MEDIA REACTION: TAIWAN'S POLITICAL SITUATION

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 002492 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 gave extensive coverage July 25 to a decision by National Communications Commission (NCC) members Monday to remain in their positions until January 2008, following the Grand Justices' ruling that the way the commissioners are selected is unconstitutional; and to the aftermath of the DPP party congress. News coverage also focused on Typhoon Kaemi, which hit Taiwan early Tuesday morning; and investigations into the Lafayette frigate kickback scandal and other corruption cases. As the Cabinet-sponsored Sustainable Economic Development Conference is about to kick off this coming Thursday, the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, ran a banner headline on page two that quoted the Taiwan Advocates, a pro-independence local think tank, saying that the opening of cross-Strait trade and economics violates Taiwan's mainstream public opinion. ¶2. In terms of editorials, a "Liberty Times" editorial urged the DPP to take action to restore the people's confidence in the party. An editorial in the pro-unification "United Daily News," however, criticized the DPP's party congress for only focusing on power struggles but failing to note public opinion. An editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post," on the other hand, discussed the KMT's China policy, saying "peace is the ultimate criteria of all political enterprises." End summary. A) "DPP Should Take Action to Restore People's Confidence in the Party" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (7/25): "... The DPP became a ruling party within a very short period of time, starting from the 'tangwai' (outside the party) period to the party's establishment. Such an accomplishment did not indicate that the DPP has super-strong capabilities, or its administrative performance over the past six years would not have been so mediocre. Right now, the DPP should understand that what it shoulders is the Taiwan people's wishes for democracy, renovation, and becoming their own masters. If the DPP can faithfully carry out its duties, the Taiwan people will naturally allow it to continue shouldering these responsibilities. In contrast, if the DPP fails to carry out what 
the Taiwan people have entrusted it to do and fails to stick to the line of nativism, incorruptibility, and renovation, the chances are high that the party's approval rating will continue to slump." B) "Look at DPP's Excitement over Power, Indifference to Public Opinion" The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] commented in an editorial (7/25): "... In its party congress, the DPP failed to take any action to deal with Chen Shui-bian, who is delinquent and lacks moral ethics and bearing, but gave a ruthless order to dissolve the party's best combat troops. The results of the DPP party congress were quite consistent with the performance of a defeated army. During its party congress, the DPP failed to review its structure and nature, and failed to make any response to the public's complaints and some scholars' appeals; instead, party members were busy buying and exchanging votes with each other and were busy fighting for power. How closely has the current DPP come to resemble the KMT before the latter was defeated in the presidential election years ago! ..." C) "KMT's New China Policy" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] (7/25): "... Like the U.S., Japan and the United Nations, the KMT accepts the 'one-China' principle as prescribed in the ROC Constitution, to ensure regional pace and stability as well as world order. To calm the threatening Communist giant next door, the KMT stands for Taiwan's eventual reunification with China, but unification cannot take place before the mainland is democratized or when Taiwan's people are against it. This is the status quo the whole world demands. Taiwan people have a right to pursue independence from China or integration with the mainland, and the KMT respects this right. "But the KMT, again like the U.S., Japan and the United Nations, is opposed to any move that disrupts peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait or causes disharmony and social strife at home. Peace is the ultimate criteria of all political enterprises. The KMT will never allow Taiwan's people to be dragged into war for independence or other purposes. The ROC-Taiwan is a fully-fledged democracy, but its sovereignty remains incomplete since its security and defense are sponsored by the U.S. And Taiwan's people, though totally free, are unjustly deprived of the universal right of self-determination. For self-interest and the interests of neighbors and world powers, Taiwan's people have to forebear this ongoing injustice. To do otherwise is to invite war. Despite Beiji9ng's threatening rhetoric, this is the only way to assure peace, improve democracy and increase prosperity." YOUNG