Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06AITTAIPEI4202
2006-12-28 09:31:00
UNCLASSIFIED
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHIN #4202 3620931 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 280931Z DEC 06 FM AIT TAIPEI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3565 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6137 RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7366
UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 004202
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - DAVID FIRESTEIN
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies gave significant
reporting and editorial coverage December 28 to President Chen
Shui-bian's son-in-law, who was sentenced to six years in prison and
fined NT$30 million Wednesday for his involvement in insider trading
in the Taiwan Development Company case. Coverage also focused on
the trial of the Presidential Office Allowance for State Affairs
case, and the aftermath of the strong earthquake that rocked
southern Taiwan Tuesday. In terms of editorials and commentaries,
an "Apple Daily" column discussed President Chen Shui-bian's current
status. The article predicated that Chen will struggle between his
dual roles as lawyer for the defendant and as president during the
remainder of his term. End summary.
"A-Bian Comes Alive Again"
Columnist Antonio Chiang commented in his column in the
mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] (12/28):
"... A-Bian came alive again in the wake of the Taipei and Kaohsiung
mayoral elections. Acting step by step and with great care, he
resumed execution of his presidential authority by tossing off a
plan to re-nominate the Control Yuan members and by appointing a
group of two and three-star generals and admirals. His next step is
to nominate the Grand Justices and the State Public
Prosecutor-General, and he is likely to visit Central America and
Africa early next year. It appears as if the previous glory has
returned.
"When on his ebb tide, A-Bian once announced that he would
relinquish some of his presidential powers. But he has made too
many promises, and he may not really mean what he says sometimes.
Besides, to relinquish some of his powers does not include the
powers granted to him by the Constitution; he will still try his
best to execute these powers as long as he remains in office. As
offense and defense is currently being played out in court over the
Presidential Office Allowance for State Affairs case, in which Chen
is allegedly involved, and as the Presidential Office Allowance for
State Affairs case as well as the declaration of assets by public
officials are all duties under the purview of the Control Yuan, it
may involve conflicts of interest and thus rob A-Bian of his
legitimacy if he wants to nominate the Control Yuan members now.
The DPP filed for constitutional interpretation from the Grand
Justices over the Presidential Office Allowance for State Affairs
case. But since the Grand Justices will be nominated by A-Bian,
whose interests are obviously at stake, it will be very difficult to
convince the public, no matter how unbiased Bian claims his position
is.
"A-Bian played the role of lawyer for the defendant while fighting
for his and his family's cases, but in the meantime, he played the
role as the president when he delivered a speech at the
Investigation Bureau, appointed senior military officers, and
nominated the Control Yuan members. Still, quite a few people in
Taiwan's society regard him as a defendant and accomplice and refuse
to acknowledge him as president. A-Bian still has more than one
year of his remaining term of office, and he will surely struggle
between his roles of lawyer and president. For him, this will be a
test of will, but for Taiwan's society, it will be an unnecessary
torture."
WANG
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - DAVID FIRESTEIN
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN
Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies gave significant
reporting and editorial coverage December 28 to President Chen
Shui-bian's son-in-law, who was sentenced to six years in prison and
fined NT$30 million Wednesday for his involvement in insider trading
in the Taiwan Development Company case. Coverage also focused on
the trial of the Presidential Office Allowance for State Affairs
case, and the aftermath of the strong earthquake that rocked
southern Taiwan Tuesday. In terms of editorials and commentaries,
an "Apple Daily" column discussed President Chen Shui-bian's current
status. The article predicated that Chen will struggle between his
dual roles as lawyer for the defendant and as president during the
remainder of his term. End summary.
"A-Bian Comes Alive Again"
Columnist Antonio Chiang commented in his column in the
mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] (12/28):
"... A-Bian came alive again in the wake of the Taipei and Kaohsiung
mayoral elections. Acting step by step and with great care, he
resumed execution of his presidential authority by tossing off a
plan to re-nominate the Control Yuan members and by appointing a
group of two and three-star generals and admirals. His next step is
to nominate the Grand Justices and the State Public
Prosecutor-General, and he is likely to visit Central America and
Africa early next year. It appears as if the previous glory has
returned.
"When on his ebb tide, A-Bian once announced that he would
relinquish some of his presidential powers. But he has made too
many promises, and he may not really mean what he says sometimes.
Besides, to relinquish some of his powers does not include the
powers granted to him by the Constitution; he will still try his
best to execute these powers as long as he remains in office. As
offense and defense is currently being played out in court over the
Presidential Office Allowance for State Affairs case, in which Chen
is allegedly involved, and as the Presidential Office Allowance for
State Affairs case as well as the declaration of assets by public
officials are all duties under the purview of the Control Yuan, it
may involve conflicts of interest and thus rob A-Bian of his
legitimacy if he wants to nominate the Control Yuan members now.
The DPP filed for constitutional interpretation from the Grand
Justices over the Presidential Office Allowance for State Affairs
case. But since the Grand Justices will be nominated by A-Bian,
whose interests are obviously at stake, it will be very difficult to
convince the public, no matter how unbiased Bian claims his position
is.
"A-Bian played the role of lawyer for the defendant while fighting
for his and his family's cases, but in the meantime, he played the
role as the president when he delivered a speech at the
Investigation Bureau, appointed senior military officers, and
nominated the Control Yuan members. Still, quite a few people in
Taiwan's society regard him as a defendant and accomplice and refuse
to acknowledge him as president. A-Bian still has more than one
year of his remaining term of office, and he will surely struggle
between his roles of lawyer and president. For him, this will be a
test of will, but for Taiwan's society, it will be an unnecessary
torture."
WANG