MEDIA REACTION: AFTERMATH OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RECALL

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002413

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: AFTERMATH OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RECALL
ATTEMPT, MIDDLE EAST, NORTH KOREA



1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to
focus their coverage July 15-17 on a declaration by some pro-Green
scholars on Saturday, calling for President Chen Shui-bian's
resignation, and Chen's vow to stay on. News coverage also focused
on the damage Tropical Storm Bilis did to southern Taiwan, and
developments in the Donald Keyser espionage case. Only the three
local English-language papers front-paged wire service reports about
Israel's bombing of Hezbollah targets in Lebanon. The pro-status
quo "China Times" ran a front-page banner headline July 17 that said
"With Pro-independence Heavyweights' Strong Support, Urge [Chen] to
Rectify Taiwan's Name and Write New Constitution; Bian: No
Intention to Step Down." The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" also
ran a front-page banner headline July 17 that read "Bian Considers
Quitting DPP to Quell Public Outrage." Taiwan's biggest daily, the
pro-independence "Liberty Times," however, ran a banner headline on
page three July 17 that said "President Chen: Will Seriously Check
on Cross-Strait Trade and Economics."


2. The Chinese-language papers continued to editorialize on the
pro-Green scholars' call for Chen's resignation. A "Liberty Times"
editorial suggests that Chen listen to the majority of Taiwan
people's opinion and not to resign. An editorial in the
limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan
News" also urged Chen to respect the pro-Green scholars' call for
clean politics, but believes that it is inappropriate for Chen to
resign now. An opinion piece in the limited-circulation,
pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" said the United
States has faith in Taiwan's democracy and will continue to express
concern about Taiwan. Editorials in the "China Times" and
pro-unification "United Daily News," however, urged President Chen
and the DPP to listen to and positively respond to the pro-Green
scholars' declaration. Only one English-language paper
editorialized on the conflict in the Middle East; a "Taipei Times"
editorial criticized the United States for playing down Israel's
bombing of Lebanon and rationalizing the latter's acts of "excessive
aggression." An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative,
pro-unification, English-language "China Post," on the other hand,
criticized Beijing for dancing to Pyongyang's tune. A separate
"China Post" editorial discussed U.S. President Bush's attitude
toward Pyongyang's recent test-firing of missiles, saying Bush "has
learned the hard way that brutal force and unilateralism do not
work, even for the world's sole superpower." End summary.


3. Aftermath of Presidential Recall Attempt

A) "Listening to Public Opinion Is Essential for Governing a
Country"

The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000]
editorialized (7/17):

"... Six years ago, many people were encouraged by the DPP's
nativist, clean reform image and hoped that it would lead Taiwan to
become a normal country after it held the reins. But the fact that
many of the DPP's policies have deviated from the nativist line
indicates that even the party's pledge to Taiwan-centered values has
begun to flag. In the end, more and more people believe that the
DPP is no different from the KMT. The Taiwan people at first hoped
that the DPP could help to reform the KMT, but it turned out that
several years later, another KMT was created. The DPP really needs
to strictly review itself.

"The pro-Green scholars' pathological analysis of Taiwan's democracy
is their freedom of speech, but it is after all the idea of just a
few people and cannot represent the wishes of a majority of the
Taiwan people. These scholars expected President Chen to seriously
consider resigning from the presidency on his own accord. But Chen
was elected by a majority of the Taiwan people, and like the
government's various policies, he must listen to a majority of the
people's views, and not just those of a few. ..."

B) "How to Realize Our Responsibility"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation:
20,000] editorialized (7/17):

"... The push for Chen's resignation from within the broad pro-DPP
camp has cast another shadow over the president's fragile leadership
in the wake of a recently failed recall drive by the 'pan-blue'
alliance of the former ruling Kuomintang and the People First Party.
We share the activists' sense of disappointment with President
Chen's failure to exercise stricter discipline on his family and
staff, to engage in honest re-examination and, even more important,
to adopt clear measures to reform and cleanse the governing party
and our society as a whole. ...

"We also hope that their initiative will be treated with respect in
the pan-green camp and also not be twisted into simply a demand for

President Chen's resignation, a proposal which we believe is
inappropriate. ... We urge Chen and the DPP to respond positively
to the issues raised by the pan-green signatory scholars with
actions to reinforce the soundness of democratic and justice systems
with 'sunshine' laws and other measures as well as by launching
through internal party reform to rebuild the DPP's own integrity and
re-establish its commitment to democratic values. ..."

C) "The US Has Faith in Our Democracy and Society"

Huang Yung-jui, a political commentator based in Taipei, opined in
the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] (7/16):

"... The aforementioned remarks made by various US government
officials show that Taiwan is improving its democratic system and
that Taiwan as a stable society, particularly with regard to freedom
of speech and other elements that constitute a strong civil society.
This means that US confidence concerning Taiwan is not based on
particular individuals but on Taiwan's system. ... I also believe
that US government officials will continue to express concern about
Taiwan and pin their hopes on the Taiwanese. Moreover, they are
displeased with the pan-blue camp and the pro-China media outlets'
constant opposition to the arms procurement budget in the
legislature, and their attempt to take over power by any means."

D) "Pro-Green Scholars' Statement Will Be DPP's Final Trial"

The pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] noted in an
editorial (7/17):

"... When compared with all the previous criticisms against
President Chen and the DPP, the tone of the statement published by
the scholars and social activists was in reality very gentle. It
can hardly be viewed as a criticism. The language they used to call
on Chen and the DPP did not at all cover up their identification
with, and pledge of, traditional Green camp ideals. To put it more
directly, the statement is more like an appeal to the DPP's spirit
and an attempt to save the party from its eventual collapse by
addressing Chen's morality and emotions, rather than a declaration
to oust Bian or criticize the DPP. ... In the next few days, we
will monitor whether the DPP remains a political party in which we
can put our hopes! ..."

E) "'Identification with Democracy' Is 'Identification with Taiwan':
Support and Supplement for July 15 Declaration"

The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000]
editorialized (7/15):

"... To sum up, the goal of this declaration is: The DPP must not
belittle itself or look down on itself as 'the imperial guards that
defend Chen Shui-bian's corrupt family.' Instead, they should look
upon themselves as guardians of 'Taiwan identity' and 'democracy.'
If Chen can resign on his own accord and grasp the last chance of
political proactiveness, he may be able to offer his party a way to
survive. By the same token, if the DPP can help Chen to step down
on his own accord, it might be able to put the pan-Green camp back
on the high ground of political morality. ..."


4. Middle East

"Washington Fiddles, Lebanon Burns"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation:
30,000] editorialized (7/15):

"... Israel has been subjected to horrific and despicable attacks by
people who have lost all sense of humanity such that they would
dismember the bodies of civilians of all faiths. But Israel has
also perpetrated unjust treatment against Palestinians for which it
is rarely held to account. Perhaps it is only ever a matter of time
before this kind of situation so degrades the morality of nations -
even a region - that the unthinkable becomes the best option. It is
critical that a powerful mediator be firm but fair to both sides.
The US, however, continues to play down Israeli excesses while
effectively rebuking all Palestinians - and now all Lebanese - for
the actions of extremist minorities.

"If the US continues to rationalize acts of excessive aggression,
perhaps Taiwan's military may take some comfort from the possibility
that strikes against major Chinese infrastructure such as the Three
Gorges Dam and residential areas can be put on the table. Actually,
there is no comfort to be had whatsoever, because Taiwan has much
more to lose if such atrocities become feasible. As long as the US
plays down Israel's maverick behavior, the danger of Tehran and
Beijing's militant governments aping Tel Aviv grows ever larger."


5. North Korea

A) "Dancing to Kim's Tune"

The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] commented in an editorial (7/15):

"... It is irresponsible for Beijing to prop up a notorious rogue
state that poses a threat to its neighbors with nuclear weapons and
ballistic missiles. A nuclear North Korea in Beijing's backyard is
not in the mainland's interests. It is unwise for Beijing to
encourage Kim to make provocations and destabilize the region.
Beijing's support for Pyongyang has already tarnished its
international image as a responsible power. But that's nothing
compared with the dire consequences such connivance would produce.
...

"So far, Beijing has failed to play a leading role in defusing the
crisis. Beijing should feel embarrassed by Pyongyang's defiance.
As a regional power, Beijing still has time to save face by taking
the initiative to work out a diplomatic settlement. Reconvening the
six-party talks by twisting Kim Jong-il's arm is an urgent task for
Beijing. Failing to do that could result not only in a nuclear
North Korea, but also a re-armed, possibly a nuclear Japan."

B) "The Mellowing of Bush"

The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post"
[circulation: 30,000] commented in a separate editorial (7/15):

"It goes without saying that Kim Jong-il's test firing is a surprise
for the world. Perhaps more so is the mild reaction to the outrage
from U.S. President George W. Bush. ... Nowadays, President Bush
talks less about the use of force as a means to settle international
disputes than the employment of diplomacy and multilateral
negotiations to defuse crises, such as Kim's missile testing and
Iran's nuclear program. Apparently, he has learned the hard way
that brutal force and unilateralism do not work, even for the
world's sole superpower."

YOUNG