MEDIA REACTION: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 003564 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: U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies shifted their focus October 18 from covering all political issues to a business scandal involving a major holding company; the KMT-CCP Cross-Strait Agricultural Forum held in Boao October 17-18; and the year-end Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral races. Given an announcement by People First Party Chairman James Soong Tuesday that he will run for mayor of Taipei as a "non-partisan" candidate, the pro-unification "United Daily News" front-paged the results of its latest survey, which showed that the approval rating for KMT candidate Hau Lung-pin dropped from 50 percent in early September to 34 percent. The same poll also finds that DPP candidate Frank Hsieh has an approval rating of fourteen percent; Soong has nine percent; independent Legislator Li Ao has five percent; and Taiwan Solidarity Union candidate Clara Chou has one percent. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the pro-independence "Liberty Times,"Taiwan's largest-circulation daily, discussed AIT Taipei Director Stephen Young's comment on James Soong on the Double Ten National Day. The article criticized the "Oust Bian" campaign for failing to practice what it preached, namely, observing propriety and showing respect for other people. An editorial in the pro-status quo "China Times" applauded the KMT's recent decision to return to the middle course and pull its battle front back to the Legislative Yuan. End summary. A) "Red-shirt Army Acting Rudely; United States Unhappy about It" Columnist Paul Lin said in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] (10/18): "The red-clad army made disturbances at the Double Ten National Day ceremony and even pounded on the cars of foreign dignitaries. American Institute in Taiwan Taipei Director Stephen Young, when questioned by a reporter, said "Shouldn't everybody behave with manners?" The disturbances at national celebrations were an act showing no manners, not only to President Chen and the invited dignitaries but also to the citizens of the Republic of China. The slogan used by the red-shirt army in an attempt to oust Bian is 'propriety, righteousness, integrity, and a sense of shame.' The rude behaviors of the red-shirt army indicated that they failed to observe propriety, and failing to practice what one preaches is the biggest irony. ... "In addition to pointing out the unreasonableness of the disturbances, Young also picked on James Soong. Young said '[You] should go and ask James Soong and his party [why they did it].' Why single out Soong? The answer is very simple: because Soong was the one who led his party members to raise disturbances. It was a deliberate disturbance; he not only announced it beforehand but also had a red suit tailor-made in advance, spending a lot of money on it. Of course, Young has to know that Soong is the person that is most firmly opposed to [U.S.] arms deals in the Blue camp. This is not just about his attitude toward the United States, but also about whether he has the determination to defend Taiwan's security. "Pan-Blue political figures were reportedly 'sick' of Young's remarks. Actually, it is those pro-Communist, anti-American people who should feel sick of his remarks. For one thing, Soong, who as Young pointed out is the chairman of the People First Party, and those who acted along with Soong were 'unwilling followers.' Does the KMT need to count itself in? ... Of course, Young is clearly aware of Taiwan's political situation. [He knows that] Ma Ying-jeou was hijacked by Soong to sacrifice [U.S.] arms deals because of the KMT's [ill-gotten] party assets. Now is a test for Ma to see whether he is pro-U.S. or pro-Communist; whether he wants to defend universal values of democracy and rule of law or whether he wants to give up democracy and rule of law because of the KMT party assets. ..." B) "KMT Should Return to Opposition Line of Middle Course" The pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (10/18): "... Ma Ying-jeou's decision to pull the battle front back to the congress and await the indictment of the [Presidential Office's] state affairs fund case is of course a relatively pragmatic decision. Without adequate judicial support, [the KMT] will not be able to impose sufficient political pressure on the Green legislators and make them change their positions. ... The KMT singled out the Control Yuan nominees bill and major arms procurements bill, both of which have actually been stalled [in the Legislative Yuan] for one or two years. [Due to the stall,] the former bill has resulted in the Control Yuan's ceasing to function for a long time, while the latter has resulted in complaints from Taiwan's longtime ally, the United States, which, when showing displeasure with the Bian administration, also had some misunderstanding with the opposition party. ... "Protests can of course be a strategy, but if the strategy does more damage to oneself than to others, it is certain that the strategy must be adjusted. Gentleness does not mean concession, and the middle course can also be something one persists in. If such persistence can maintain a glimpse of hope and purity for Taiwan society in the current political upheavals, it is a right choice, and one should not feel afraid even when there is political or election pressure." YOUNG