Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|
06AITTAIPEI4073 | 2006-12-07 10:22:00 | UNCLASSIFIED | American Institute Taiwan, Taipei |
VZCZCXYZ0007 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #4073 3411022 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 071022Z DEC 06 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3371 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6062 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7284 |
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 004073 |
1. Summary: As the upcoming Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections stayed in the spotlight of the Taiwan media, news coverage on December 7 also focused on Taiwan's winning two gold medals in soft tennis in the Asian Games in Doha Wednesday. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-unification "United Daily News" strongly criticized President Chen Shui-bian and his administration's performance over the past six-and-a-half years. The article said Taiwan's survival depends on the rapidly declining legitimacy of President Chen's reign. An editorial in the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times," on the other hand, discussed the "absurd" and "meaningless" name of "Chinese Taipei," a tag Taiwan's athletes have to bear when they take part in international events. End summary. 2. Taiwan's Political Situation "Eye of Typhoon: Taiwan's Chance of Survival Lies in the Weakening of Chen Shui-bian" The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (12/7): "... Over the past six-and-a-half years, Chen Shui-bian has shattered Taiwan's dreams - in addition to the plunge of the stock market, the exhausted economic situation, and the island's marginalization, we have also seen disillusionment over deepening democracy and frustration in the ideals for reform. ... Now that there is nothing left of Chen's legitimacy, Taiwan has paradoxically entered a moment of tranquility, as in the 'eye of typhoon.' For the island, the moment when the legitimacy of Chen's reign is rapidly declining, it is exactly where this nation and society's chance of survival lies. Chen is trying desperately to rise to power again using this year's Taipei and Kaohsiung mayoral elections. Will Taiwan lose the tranquility of the 'eye of typhoon' and fall into the heavy storm caused by Chen again should he regain his power?" 3. Cross-Strait Relations "Let's Dump 'Chinese Taipei'" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (12/7): "Viewers around the world were wowed by the creative spectacle of Friday's opening ceremony for the Asian Games in Doha. As the audience applauded the entrance of delegates from 45 Asian nations and regions into the stadium, many Taiwanese viewers couldn't help but feel frustrated when they saw the delegation from Taiwan marching under the absurd 'Chinese Taipei' banner. ... 'Chinese Taipei' is a meaningless moniker. Taiwan is a sovereign state with its own government, elections, currency and territory. Taiwan negotiates its own treaties and has its own president. ... It is unfair to force the nation's 399 athletes - the fourth-largest Asian Games delegation after China, Japan and South Korea - to compete under such a meaningless name when they work just as hard as their counterparts from other countries. "It is disheartening to see the oblivious response of the international community to the obvious unfairness of this situation, especially when it has arisen just to placate the nation's lunatic neighbor across the Taiwan Strait. It is even more frustrating to witness the government's utter failure to make progress on this issue, even though it has spent a fortune on public relations firms and commercials to back the nation's bids to participate in the UN and the WHO. The bottom line is that the DPP has done very little to highlight the nation's plight on an international stage such as that provided by the Asian Games, in effect choosing to lamely accept the ridiculous convention of 'Chinese Taipei.' ..." YOUNG |