MEDIA REACTION: RECALL OF PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002038 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: RECALL OF PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN ¶1. Summary: As the Legislative Yuan's efforts to recall President Chen Shui-bian stayed in the Taiwan media's spotlight June 14, news coverage also focused on further investigations into the kickback and murder scandal involving Taiwan's purchase of Lafayette-class frigates; investigations into President Chen's son-in-law's insider trading scandal and questionable gifts received by First Lady Wu Shu-chen; and the FIFA World Cup. All Chinese-language papers reported on the Presidential Office's decision not to submit a written defense in the face of the Legislative Yuan's recall motion. The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, ran an exclusive news story on page three, quoting an "ambassador-level" U.S. official as saying that the United States is concerned that political confrontations will weaken Taiwan's democracy. Several papers also reported on inside pages that Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng canceled his planned U.S. trip because Taiwan has not passed the U.S. arms procurement bill. The "Liberty Times" and mass-circulation "Apple Daily" carried similar headlines: "Displeased with Failure to Pass Arms Procurement Bill, United States Turns Down Wang Jin-pyng Meeting with U.S. Officials." The pro-unification "United Daily News," however, headlined "Arms Procurement Blocking the Road, Wang Cancels His U.S. Trip." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times" editorial supported President Chen's decision not to submit a written defense to the recall motion, saying the law will do him justice eventually when the motion fails to be adopted by the Legislative Yuan. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" urged Chen and the DPP to turn the recall into a comprehensive review of and debate on the problems of Taiwan's governance. A "United Daily News" analysis said that for Chen, the focus of deciding whether to submit a written defense lies not in constitutional procedure but in political effects. The article said Chen can explore a new battlefield and does not need to dance to the pan-Blue tune. An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" said Taiwan is now facing an extended period of political uncertainty. End summary. 
 A) "President Chen Should Not Submit Written Defense in Response to Recall Motion" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (6/14): "... The pan-Blue camp did not stop political confrontations for the sake of the interest of the whole and Taiwan's social stability since President Chen admitted his political responsibilities [with regard to his son-in-law's alleged involvement in the insider trading scandal]. It even went further to act both from inside and outside the system by taking to the street and having a recall motion adopted in an extraordinary legislative session. These two moves have in fact deviated from the normal track adopted by a democratic country in handling corruption scandals. The submission of the recall motion today has nothing to do with whether President Chen is involved in any corrupt practices or misconduct; instead, it was based on unsubstantiated rumors and questions, such as whether Chen is competent enough and has sufficient prestige to lead the country. How can such rhetoric that incriminates other people be able to convince the Taiwan people? ... "According to the law, the President is entitled to submit a written defense within seven days before the Legislative Yuan (LY) starts to review the recall motion after the motion is adopted by the LY's Procedure Committee. The Presidential Office, however, decided not to submit a written defense. ... In such a situation, we support Chen not submitting a written defense and using his silence as a gesture to protest the LY's move. As long as Chen believes he is clean, he can look people straight in the eye. The law will do him justice eventually when the recall motion fails to be adopted." B) "Turn Recall into Full Political Debate" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (6/14): "... Recent statements by KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou and PFP Chairman James Soong and the content of the '10 major charges' contained in the legislative recall motion make it crystal clear that the rationale for the impeachment effort has little to do with whether President Chen is actually guilty of wrongdoing but is a political action aimed at regaining state power. ... We hope the president and the DPP will display the political courage to accept this challenge and turn the pan-KMT recall drive into a comprehensive review and debate for the benefit of all citizens on the problems of Taiwan's governance. ... In sum, President Chen and the DPP should openly tell the people what is really at stake in this political crisis, namely the future of our democracy." C) "Bian Is Planning: Day of Decisive Battle Will Be Time for Him to Get away" Journalist Sean Liu commented in an analysis in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (6/14): "When the Presidential Office was considering whether to submit a written defense, its focus lay not in constitutional procedure but in political effect. For Bian, since he wants to create a situation of Blue-Green confrontation, there is no need for him to do as the pan-Blue camp planned, or dance to the Blue camp's tune. In any case, the recall motion is doomed to fail to collect enough votes in the Legislative Yuan, so Bian can go right ahead and explore another battlefield for himself. As long as he can intensify confrontations between the Blue and Green camps by not submitting a written defense, he can easily simplify the pan-Blue camp's recall motion, turn it into political confrontation, and get away with it. "As a result, Bian shows no fear in the face of the pan-Blue camp's eagerness to fight. In the next two weeks, while the opposition parties passionately put on their show in the Legislative Yuan, Bian will carry out his presidential duties as usual and his schedule as planned, using action to prove that he will never be forced to step down. ..." D) "Taiwan Faces Political Unease Amid Efforts to Recall Chen" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] wrote in an editorial (6/14): "... True, KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou has raised a good reason for the recall of Chen when he said recently: The people, such as Chen's wife, son-in-law and his two ex-deputy secretaries who were suspected of committing crimes in one or another, were able to do so because they have the advantage of access to the president, but failed to be restrained from improperly using his influence. Thus it is justifiable for a vote to recall him, having him take political responsibility. ... To gather momentum for their efforts, the KMT and the PFP will also conduct an island-wide campaign to gather signatures to their cause. While this campaign may increase pressure on him to resign voluntarily, it could pose the danger of provoking violent contests by people who support Chen and want him to stay on. So Taiwan is now facing an extended period of political certainties." KEEGAN