WikiLeaks/U.S. Cable: U.S. ShouldPrevent China’s Intimidation of Taiwan

(Central News Agency/Taipei, Dec. 5th Report)

WikiLeak’s newly exposed U.S. foreign relations cable contains numerous references to Taiwan; most of these secret cables originating from the American embassy in Beijing state that the Taiwan issue is a key factor influencing U.S.-China relations, and that it is thought that the U.S. should prevent the intimidating actions China has taken towards Taiwan.

The main subject of a January 6, 2009 secret cable sent by the American embassy was the 30-year outlook for U.S.-China relations. It said that despite the improvement in cross-strait relations following Taiwan’s election of President Ma Ying-jeou, the Taiwan issue remains the most difficult issue to deal with in U.S.-China relations, and that for the foreseeable future, it will continue to be an issue that must be handled carefully.

At that time, the American embassy’s Clark T. Randt also sent a cable saying: “We should continue to support Taiwan and Mainland efforts to reduce tension by increasing Taiwan’s “international space” and reducing the Mainland’s military build-up across from Taiwan.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/185826

The cable said: “In the years to come, our defense experts will need to closely monitor China’s contingency plans and we will need to use every diplomatic and strategic tool we have to prevent intimidating moves toward Taiwan.” http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/us-embassy-cables-documents/185826

The American embassy sent a cable on January 28 of this year on the subject of the economic-material factors testing U.S.-China relations in 2010, in which it mentioned China’s continued stance of intense dissatisfaction with the U.S. on the issues of the Dalai Lama and arms sales to Taiwan. For these reasons, the cable expressed that there might not be a way for China to cooperate with the U.S. on other issues.

Prior to this, on April 16, 2008, the American embassy sent a cable indicating Chinese Premier Hu Jintao’s control over Tibet policy (in which Taiwan was also mentioned), quoting an unidentified person from the Chinese side, saying the Chinese leadership has “absolutely no difference of opinion” on the Tibet issue, and from the Chinese leadership’s perspective, the Tibet issue is considered even more sensitive than the Taiwan issue.

This source revealed that on issues such as Taiwan, economic development, or government reform, there is probably room for disagreement within the Chinese leadership, but on Tibet this is not the case.

The cable said that the source thought that from the perspective of the Chinese leadership, Tibet policy was even more sensitive than the Taiwan issue. He pointed out, although Beijing says it will not accept American interference in Taiwan affairs, in reality it still does. However, China absolutely will not accept foreign powers “meddling” in Tibetan affairs.

On this point, according to a March 28, 2009 cable, when visiting the White House, Australia’s then prime minister, Kevin Rudd, stated during talks with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, his view that Chinese leaders have a paranoid attitude when it comes to the issues of Taiwan and Tibet.

However, Rudd pointed out that subtle differences remain between Chinese leaders’ attitudes on Taiwan and Tibet; on the Taiwan issue, their reaction is almost rational, as the issue is also deep-rooted and emotional. But the tough policy towards Tibet, on the other hand, is meticulously planned so as to send a clear message to other minority groups.