MEDIA REACTION: RECALL OF PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002164 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: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused coverage June 22 on KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's speech Wednesday evening in response to President Chen Shui-bian's "report to the people" the previous day; the KMT's and PFP's plans to bring Chen down; further investigations into the alleged role of First Lady Wu Shu-chen in the Sogo Department Store ownership case and an earlier political contribution controversy; the controversy over whether the government is to turn over its control of a local financial holding company to private hands; and a local train accident-turned-murder case. The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" front-paged "Ma Pleads for Bian to Quit Politics," while the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, ran a banner headline on page two that read "Bian Reports to the People, Ma Blasts [Chen] for Shirking Responsibilities." The pro-status quo "China Times" carried the results of its latest poll on its front page: 46 percent of those polled are displeased with Chen's self-defense, while 23 percent are pleased with Chen's speech. The same poll also showed that 43 percent of respondents support Chen's recall, while 34 percent said it's better to have Chen stay on and finish his term of office. The pro-unification "United Daily News" also front-paged the results of its latest poll, which showed 49 percent of those polled think that the First Family was involved in the Sogo Department Store ownership battle. The same poll also showed that in the wake of the pan-Green rally last weekend and Chen's speech Wednesday evening, Chen's approval rating rose from 17 percent in late May to 20 percent; still, 63 percent of respondents said they are dissatisfied with Chen's administrative performance. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times" editorial urged Ma Ying-jeou not to become a political puppet manipulated by James Soong. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" lamented that Taiwan's stability is jeopardized by the incessant political wrangling between the Blue and Green camps. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" said during his speech Chen "missed an opportunity to alert moderate voters of the gravity of the threat to Taiwan's democracy represented by the renewed power struggle launched by the pan-KMT camp." An "Apple Daily" editorial criticized local people for caring only about the Blue and Green, but forgetting about what's right and what's wrong. A "United Daily News" analysis said the pan-Green's counterattacks have pushed the pan-Blue camp deep into a quagmire. An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" criticized Chen's speech for raising more questions than it answered. End summary. A) "Advice for Ma Ying-jeou: Do Not Become a Political Puppet Manipulated by James Soong" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (6/22): "... The reason why we particularly pointed out the distinct role played by James Soong in the protests calling for Bian's recall is because, based on acute observation of the recent political developments, [we are] surprised to note that the safety and welfare of the 23 million people of Taiwan seem to have been hijacked by a few crazy politicians and become bargaining chips in power struggles for personal political interests among certain individuals. What the pan-Blue camp is doing right now is intensifying the island's inner ethnic antagonisms and social confrontation. Its persistent and uncompromising protests demonstrate a tough and destructive attitude that will likely lead all Taiwan people to definite disaster. Thus, we have to remind all Taiwan people to pay close attention to the pan-Blue camp's crazy actions and the latent crises they might bring to Taiwan. ..." B) "Chen Shui-bian Just Can't Win" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (6/22): "On Tuesday night, President Chen Shui-bian gave an unprecedented "Statement to the People," spending two hours addressing a list of 10 accusations drawn up by opposition lawmakers charging him with being unfit for office. ... While many more might still be in the process of digesting and forming their opinion of the president's address, one thing is clear: the increasing polarization of the country's pan-green and pan-blue camps. ... The risk is that the opposition's unreasonable and relentless attack against Chen in its effort to unseat him will arouse more negative sentiment among Chen's supporters. And as pan-green supports' anger toward pan-blue politicians' tactics gather strength and they start venting their discontent in public, this would in return generate more heat from the pan-blue crowd. ... Either way, Chen just can't win, and national stability is being jeopardized by all of this incessant political wrangling." C) "Chen's Report Only a Partial Success" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] commented in an editorial (6/22): "President Chen Shui-bian's 'report to the people' Tuesday evening refuted the content of the recall motion filed June 13 by Kuomintang and People First Party lawmakers, but missed an opportunity to alert moderate voters of the gravity of the threat to Taiwan's democracy represented by the renewed power struggle launched by the pan-KMT camp. In our view, Chen's decision to offer a coherent statement directly to citizens regarding the recall motion sponsored by the KMT-PFP and its 10 vacuous charges was correct and he was well within his constitutional rights to submit or not to submit an official rebuttal to the Legislative Yuan. ... Contrary to the claim by KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou in his half-hour address last night, there is ample reason to believe that the current effort is precisely aimed at toppling the democratically elected government of President Chen Shui-bian and his DPP administration without regard to whether the president or even his immediate family or aides are actually guilty of corruption or other crimes. ..." D) "[People] Only Care about Blue or Green, But Not Black and White" The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] wrote in an editorial (6/22): "President Chen's televised monologue the other night has indeed won him some support from pan-Green voters. The fact that Chen chose to speak in Taiwanese all through his speech indicated that he was targeting those deep-Green voters who were originally disappointed with him, not those Blue mainlanders. ... Bian's speech totally satisfied the needs of those fundamentalists. Having calmed the Green voters, Bian has became active again in the DPP; no one dares to criticize him, and party members also need Bian to stimulate and solidify the party. The DPP, which was severely cut up by Chen's son-in-law's alleged involvement in the insider trading case, to the extent that it almost split, has passed its trials and started to organize itself and join hands together to face the rivals. The peak of the pan-Blue camp's exposures of various scandals is over; the pan-Blue camp has missed the best timing for a recall or no-confidence vote. It is now very difficult to try to bring the Chen administration down. ..." E) "When Professor Ma Meets Lawyer Chen ..." Journalist Fan Ling-chia noted in an analysis in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000]: "Following President Chen's address to the people, KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou also appeared on TV Wednesday evening. Ma acted as if he were discussing constitutional principles in the classroom, typical of 'Professor Ma's' unique style and rhythms, which, when compared with the court debate of 'Lawyer Chen' the previous day, seemed evidently less exciting. Ma failed to catch the edge of one who attacks later in the field. ... "As it now stands, the person who really 'plans before he moves' is Chen, not Ma. The KMT, when it attacks, is unable to defeat Bian, and when it retreats, it is unable to protect Ma. The pan-Green's counterattacks have pushed the Blue camp deep into a quagmire. On the other hand, James Soong already took the lead in pushing for the no-confidence motion; he even started a sit-in with his supporters. The KMT has missed the chance to take the first shot, and is now in a dilemma." F) "President's Address: More Questions Than It Answers" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] noted in an editorial (6/22): "... The president's remarks, convincing though they may seem to some people, sound hollow and reek of insincerity and dishonesty. It has raised more questions than it has answered. ... Chen spoke the local dialect of Hoklo nearly from beginning to end. This testifies to the fact that although he was speaking to 'the people,' the speech was meant to generate cohesion among supporters of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party and to arouse anti-opposition sentiment among native Taiwanese. ... Yet unless he can provide satisfactory answers to the questions concerning the moral integrity of him and his family, chances are that his approval ratings, hovering at all-time lows at the moment, will continue to decline." KEEGAN