MEDIA REACTION: KMT CHAIRMAN MA YING-JEOU'S U.S. TRIP

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001026

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC BARBORIAK
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A


TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: KMT CHAIRMAN MA YING-JEOU'S U.S. TRIP



1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their
coverage March 25-27 on KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's U.S. trip; the
DPP's decision to cancel its proposed "Grand Debate" on the party's
policy toward China; the Ministry of Transportation and
Communications' announcement Saturday regarding the freeway
electronic toll collection system; the civil lawsuit filed by a
local labor broker against Thai laborers for causing a riot at a
Kaohsiung mass rapid transit construction site; and the suicide of a
suspect allegedly involved in a recent train derailment. Several
papers carried in their inside pages March 26 Ma's statement at UC
Berkeley that the status quo across the Taiwan Strait is President
Chen Shui-bian's "Five No's" pledges. The pro-status quo "China
Times" also ran a banner headline on its page two March 27 that
read: "Ma Being in the Spotlight in the United States; Bian and
[Annette] Lu Will Not Take Any Action [against Ma] for the Time
Being." The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest
daily, ran an exclusive news story on its page two March 27 with the
headline: "China Plays a New Malicious Trick [on Taiwan] by Planning
to Propose Implementation Guidelines for Its Anti-Secession Law."



2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times"
editorial criticized Ma's U.S. remarks and said they are full of
"blind spots." A "Liberty Times" news analysis said Washington's
high-profile treatment of Ma sent out the wrong message to Beijing
and Japan. The article added that if Washington joins the others in
isolating President Chen, how can it expect Chen not to create more
surprises? An editorial in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said
Ma has to clarify his statements about primary and secondary enemies
when he comes back to Taiwan. An editorial in the pro-independence
"Taiwan Daily" also condemned Ma's pro-China stance as allegedly
revealed in remarks he made in the United States. Editorials in the
limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei
Times" and "Taiwan News" both blasted Ma for using words to romance
Washington while failing to defend Taiwan's democracy and national
interests. End summary.

A) "Ma Ying-jeou's Remarks During His Visit to the United States Are
Full of Blind Spots"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] said in
its editorial (3/27):

"... We are not sure if Ma Ying-jeou dares to promote the Republic
of China to U.S. officials when he meets with them. [Does he] dare
to ask the United States to recognize the Republic of China? In our
view, Ma does not have such courage. The reason is that U.S.
officials would faint if they heard [his] 'One China is the Republic
of China' [statement]. All Ma is doing is bringing exports back
home [appearing to speak to foreigners while in fact talking to his
constituency at home]. What's more, Ma's home market also includes
China across the Strait. For the People's Republic of China, a
Republic of China aimed at ultimate unification can be said to be a
pawn for annexing Taiwan. ...

"Ma has brought his revised ultimate unification theory along during
his grand U.S. visit. However, the U.S. government should know it
very clearly. Ma's 'One China is the Republic of China' [statement]
is not only ignorant of the facts, but also contrary to legal
principles. The goal of his cross-Strait interim structure is not
to maintain the cross-Strait status quo but [to seek] ultimate
unification. The United States learns about Ma's bottom line by
letting him pay a visit, and this may have given him an opportunity
to show off, but Ma's authentic unification complex is more
highlighted as a consequence."

B) "The United States' High-Profile Treatment to Ma Sends out the
Wrong Message"

Washington correspondent Nadia Tsao said in a news analysis of the
pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] (3/25)

"... The Bush administration's message conveyed via its high-profile
treatment of Ma Ying-jeou has evidently created spacious room for
different interpretations. The move may not only likely endanger
the relationship between the Bian administration and Washington, but
will also send the wrong message to both Beijing and Japan. ...

"The Bush administration has repeatedly requested that Beijing
engage in a dialogue with the Bian administration. If [U.S. Deputy
Secretary of State] Robert Zoellick and other [high-ranking

SIPDIS
American] officials' meetings [with Ma] were meant to play a
united-front game by using Taiwan's opposition parties to restrain
the Bian administration, Beijing will surely follow suit. [In that
case,] how can Beijing possibly take Washington's request for [the
resumption of] a cross-Strait dialogue seriously? If Washington
also joins [the others] in isolating Chen Shui-bian, how can it
expect Chen, who is not under pressure for re-election, not create
more surprises for the United States? ..."

C) "Shadows Behind Ma's Successful Trip to the United States"

The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000]
editorialized (3/27):

"Ma's biggest oversight during his U.S. trip was that he said
something very inappropriate - that is, he said he hopes China could
differentiate between the Republic of Taiwan and the Republic of
China, [namely] its primary and secondary enemy. ... If Ma regards
Taiwan independence as a target that he will join China to fight
against, then what did he really mean by his earlier statement that
"Taiwan independence is one of the possible options for Taiwan
people [to decide their future]'? Which of these two statements
that contradict with each other is true? Is it another lie [when Ma
claimed that he] respects the democratic choices of the Taiwan
people? Taiwan independence cannot possibly be a possible option
for the Taiwan people and at the same time being a target that [Ma]
will join China in fighting against. One of these two statements
must be a lie, but which one? Ma must clarify that when he comes
back to Taiwan.

"Heritage Foundation's Chinese affairs specialist John J. Tkacik was
concerned about Ma and the KMT's blueprint, saying that [the KMT's]
refusal to invest in Taiwan's national defense in the face of
China's growing military strength will eventually lead to a
situation whereas Taiwan's security is at the will of China and
Taiwan will become a bigger Hong Kong. This is also something that
Ma needs to clarify with the Taiwan people. ..."

D) "Ma Ying-jeou Clearly Tells China to Designate Those Pursuing
National Independence As Primary Enemies; [This] Violates Taiwan
Interest; [He] Is China's Fellow Traveler"

The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000] noted in
its editorial (3/27):

"[During] his current U.S. visit, Ma Ying-jeou has played the
keynote of maintaining the Republic of China's status quo and
opposing Taiwan independence and nation building. He is willingly
to play the 'alternative role' of check-and-balancing the mainstream
Taiwan public opinion in exchange for the highly profiled reception
by the U.S. side...

"... An examination of Ma's U.S. visit [shows that] he has been
avoiding any talk on Taiwan's sovereignty issue all the time. Ma is
only a 'Taiwan OEM [product],' which, in fact, carries a
made-in-China labeling. Faced with China's menacing threat, what
Taiwan needs is a leader of wisdom, who insists on the Taiwan First
ideal, holds great visions, respects the public opinion, and is not
afraid of the enemy's strong pressure. [What we do not need is] one
with only nice appearance but no internal value, who evades talking
about Taiwan's sovereignty, has only short-term visions, ignores the
public opinion, fears the strong enemy, tries to collaborate with
the enemy, and only talks empty words. ..."

E) "Ma Ying-jeou Romances Washington"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (3/25):

"... Most people of influence in Washington are not privy to the
wealth of Ma's throwaway comments and actions over the years that
reflect the subordinate status of democracy in his thinking. But
these people are privy to the analysis of foreign correspondents who
prefer to wax lyrical, for example, on Ma's beautiful features.
Wiser heads in Washington would do well to carefully note this
schmooze factor in Ma's politicking, and how it plays a more
important role for his presidential aspirations than coherent
policy. Much has been made of Ma's disarming language skills and
congenial manner as he travels across Europe and the US, contrasting
acutely with Chen's scattershot English and ventriloquist dummy's
grin. And for Ma, the timing of his US trip is quite superb.
Exploiting US jitters over Iraq by presenting a pragmatic 'solution'
to ominous problems in the Taiwan Strait could not be a more
lucrative strategy.

"It can only be hoped that those who expect more from Ma than a warm
handshake, a dazzling smile and complete English sentences will
continue to probe him on his willingness and ability to stand up to
Chinese violence. The skeptical will also have noted that with Ma,
there is only a small gap between being smooth and being slippery.
It has proven impossible for anyone to establish why, in Ma's
opinion, Beijing would take the slightest notice of a president who
fails to keep his military fully armed. This is because Ma has
patronized his US audiences with a mix of carefully structured
evasiveness and mistruths. There's also been a hefty slice of pie
in the sky: the idea that China would consider Ma's proposal of a 30
to 50-year moratorium on unification and then honor any agreement is
so nave as to be pitiful. ...

"Any person who walks away from a meeting with Ma starry-eyed at the
sight of a 'Chinese' political leader speaking passable English and
promising stability, economic development and a democratic China is
abjectly nave - and Ma would surely agree, given that he has
already stated that Americans are gullible. The irony is that it is
to these same Americans whom Ma is pitching his wares. Sadly, there
is every likelihood that he will find many an eager customer itching
for traction in the dying years of the Bush administration."

F) "Ma Displays Lack of Integrity in U.S."

The pro-independence "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] wrote in an
editorial (3/27):


"During his touted trip to the United States last week, opposition
Kuomintang Chairman and Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou demonstrated
his lack of political integrity and sincerity on the key issues
facing our nation, including the critical problem of how to maintain
lasting peace in the Taiwan Strait. ... There is little doubt that
Ma succeeded in boosting his image with this visit, but it is
unfortunate that in the process, Taiwan's national interests have
become the sacrificial victim. ... Ma's lack of integrity or courage
to defend Taiwan democracy against China's military intimidation and
missile threats, as well as his transparent elevation of his
individual and partisan interests above the national interests of
Taiwan's 23 million people deserves serious criticism and censure.
..."

YOUNG