHWEB

    DE RUEHIN #3669/01 3000921
    ZNR UUUUU ZZH
    R 270921Z OCT 06
    FM AIT TAIPEI
    TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2781
    INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 5835
    RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7051

` `

    UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 003669

    SIPDIS

    DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - DAVID FIRESTEIN
    DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

    SIPDIS

    E.O. 12958: N/A
    TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
    SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN

    ¶1. Summary:  Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies gave
    significant news coverage to AIT Taipei Director Stephen Young's
    press conference Thursday, which focused on U.S. arms sales to
    Taiwan.  Coverage also focused on the investigation results of the
    Presidential allowance for state affairs case; and other local
    political issues.  The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's
    largest-circulation daily, front-paged a banner headline that said
    "Stephen Young: Arms Procurement Bill Should Be Passed This Fall."
    The paper also ran a banner headline on page three that read
    "Presidential Office: U.S. Gravely Concerned about Military
    Imbalance across the Taiwan Strait."  The pro-status quo "China
    Times," however, ran a banner headline on page two that said "Time
    Will Be Missed if [Arms Procurement Bill] Is Not Passed the Fall;
    Stephen Young Gives Ultimatum Regarding the Arms Procurement Bill."

    ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times"
    analysis said the United States has had enough of Taiwan's
    in-fighting, which even trumps the island's national defense.  A
    separate "Liberty Times" analysis said Young's remarks represented
    Washington's strong displeasure at the stalled arms procurement bill
    and its anxiety over the military imbalance in the Taiwan Strait.
    An editorial in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" discussed a U.S.
    poll result, which showed fewer Americans support the United States
    sending troops to Taiwan's aid should China attack Taiwan.  The
    editorial said the poll results should serve as warning for Taiwan
    to pass the arms procurement bill as early as possible.  A "China
    Times" analysis and a pro-unification "United Daily News" analysis
    both said Young's diplomatic intimidation may easily bring about
    negative results for the arms procurement bill.  A "United Daily
    News" opinion piece, on the other hand, strongly criticized AIT
    Director Young, saying he is showing off his power, and his remarks
    have violated diplomatic protocol.  End summary.

    A) "In-fighting Prevails over National Defense; United States Has
    Had Enough"

    Journalist Tsou Jiing-wen commented in an analysis the
    pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] (10/27):

    "Stephen Young had a long and profound talk with A-bian last week
    following his consultations in the United States.  An appropriate
    description of the open remarks by this American representative in
    Taiwan yesterday should be that the U.S. side is unwilling to see
    any gaps in the cross-Strait security frontline resulting from the
    weakening of Taiwan's leadership. ...  Under Washington's
    instructions, the low-profile AIT, which has rarely held a press
    conference, did not hesitate to call out loud to the Blue camp
    [yesterday].  [AIT's move] was akin to sending an ultimatum [to
    Taiwan], and it also reflected that the United States, which has yet
    to drag itself out of the quagmire in the Middle East while
    confronting Pyongyang's constant challenges, can no longer tolerate
    that fact that some people in Taiwan want to 'nail down' the United
    States and obtain free defense [assistance]. ..."

    B) "Firing at Soong Immediately After Meeting [with Him]; United
    States Losing Its Patience"

    Journalist Wang Ping-yu noted in an analysis in the pro-independence
    "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] (1027):

    "Stephen Young, speaking with a high decibel, slammed the blocking
    of the arms procurement as a move to 'get personal political gains'
    and a move to use political infighting to hold hostage Taiwan's plan
    to advance its self-defense capability.  The United States'
    displeasure with the stalled arms procurement bill has been shown
    clearly in its utterances and manners.  Taiwan's politicians, no
    matter how eloquent they may be, cannot cover up the fact that
    Washington has lost its patience [with Taiwan].

    "... Young's move yesterday has in fact run the greatest risk of
    [his] diplomat professionalism and walked on the red line of the
    huge gray area of 'interfering with Taiwan's domestic politics.'
    Some legislators viewed Young's move as his personal behavior.  But
    such a view obviously indicated their failure to understand Young's
    skillful tactics as a senior professional diplomat and the fact that
    what he really represents is the strong displeasure from
    Washington's highest authorities toward the blocking of the arms
    sales and its pressing anxiety over the military imbalance in the
    Taiwan Strait. ..."

    C) "Warning from U.S. Polls"

    The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000]
    editorialized (10/27):

    "Will the U.S. military come to Taiwan's aid should China attack
    Taiwan?  This is the most controversial issue that Taiwan is very
    concerned about.  Two U.S. associations do an opinion poll on [U.S.]
    foreign relations every two years, and the poll results they

    published yesterday showed that among the 1227 people polled, 61
    percent said they are opposed to the United States sending troops to
    assist Taiwan should China uses force against Taiwan, while 32
    percent said they support the move, and 6 percent said they are
    uncertain about it.  Among all the polls that have been done
    previously, this year's results showed the highest ratio of
    opposition to the U.S. sending troops to help Taiwan. ...

    "This year's poll results are a warning to Taiwan.  The Bush
    administration, when compared with its predecessors, is most
    supportive of Taiwan, but because of Bian's abuses, even U.S.
    civilians are opposed to the U.S. military coming to Taiwan's aid.
    The significance of the warning is as follows:  First, the [U.S.]
    arms procurements, whose price tag has been reduced, should be
    passed as early as possible, or else why would the United States
    want to protect a Taiwan which shows no sincerity in its own
    self-defense?  Second, when it comes to the diplomatic aspect,
    Taiwan-U.S. ties must be mended as quickly as possible, and they
    should not be randomly damaged because of Taiwan's domestic
    [problems].  Third, the ruling and opposition parties as well as the
    private sector should try their best to raise awareness of American
    society and lobby for Taiwan's goodwill and image of democracy and
    freedom.  After all, clinging to the United States is Taiwan's only
    security guarantee."

    D) "Diplomatic Intimidation Will Easily Produce Negative Effects"

    Journalist Lin Shu-ling said in an analysis in the pro-status quo
    "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (10/27):

    "Stephen Young's remarks aroused polarized reactions from the ruling
    and opposition parties.  If judged against the backdrop of a bigger
    international framework, how serious it was for a U.S. diplomat,
    speaking in a tone that was close to intimidation and coercion, to
    comment on the domestic issues of the country he is posted in. ...
    But it is really difficult to predict whether the performances of
    the Presidential Office and AIT yesterday would create negative
    consequences for the arms deal.  It is a well-known fact that U.S.
    arms procurements are built upon its national interests and
    strategic values.  The United States does not want to see China
    emerge big and strong and it wants to maintain a cross-Strait status
    where Taiwan will not declare independence and China will not use
    force against Taiwan.  But does the arms deal really meet Taiwan's
    interests?  Should financially deprived Taiwan spend so much money
    in expanding its military buildup?  These are issues that can be
    widely discussed.

    "Young's remarks have quickly aroused resonance.  Taiwan is, after
    all, a sovereign state, and despite everything, an AIT director
    should not dictate when Taiwan's Legislative Yuan should pass which
    budget.  Young's remarks were not as strong as the most severe
    language used by a U.S. diplomat who lashes out at the country he is
    posted to, but they may very likely turn out to be a turning point
    in the Taiwan public's perception of the United States. ..."

    E) "The U.S. Is Afraid That the Cooked Duck Will Fly Away"

    Journalist Fan Ling-chia said in the pro-unification "United Daily
    News" [circulation: 400,000] (10/27):

    "Stephen Young, in opposition to diplomatic practice, gave an
    'ultimatum' regarding arms procurement.  The fact that he was
    willing to run the risk of [violating] the diplomatic taboo of
    'interfering in the internal affairs of other countries' and gave
    guidance to Taiwan's legislative body openly was naturally related
    to his distinct position.  In the meantime, it also reflected the
    sophisticated and complicated connection of the arms deal in the
    framework of the triangular interactions among the United States,
    China, and Taiwan.

    "Young's political inclination is no secret.  He criticized the
    opposition parties on Double Ten National Day unreservedly, saying
    'they should be more civil,' and he even directly picked on James
    Soong.  But the remarks a diplomat makes should not be aimed at
    expressing himself only.  The fact that Young tossed off a timeline
    for the arms deal at this moment is closely related to the domestic
    pressure that the Bush administration is suffering now. ...  Young's
    remarks may sound blunt, but they were actually traceable.  However,
    it is clearly inappropriate for Young, a '[U.S.] representative in
    Taiwan' to make such candid remarks, and they might even get the
    opposite result."

    F) "Showing off His Power, Arrogant and High-handed Stephen Young"

    Loh I-cheng, a retired diplomat, said in an opinion piece in the
    pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (10/27):

    "... Even though Stephen Young said he wanted the Legislative Yuan
    to pass the arms procurement bill 'not for the United States' sake,

    but for Taiwan's,' such remarks had better be spoken in private to
    political leaders.  Young overlooked the fact that, in terms of
    diplomacy, having private talks and discussing the contents of the
    talks openly are two separate issues.  If he crosses the line, he
    has already violated diplomatic protocol.  Counting from Lee
    Teng-hui to James Soong, from Ma Ying-jeou to Chen Shui-bian, and a
    series of names of other government officials to show his
    familiarity with these people and to show off his power in front of
    the Taiwan people, and lecturing the legislators, Young has severely
    trespassed what is required of him [as a diplomat].  Should the same
    thing happen even in small countries in Central and South America,
    it would trigger a political upheaval.  Taiwan is a dignified,
    developed democratic country, and it cannot tolerate such a foreign
    representative. ..."

    YOUNG

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