MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT CHEN'S INAUGURATION

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002246

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: PRESIDENT CHEN'S INAUGURATION
ANNIVERSARY



1. Summary: As May 20 is President Chen Shui-bian's
first inauguration anniversary of his second term,
several Taiwan dailies covered, among other issues,
Chen's approval rating, his constitutional reform plan
and the 2008 presidential race. The pro-unification
"United Daily News" printed an opinion survey of Chen's
approval rating on its front page, which showed that
Chen's popularity has dropped from 41 percent in May,
2004 to 38 percent, and 47 percent of the respondents
said they are dissatisfied with Chen. Several
newspapers also reported in their inside pages
President Chen's remarks on constitutional reforms
Thursday, but their focuses differed. The pro-
independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily,
ran a banner headline on its page two that read: "Bian
announced that the time for comprehensive
constitutional reform has come." The "United Daily
News," however, headlined on its page two: "Bian [said]
on the eve of May 20: Issues that have not been
generally agreed upon by the public will not be
included in current constitutional reforms." The pro-
independence "Taiwan Daily," on the other hand, spent
almost its whole page two discussing the possible
candidates for the 2008 presidential race.


2. Several newspapers also editorialized on President
Chen's inauguration anniversary. Both the pro-
independence "Liberty Times" and "Taiwan Daily"
editorials urged Chen to concentrate on Taiwan's
domestic affairs rather than looking to China for its
illusive goodwill gestures. A "United Daily News"
editorial, however, outlined two tasks for the
remainder of President Chen's second term, namely,
cross-Strait relations and constitutional reforms. End
summary.

A) "[We] Expect President A-bian to Faithfully
Implement His Campaign Promises"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation:
800,000] editorialized (5/20):

". President A-bian slightly modified his policy
direction and shifted toward the route of the
mainstream prior to [last Saturday's] National Assembly
election. It remains to be seen whether he will
finally determine and stick to one direction or will
continue flip-flopping in the next three years. We
want to remind [A-bian] that even though the voter
turnout for the National Assembly election was low, the
result of the election still indicated that [KMT
Chairman] Lien Chan and [PFP Chairman] James Soong have
failed to win public support for their enthusiasm of
kowtowing to Beijing. Should A-bian plan to focus his
future administrative achievements on his unrealistic
meeting with [Chinese President] Hu Jintao, or even
imagine that he can win a Nobel Prize for peace because
of that, he is doomed to lose at both ends. A-bian has
pointed out recently that China's barbaric suppression
of Taiwan at the World Health Organization indicated
that Beijing had first set a trap of the 1992 Consensus
and then let Lien and Soong fall into the trap in an
attempt to destroy the Republic of China. What Chen
said is exactly true, and isn't the so-called Bian-Hu
meeting similarly dangerous [for Taiwan]? ."

B) "With His Approval Rating Dropping, Chen Shui-bian
Should Take Far-reaching Measures to Promote Reforms in
an Attempt to Regain the Public's Confidence"

The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation:
150,000] noted in its editorial (5/20):

".Taiwan does not have the ability to play a peace card
before China extends an olive branch. It is better for
Taiwan to put its focus on its domestic affairs rather
than allowing China to make repeated demands on us.
President Chen should explain his administrative
visions to all his people and should start proactively
promoting reforms and major construction projects for
the nation. He needs to mold a Cabinet team of solid
strength and demonstrate good and efficient
administrative capability so as to regain the public's
confidence and support."

C) "From Chen Shui-bian to Emperor Wu of the Han
Dynasty - President Chen's Actual Term of Office Will
Last Only One and a Half Years"

The editorial of the pro-unification "United Daily
News" [circulation: 600,000] wrote (5/20):

"Time and tide wait for no man. We believe that what
is important for President Chen during his remaining
brief term of office is that he must not expect to
attain any immediate administrative achievements.
Instead, he should make the best use of his limited
term of office to make some arrangements in advance for
his future status in the history. . In a nutshell, the
two major tasks for Chen during the remainder of his
second term will be: first, cross-Strait relations, and
second, constitutional reforms.

"With regard to constitutional reforms, we believe that
the so-called `new constitution movement' must be
stopped. Over the past five years, Chen has destroyed
our constitution, and as a result, our national
identity was torn apart because of him; the
constitutional system was thus sabotaged by him; and
the constitutional spirit was trampled by him. .

"President Chen should cease any efforts with regard to
the constitution immediately after the constitutional
amendments are made by the ad hoc National Assembly
members elected [last Saturday]. In other words, he
must not rashly start the so-called new constitution
movement for 2006 to 2008. .

"As for cross-Strait relations, . President Chen must
lead the DPP out of the dead end of Taiwan independence
within his term of office. . Should Chen want to look
for a breakthrough in the cross-Strait relations, he
must try and focus on the mechanism for real
interaction. If he could put the three links across
the Taiwan Strait into practice within his remaining
term of office, the interaction structure across the
Taiwan Strait will be established. Consequently, the
factor of Taiwan independence will be resolved, and
Chen's historical status will thus be determined. ."

PAAL