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