MEDIA REACTION: CROSS-STRAIT CHARTER FLIGHTS, RECALL OF

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002052

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: CROSS-STRAIT CHARTER FLIGHTS, RECALL OF
PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN



1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their
coverage June 15 on the new arrangements for cross-Strait charter
flights; President Chen Shui-bian's remarks in response to the
recall motion; investigations into President Chen's son-in-law's
insider trading scandal and First Lady Wu Shu-chen's role in the
Sogo Department Store gift certificates case. The pro-unification
"United Daily News" front-paged "Cross-Strait Charter Planes Will
Fly on Four [Major] Holidays of the Year." The sub-headline added
"Taiwan, Mainland China Announced Simultaneously Wednesday to Expand
and Lift Ban on Four Types of Charter Flights: Special Cargo
Charter, Holiday, Emergency Medical, and Special Humanitarian." The
mass-circulation "Apple Daily" and pro-status quo "China Times," on
the other hand, both ran similar front-page banner headlines that
said "Prosecutor's Office Will Summon Wu Shu-chen for Gift
Certificates Case." The "China Times" also carried results of its
latest survey on page four, which showed that 43 percent of those
polled said they support the motion to recall President Chen, and 47
percent said they believe that First Lady Wu Shu-chen was involved
in the Sogo Department Store ownership battle. The same poll also
showed that 46.9 percent of respondents believe the Presidential
Office would interfere in the prosecutors' investigation of Chen's
son-in-law's insider trading case, while 22 percent said it would
not.


2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "United Daily News"
analysis said the government chose to announce the new arrangements
for cross-Strait charter flights amid the moves to recall President
Chen because it wants to prove to the pan-Blue camp that Chen
remains the state leader who holds substantive powers in his hand.
A "China Times" analysis criticized Chen's remarks in response to
the recall motion, saying Chen is seeking to sow discord in Taiwan
society. End summary.


3. New Cross-Strait Flights

"Charter Flights Are Meant to Serve as Bian and Su's Track Record"

Journalist Sean Liu said in the pro-unification "United Daily News"
[circulation: 400,000] (6/15):

"... The fact that [the government] sought to announce concrete
developments made in cross-Strait negotiations will allow A-bian,
who has determined to counterattack the pan-Blue camp, to prove that
he remains the state leader who holds substantive powers. Bian's
move to act as usual to push for policies that are favorable for the
nation is conducive for him to portray the pan-Blue camp as 'wanting
nothing but to recall Chen and regain power.' Beijing's pragmatic
attitude in handling and agreeing to announce it, despite the fact
that Beijing knows that Bian is now in the midst of a recall
upheaval, also provided an opportunity for the Presidential Office
to exert its power.

"Having presented the 'beef' of cross-Strait policies, Chen is
scheduled for a site visit to the Kinmen frontline today. He wants
to prove to the pan-Blue camp that he not only has no fear of the
recall motion, but remains the head of his administration."


4. Recall of President Chen Shui-bian

"Presidential Office Seeking to Sow Discord Using Anti-Recall
[Moves]?"

Journalist Lin Shu-ling commented in the pro-status quo "China
Times" [circulation: 400,000] (6/15):

"... The fact that President Chen defined the recall motion as a
political confrontation has highlighted that all his apologies and
admissions of faults were all superficial moves. Such an
observation is evident from the Presidential Office's interactions
with local people. Starting from the day when the Taiwan
Development Corporation's insider trading case and the controversial
Sogo ownership case were unveiled, the Presidential Office has never
agreed to hold a press conference to clarify the myths and answer
people's questions. But the Presidential Office invited the foreign
press to a tea party just after the Legislative Yuan launched the
recall motion, and during the party it asked the foreign journalists
not to believe the news stories reported by local media....

"Frankly speaking, Chen himself should be held most responsible for
the escalating calls demanding him to step down. ... Many Green
supporters are currently stuck in a dilemma. They saw everything
and heard everything, so they are not very willing to defend Chen
and they don't know how to defend him. The many remarks made by the
President sounded like hypnotism to his supporters. But his
statements which relentlessly divide the Taiwan people from
mainlanders and split those living in northern Taiwan from those in
southern Taiwan have sown serious discord in Taiwan society. ..."


KEEGAN