Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 05TAIPEI3611, MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #05TAIPEI3611.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
05TAIPEI3611 2005-08-31 00:58 2011-08-23 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

310058Z Aug 05
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 003611 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - 
ROBERT PALLADINO 
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: U.S. ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN 
 
 
1. Summary:  Major Chinese-language Taipei dailies 
focused their coverage August 30 on local politics and 
the surge in crude oil futures.  Nonetheless, the pro- 
independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan biggest daily, 
spent half of its page five reporting on Taiwan's arms 
procurements.  The newspaper ran a news story that was 
topped with the headline: "[Defense Minister] Lee Jye 
promotes U.S. arms deal strenuously; `United States 
sends cable to push me,' [Lee said.]"  The newspaper 
also reported that Taiwan Air Force plans to purchase 
another 100 U.S. F-16 fighter jets to replace the F-5 
fighter planes as Taiwan's Mirage 2000s will be stored 
to reduce maintenance costs in 2010.  The centrist 
"China Times," on the other hand, carried a news 
analysis by Washington correspondent Norman Fu 
commenting on AIT's future operations.  The article 
said that former AIT Director Raymond Burghart will 
soon be appointed as the new AIT Chairman and that 
Burghardt will continue to reside in Hawaii while 
incumbent [acting] AIT Managing Director Barbara 
Schrage will be the key person to manage all the 
regular work at AIT Washington headquarters.  As a 
result, Fu said, AIT will be run as "a two-horse-drawn 
wagon from now on, unlike its past single-command 
operational style." 
 
2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an 
editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro- 
unification, English-language "China Post" proposed 
that the U.S. arms procurements be put on hold for the 
time being because selling arms to Taiwan, which is 
governed now by a pro-independence government, is 
counterproductive to maintaining the status quo in the 
Taiwan Strait.  The limited-circulation, pro- 
independence, English-language "Taiwan News," on the 
other hand, carried an exclusive interview with 
Taiwan's Vice Minister of National Defense Michael Tsai 
in which Tsai said he is willing to make more 
concessions, if necessary, to ensure the passage of the 
U.S. arms procurement bill.  End summary. 
 
A) "U.S. Should Hold Arms Deal" 
 
The conservative, pro-unification, English-language 
"China Post" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized 
(8/30): 
 
"Washington appears desperate.  It no longer hides its 
impatience with Taiwan over the failure to conclude the 
deal of a robust package of advanced weapons that 
President Bush offered to sell in 2001. 
 
"Obviously, there is a campaign to press Taiwan, 
especially the opposition in the Legislative Yuan, to 
approve funding of the purchase as soon as possible. . 
 
"For more than a year, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT) 
and its allies have used their slim legislative 
majority to block the special NT$480 billion (US$16 
billion) bill.  Included in the arms package are eight 
diesel-powered submarines, 12 anti-submarine aircraft 
and six Patriot missile batteries. 
 
"To Taiwan's people, the basic questions are: how many 
Patriot interceptors are needed to offset the threat of 
Beijing's 700 missiles, grown by at least 50 a year; 
and how soon and how many submarines and anti-submarine 
aircraft Taiwan can buy to match those already deployed 
by Beijing, not to mention the enemy's size, strategic 
resources and nuclear weapons. 
 
"Selling arms to Taiwan now is counterproductive to 
maintaining the status quo.  When in the hands of a pro- 
independence government, the weapons encourage 
independence sentiments, raising tensions with Beijing. 
But when they are in the hands of an anti-independence 
government, they serve the purpose of deterring a 
forced reunification under Beijing's terms.  Beijing 
has no timetable for unification but also no tolerance 
for secession. 
 
"The Taiwan status quo, cherished by all except the 
independence activists, can be assured by neutralizing 
the separatist movement, not by selling more arms to 
anti-China administration.  The arms deal should at 
least be put on hold." 
 
B) "Tsai Ready to Deal to Win Approval of Arms Package" 
 
The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" 
[circulation: 20,000] carried an exclusive interview 
with Vice Minister of National Defense Michael Tsai 
(8/30): 
 
"Having foundered in the Legislature for a year, the 
multibillion U.S. dollar arms package appears set to 
move forward ... . Tsai provided more details about the 
shifting attitudes toward the arms package and the 
reversal on how it should be funded during a recent 
interview ... 
 
"Taiwan News: Has the U.S. raised any complaints about 
the arms purchase delay? 
 
"Tsai: Let me be frank with you.  The U.S. side is 
quite disappointed.  They don't understand why Taiwan 
has yet to approve the purchase after seeking to obtain 
the package for a long time.  The inaction has prompted 
the U.S. to doubt our resolution and seriousness to 
defend the country.  Some even wonder if Taiwan is 
seeking to shift the burden of preserving cross-strait 
peace to the U.S.  That is not true, of course. 
Defense Minister Lee Jye has reiterated that Taiwan's 
armed forces will not hesitate to fight People's 
Liberation Army, if necessary. 
 
"Taiwan News: Will U.S.-Taiwan ties suffer if the 
opposition-controlled Legislature refuses to approve 
the arms package after all? 
 
"Tsai: The arms package will not influence U.S.-Taiwan 
ties, but I believe they will grow stronger if we buy 
the weapons.  The U.S. will have to help train 
Taiwanese military officers on how to operate the 
weapons after we purchase them. 
 
"Under the Taiwan Relations Act, the U.S. is obligated 
to help Taiwan defend itself.  But we must not take 
their help for granted and do nothing ourselves. 
 
"Fortunately, polls show 65 percent of the people share 
the need to maintain peace in the Taiwan Strait and 50 
percent support reasonable arms purchases to achieve 
that end.  Although some 30 percent voice objection to 
the arms procurement.  I believe it's politically 
motivated.  With a majority of the public on our side, 
I'm optimistic the arms purchase will not be held up in 
the Legislature forever. ..." 
 
PAAL