MEDIA REACTION: CAMPAIGN TO OUST PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN,

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 003289 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - DAVID FIRESTEIN DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: CAMPAIGN TO OUST PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN, U.S.-CHINA-TAIWAN RELATIONS ¶1. Summary: Taiwan major Chinese-language dailies focused their coverage September 22 on former DPP Chairman Shih Ming-teh's campaign to oust President Chen Shui-bian; on the violent clashes that erupted between the pro-Chen and anti-Chen protesters in southern Taiwan Thursday; on the possible solutions that may help to bring an end to the current political stand-off in Taiwan; and on KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's open apology for having supported the incumbent mayor of Keelung, who was convicted of corruption and sentenced to seven years in prison Wednesday. The pro-status quo "China Times" ran a front-page banner headline that read "Shih: Bian [Should] Step Down Unconditionally." The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's largest circulating daily, on the other hand, ran a banner headline on page two that said "Is Shih Organizing a Third Power and Discussing [the Possibility of] Forming a Party?" ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times" editorial criticized KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou for conniving at the "Oust Bian" campaign's plan to "besiege" the President Office on the Double Ten Day. A "China Times" editorial, on the other hand, criticized the blind support of some DPP seniors for President Chen. Regarding U.S.-China-Taiwan relations, an opinion piece in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" discussed the DPP's and KMT's stances with regard to cross-Strait relations. End summary. ¶3. Campaign to Oust President Chen Shui-bian A) "Is Ma Ying-jeou Ready to Go to Extreme Lengths by Conniving to Besiege the Republic of China?" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (9/22): "... People may have different political stances now with regard to whether to oust Bian or to oppose the 'oust Bian' movement, and arguments over this matter are inevitable. But judged from the national level, we are all compatriots and we share joys and sorrows together; we are citizens of the same nation and we use the same passports when we travel abroad. How can the public be divided into two distinct groups by whether or not they support the 'Oust Bian' movement? Is it possible that the 'Oust Bian' campaign headquarters does not understand the concept 'the world is a commonwealth for all' and it is therefore ready to go to extreme lengths by 'besieging' its own country on a national holiday? ... The plan to 'surround' a national celebration ceremony will be another test for Ma Ying-jeou. Let's just wait and see how he is going to 'safeguard the Republic of China.' B) "Return to the Scales of Democracy and Ethics of Accountability to Talk about Resignation and Removal from Office" The pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (9/22): "... Let's turn our eyes onto the situation Mr. Chen Shui-bian is now in. Almost all opinion surveys indicated that, over a long period of time, A-Bian's approval rating with regard to his administrative performance has been below 20 percent, while the percentage of the people who believe he should resign of his own accord has stayed around 60. As for President Chen's honesty and integrity, it has slumped to the ground after he said in publicly that he did not 'directly' accept any SOGO Department Store gift certificates. The bankruptcy of Chen's integrity happened not only happened in Taiwan; the situation may also be more serious in the eyes of the Americans. Judging from the current situation, Chen evidently has neither ethics nor prestige, both of which are essential elements for promoting national affairs, regardless of how popular the red-clad movement to oust Bian is in northern Taiwan and how violent the skirmishes by the Green supporters have become in southern Taiwan. In the face of such a situation, is it fair for all the Taiwan people if some people still believe that Chen should not consider resigning from his position and insist on leaving Taiwan in a state of stagnation until May 2008? What about the sentence in the president's inaugural pledge, which assures his people that [he] 'will never fail the people's empowerment?' Is those DPP seniors' blind support [for Chen] a move to topple or to maintain the nativist regime? Can their remarks really stand the test of democratic ideals? ..." ¶4. U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations "Will the Future Be Any Different?" Nat Bellocchi, former chairman of AIT and now a special adviser to the Liberty Times Group, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (9/22): "... In the midst of all the domestic political turbulence, the chairman of the two main political parties - Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Chairman Ma Ying-jeou and Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairman Yu Shyi-kun - have visited the US to spell out policies that might be of interest to Washington. ... Comparing the two presentations is difficult. Yu focused on Taiwan's potential in describing the path it could take (with help, of course) in moving China toward democracy - an important objective for the US and other states. He did not intend to raise a wide number of issues in cross-strait or bilateral matters, at least not for the moment. Continuous attention to Taiwan's internal struggles, however, makes decisions difficult to arrive at. The lack of high-level and open dialogue makes it more difficult still, not only for the ruling party but the opposition as well. "Ma, while covering a range of matters, focused on one broad issue - cross-strait relations. The first broad grouping of concerns involved problems to be inherited from the Chen administration; the second involved Taiwan-China dialogue itself. Regardless of how the issues play out, a Ma presidency would discover quite quickly that China will be obstructive on no small number of contentious matters. With regard to US-Taiwan ties, there remains a need to stay abreast of changes in people and issues on both sides that might impact on that relationship. A bilateral dialogue keeping both sides aware of domestic changes in the pre-election period will be helpful for both sides, as the presidential campaign threatens to muddy the waters considerably. At the same time, the debate on national identity will be intense, and the results very important, not just for the people of Taiwan, but for the US, China and most of East Asia." YOUNG