MEDIA REACTION: TAIWAN'S POLITICAL SITUATION

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002469 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: TAIWAN'S POLITICAL SITUATION ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their coverage July 21 on the decision by the Taipei District Court Thursday to continue President Chen Shui-bian's son-in-law's release on a higher bail of NT$17 million; the detention of Vice Minister of Interior Yen Wan-chin for alleged involvement in a corruption case; the Financial Supervisory Committee's penalties on a local financial holding company; First Lady Wu Shu-chen's alleged involvement in the Presidential Office's allowance for state affairs; and the Han Kuang No. 22 military exercise. Former Senior Advisor to the President Koo Kuan-min posted a half-page advertisement in several major Chinese-language papers Thursday, saying President Chen should stay on in his position, and calling on DPP members and pro-Green scholars to give Chen another six months to carry out his previous promises to the Taiwan people. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, urged the Executive Yuan not to repeat its mistakes in opening cross-Strait trade and investment. Three local English-language papers editorialized on the current predicament facing President Chen and the DPP. Editorials in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" and "Taiwan News" both said Chen should not step down, but should complete the four-year mandate he received 2004. An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post," however, suggested that the DPP bravely face Chen and the party's political crisis and "show Chen the door." End summary. A) "Executive Yuan Must Not Become a Historical Sinner That Loses Taiwan's Lifeline for Good" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (7/21): "... As the key sponsor of the Sustainable Economic Development Conference, a clear line that the Executive Yuan must grasp in particular is the fact that cross-Strait relations are an important part of the island's national security, which is under the president's powers, as stipulated in the Constitution. This authority is different from the party and governing powers President Chen said he would relinquish in late May. To put it plainly, it is always the president who decides on policies related to cross-Strait relations, and the Executive Yuan is simply the government agency that implements the policies. ... "The Sustainable Economic Development Conference's focus on cross-Strait relations should thus be placed on adopting proactive moves to improve the island's current economic status, which leans heavily towards China. In particular, the government must not repeat the mistakes it made in the previous Economic Development Advisory Conference. Five years ago, the ruling authorities abandoned the 'No Haste, Be Patient' policy on cross-Strait trade and economics, and replaced it with an ambiguous slogan of 'Proactive Opening, Effective Management.' With some implementation errors, the government actually paid attention to the 'proactive opening' part only, which led to the undesirable consequences of having Taiwan's economy rely heavily on China. The Executive Yuan must not repeat its mistakes, or it will become a historical sinner that loses Taiwan's lifeline for good." B) "Some Advice for Chen Shui-bian" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (7/21): "President Chen Shui-bian is probably under more pressure now than at any other time in his life, with serious personal problems at home and mounting stresses in his job. ... But it is in the worst of times that true leadership comes to the fore. It is now that the president should stand up and commit himself to the job at hand, making full use of his last 18 months in office. It is no time to turn back - the legacy of the Chen administration depends on taking the initiative and looking forward. ... "Other than talking less and pushing his family to the background, the policy areas the president could address with some urgency include: pushing ahead with the proposed statute on stolen party assets, speeding up the next stage of financial reform, selling off the government's multitude of state-owned enterprises, bringing the Lafayette frigate scandal to a close and ensuring the opening of the high-speed rail system. Indeed, the list of things to do is long and behind schedule. Chen still holds the nation's top job. He should start to act like it." C) "DPP's Task Now Is to Move Onward" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] noted in an editorial (7/21): "The governing Democratic Progressive Party faces a decisive turning point tomorrow with the convention of a crucial party congress, the result of which may well determine the fate of the 20-year-old organization and the future of Taiwan's democracy. ... For reasons of both political responsibility and for the future of Taiwan's democratic progress, we also oppose the resignation of President Chen. Instead, we argue from the standpoints of political responsibility and respect for democratic institutions, that Chen should complete the four-year mandate which he received from the majority of the Taiwan people on March 20, 2004. ... "We strongly urge the DPP leadership to reaffirm the party's role and commitment to promote the 'Taiwan road' of 'democracy, freedom, human rights, peace, social justice and sustainability' and recall that its base of support lies among Taiwan's ordinary people and not among the ranks of big business, whose favorite party remains the KMT. Last but not least, the DPP must respond to the concerns of the vast majority of the Taiwan people and ensure that Taiwan's economic and social development retains its autonomy, without which our political self-determination would be difficult to defend." D) "DPP Faces a Tough Choice" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] said in an editorial (7/21): "... The fact is, almost every DPP member is aware now that Chen, who used to play a key role in keeping the DPP strong and coherent, has become a liability rather than an asset of the party. The recent series of events surrounding him and his family have done so much damage to the DPP that the party might be better off without him. ... As one DPP lawmaker said after Chao Chien-ming was indicted, this case has imposed the death penalty on the party. DPP members, and the party's heavyweights, should bravely face the issue that's bringing the party to its demise. They must have the courage to show Chen the door if they want their party to survive." YOUNG