MEDIA REACTION: KMT CHAIRMAN MA YING-JEOU'S TRIP TO JAPAN

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002375

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 TRIP TO JAPAN



1. Summary: The investigation into First Lady Wu Shu-chen's alleged
role in the ownership fight for the Sogo Department Store and the
release on bail of President Chen Shui-bian's son-in-law remained in
the Taiwan media spotlight July 13. News coverage also focused on a
plan by some pro-Green scholars to urge President Chen to step down;
KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's trip to Japan; Tropical Storm Bilis,
which is expected to hit Taiwan later today; and a suspected
corruption scandal involving the Labor Insurance Bureau chief. Both
the pro-status quo "China Times" and pro-unification "United Daily
News" front-paged plans by a group of pro-Green scholars to make a
declaration at the DPP party congress later this month, calling for
President Chen's resignation.


2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "China Times" opinion
piece discussed Japan's role in regional security. An editorial in
the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan
News" said Ma received a cold shoulder in Tokyo, as he is widely
seen in Japan as being "pro-China." End summary.

A) "When Everyone Vies for a Chance to Visit Japan"

Tsai Tseng-chia, associate research fellow at National Chengchi

SIPDIS
University's Institute of International Relations, opined in the
pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (7/13):

"... The major reason behind Japan's proactive attitude toward
regional security is because Japan is ready to use the North Korea
[missile] issue to stride toward the plan of turning itself into a
normal country. The factor behind Japan's proactive attitude toward
cross-Strait relations, however, is that Japan is ready to use the
Taiwan issue as a balancing lever for its relations with China. As
a result of Japan's proactive concern toward the Taiwan issue,
members of Taiwan's ruling and opposition parties are vying for a
chance to visit Tokyo. ... Based on such a development, relations
between Taiwan and Japan have manifested the following special
changes.

"First, Taipei must go through Tokyo in order to get to Beijing.
Over the past six years, since the DPP came into power, Taiwan and
Japan have developed unprecedentedly close post-World War II
relations. ... Judged from the fact that Japan was extremely
anxious when China enacted the Anti-Secession Law, and the fact that
Japan showed that it understands Taiwan best with regard to the
DPP's plan to push for a popular vote on Taiwan's new constitution,
Taiwan might just have to go through Tokyo if it wants to get to
Beijing.

"Second, Washington also has to go through Tokyo in order to get to
Taipei. Since Japanese Prime Minister Koizumi assumed office in
2001, he has gradually deepened and carried out the U.S.-Japan
security alliance, a move that has made the Koizumi Administration
the most pro-U.S. regime since World War II. In addition, Koizumi
followed the United States' East Asian policy and anti-terrorism
policy closely. He also tried to use the changes in the U.S.-Japan
security alliance to achieve the goal of turning Japan into a normal
country.

"As a result, when the arms procurement bill was boycotted by the
pan-Blue camp and failed passage in the Legislative Yuan, the United
States tried to use Japan to exert pressure on the Taiwan
government. Judged from Tokyo's public statements made during the
visits to Japan by Legislative Yuan President Wang Jin-pyng and KMT
Chairman Ma Ying-jeou that it does not welcome people who oppose the
U.S. arms procurement bill to visit Japan, Washington will likely
have to go through Tokyo if it wants to get to Taipei. ..."

B) "Cool Reception for Ma in Japan"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] editorialized (7/13):

"The timing of this week's visit by Kuomintang Chairman Ma Ying-jeou
to Japan took on greater significance after North Korea test-fired
seven tactical missiles into the Sea of Japan on July 5. The open
preparations by the People's Republic of China to veto any possible
motion in the United Nations Security Council to impose sanctions on
Pyongyang is a distinct embarrassment to Ma, who is widely seen in
Japan, especially by the Liberal Democratic Party, as being
'pro-China.' ... As a result, Ma received a cold shoulder in Tokyo.
...

"Evidently to avoid offending China, the KMT has also adopted an
evasive attitude on the possible role of the U.S.-Japan alliance to
promote regional democracy and has continued to oppose the upgrading
of Taiwan's defensive capabilities and has reasserted its strategic
choice toward unification with China, effectively narrowing the
KMT's vision of Taiwan's 'choice' to only 'immediate' or 'ultimate'
unification. ... On one hand, Ma highlights the importance of
maintaining 'peace and prosperity' in the Taiwan Strait without
mentioning 'democracy.' On the other hand, KMT legislators
boycotted legislative review of the defensive weapons procurement
program nearly 60 times over the last two years, thus allowing
China's rising military clout to pose an increasingly greater threat
to 'peace and prosperity' in the Taiwan Strait. Given the
convoluted logic of these 'positions,' it is hardly surprising that
Japanese policy-makers do not trust Ma Ying-jeou. Should we?"

YOUNG