MEDIA REACTION: DPRK NUCLEAR TEST, CAMPAIGN TO OUST

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 003509 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: DPRK NUCLEAR TEST, CAMPAIGN TO OUST PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused their coverage October 13 on a Taipei City Police Department decision Thursday to revoke permission for the "Oust Bian" campaign to assemble in front of the Presidential Office starting this coming Saturday; on the vote in the Legislative Yuan today over the motion to recall President Chen Shui-bian; and on the plane crash of New York Yankees pitcher Cory Lidle Wednesday. Both the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's largest-circulation daily, and the pro-unification "United Daily News" reported on inside pages a U.S. Congressional Research Service report released Tuesday, which said Washington worries that "the level of anti-Chen sentiment being whipped up by some of Chen's opponents may lead to more violent protests or to extra-judicial measures for addressing the corruption allegations." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" commented on North Korea's recent nuclear test, saying the move has made China anxious and outraged, but Beijing was unable to complain about it, like a mute person tasting bitter herbs. With regard to the campaign to oust President Chen, an editorial in the limited-circulation, conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" said the majority of the Taiwan people have spoken their minds about Chen's abuses of power and no longer consider him as their leader. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News," on the other hand, urged the "Oust Bian" campaign to stop and allow the judiciary and constitutional system to decide whether Chen has abused his power. End summary. ¶3. DPRK Nuclear Test "Like a Mute Person Tasting Bitter Herbs, Beijing Is Unable to Complain" Columnist Antonio Chiang noted in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] (10/13): "... North Korea's nuclear test came as a great encouragement for Iran's development of nuclear weapons. But more importantly, the nuclear test has drawn China, Japan, and South Korea closer to each other; it is rare for the three countries to find a consensus, and they now have to join hands together to deal with this challenge. ... "The key purpose for Pyongyang to possess nuclear weapons is to use them for nuclear deterrence, and without a doubt, its main target is the United States. But since the United States is a long distance away, and it has interception ballistic missiles, it can sleep in peace for a while. But the neighboring countries of North Korea, such as Japan, South Korea, and, of course, China, are those which really feel the threat because there is no eternal friendship between nations. Once Beijing and Pyongyang are on bad terms, North Korea may switch its target of deterrence to China. "When it comes to the problem of North Korea, if China chooses to side with South Korea, it is akin to carrying two burdens on its back - North Korea and South Korea. Also, once China forms an alliance with South Korea, the alliance between the United States and South Korea will surely collapse. [Should this be the case,] Washington will definitely seek to strengthen its alliance with Japan, which will create an impact on Beijing-Washington ties and may not be so favorable for China. This nuclear test is shaping Asia's geopolitics. Japan gets really nervous, while Washington's uneasiness is merely sham; China is both anxious and outraged, but like a mute person tasting bitter herbs, it is unable to complain." ¶4. Campaign to Oust President Chen Shui-bian A) "Chen Already Judged a Loser" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (10/13): "... Knowledgeable people will say that, when a spate of evidence unmistakably has shown that the present judicial system is neither independent nor upholds justice, 'letting the people decide' should be the best and most democratic way to resolve the current deadlock between pro- and anti-Chen camps. And, indeed, there is no legitimate reason for Chen, a politician who has always boasted of being a champion of democracy, to refuse to face such a public vote of confidence if he still firmly believes he is innocent and supported by the majority of the people. "But, the fact is that all DPP legislators, understandably with the president's consent, do not agree to this democratic suggestion, with the result that the recall proposal cannot be passed. When a popularly elected head of state in a democracy is afraid of being PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN tested by public opinion, it means he realizes that he has lost popular support. Hence President Chen is no longer a credible supreme leader even if he is digging himself in the Presidential Office and manages to preserve his precarious presidency through exploiting legal technicalities. ... "Few believe that President Chen, with his determination and audacity, will ultimately be forced to relinquish his power by a 'peaceful' movement. But, the majority of the people have spoken their minds against his abuses of power. Deep in their hearts, they no longer consider him as their leader, which should be the most painful humiliation to a popularly elected supreme leader in a modern democracy. ..." B) "Time to Go Home and Wake up" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (10/13): "We sincerely urge Shih Ming-teh and other leaders of the misnamed 'Million Voices against Corruption' campaign to depose President Chen Shui-bian to take the advice offered by the Democratic Progressive Party Wednesday and go home. ... The last month has indeed been enlightening, but enough is enough. Mr. Shih, please do everyone a favor: Go home. We finally hope that the thousands of people who jumped into Shih's campaign will reflect on their experiences, allow our judiciary and constitutional system to handle the question of whether President Chen has abused his powers and wake up to the fact that they have again been used by unscrupulous politicians." YOUNG