VZCZCXYZ0000
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHIN #1030/01 2370949
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 250949Z AUG 09
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2185
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 9347
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 0779

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001030 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/P, EAP/PD - THOMAS HAMM 
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS, NORTH KOREA 
 
¶1. Summary:  Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news 
coverage August 25 on two more confirmed deaths linked to the H1N1 
virus, on the threat posed by the H1N1 epidemic to the ongoing 
rescue and relief efforts in the disaster zones caused by Typhoon 
Morakot, and on the reconstruction and rebuilding plans in the 
disaster zones.  In terms of editorials and commentaries, a column 
in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said the Ma Ying-jeou 
administration's decision to accept foreign aid in the wake of 
Typhoon Morakot was evidence that the administration sees its 
relations with China outweighing its relations with the United 
States.  Based on the fact that the Ma administration quickly 
welcomed aid from China and declined aid from the United States, the 
column asserts that there is a lack of enthusiasm in Taiwan's 
relations with the United States.  A column in the KMT-leaning 
"China Times" commented on the latest interactions between North 
Korea and South Korea amid the funeral of former South Korean 
President Kim Dae-jung.  The column said the North Korean delegation 
was there more than to just attend the funeral.  The North Korean 
delegation was actually a special envoy sent by North Korean leader 
Kim Jong-il to deliver Kim Jong-il's messages to South Korea, the 
column claimed.  Kim Jong-il's willingness to improve relations with 
South Korea is due to his concern about his relations with the 
United States.  End summary. 
 
¶2. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations 
 
"New Strategic Choice" 
 
Columnist Antonio Chiang wrote in his column in the mass-circulation 
"Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (8/25): 
 
"... [Taiwan President] Ma Ying-jeou endeavors to reach cross-Strait 
reconciliation.  [Ma] purposely cold-shoulders [Taiwan's] relations 
with Japan.  [Ma] maintains normal relations with the United States 
in a courteous manner.  The same as before, [Ma] requests arms sales 
[from the United States].  Nevertheless, experts all know that there 
is no enthusiasm between Taiwan and the United States anymore except 
for the routine daily issues.  There are changes in the relations 
between the United States and Taiwan.  However, it is like 
entertainers who shift their love to different people but cannot 
make it public; otherwise they will lose [money at] the box office. 
The flooding [from Typhoon Morakot] revealed the changes in the 
triangular relations between the United States, China and Taiwan. 
It was the National Security Council (NSC) that decided to decline 
aid offered by the United States.  The National Security Council 
[would not] dare to take the responsibility and passed off the 
responsibility to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA).  However, 
[National Security Council Secretary-General] Su Chi immediately 
welcomed the aid offered by China.  In between the cold and warm, 
the Ma administration's strategic thinking is revealed, which is 
leaning toward China.  However, fearing the pressure of public 
opinion, [the Ma administration] can only cover it up [its tilt 
towards China] and continue to crawl forward. 
 
"The United States sent military aircraft to Taiwan to help the 
rescue and relief efforts, which is a big gesture.  Such a move was 
not something that could solely be guided by the United States 
Pacific Command.  Just like China, [the United States] offered its 
aid in the name of humanitarianism.  Nevertheless, due to the 
long-term confrontation across the Strait, there is insufficient 
mutual trust in diplomatic and military affairs.  Taiwan's society 
still strongly opposes letting MiG aircraft land in Taiwan.  Ma 
Ying-jeou's National Security Council has already made its new 
strategic choice, but it still let the United States military land 
in Taiwan much earlier than China's.  Ma's team can only express its 
regret to Beijing privately. ..." 
 
¶3. North Korea 
 
"North Korea's Condolence Delegation Is Actually the Special Envoy 
Delegation" 
 
The "International Lookout" column in the KMT-leaning "China Times" 
[circulation: 120,000] wrote (8/25): 
 
"... Why did [North Korean leader] Kim Jong-il have such a swift 
change in his attitude toward South Korea?  This is absolutely 
related to North Korea's U.S. policy.  It is either that the United 
States has persuaded North Korea to [improve] relations with South 
Korea, or North Korea wants to [improve] relations with South Korea 
in order to develop relations with the United States.  In other 
words, the development in relations between North Korea and the 
United States' Obama administration has become the core of the North 
Korean nuclear issue.  If South Korea fully supports the United 
States' position, the United States would not need to seek anyone's 
pardon for signing any agreement with North Korea.  Regardless of 
Russia and Japan, even China can only accept [such a possibility]. 
However, the United States will not carry out [bilateral talks with 
North Korea] in the open.  [The United States] will still want the 
 
cover provided by the six-party talks." 
 
WANG