MEDIA REACTION: KMT CHAIRMAN MA YING-JEOU'S U.S. TRIP

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000982 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC BARBORIAK DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: KMT CHAIRMAN MA YING-JEOU'S U.S. TRIP ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to focus their coverage March 23 on the freeway electronic toll collection system scandal; the Mainland Affair Council's announcement Wednesday of new measures concerning cross-Strait trade; KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou's U.S. trip; and other political issues. Almost all papers reported in their inside pages on Ma's speech at Harvard University Tuesday, in which he proposed that both sides of the Taiwan Strait establish a "modus vivendi" that would enable Taiwan to participate in bilateral or multilateral activities in the international community. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's biggest daily, called Ma's U.S. trip a "campaign journey" that takes him from the stage of Taiwan to that of the international community. The editorial criticized Ma for lacking feelings for Taiwan, and for being "a heavy-artillery man who attacks his own government from the United States." Editorials of the pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" and the limited-circulation, pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" both criticized Ma's demagogy and failure to stand up for Taiwan in the United States, adding that he is "unfit for national leadership." An editorial in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" also said Ma's performance in the United States was mainly aimed at removing Washington's concerns, and at positioning himself for the 2008 Taiwan presidential election. An editorial in the pro-status quo "China Times" expressed disappointment at Ma's remarks in the United States. The article said in addition to mentioning peace and prosperity, Ma should focus more on the topic of democracy and express continued concerns over China's deficiencies in its freedom of speech and human rights protection. End summary. A) "Ma Ying-jeou's China-Inclined Heart Is Stronger Than His Feelings For Taiwan" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 600,000] editorialized (3/23): "... Without doubt, Ma's U.S. trip is a campaign journey that takes him from the stage of Taiwan to that of the international community. Given his fluent English and background knowledge, Ma could have been an excellent salesman for Taiwan to let [the world] hear Taiwan �0A;voices if he had a Taiwan-inclined heart. It is a pity that Ma's China-inclined heart evidently is much stronger than his feelings for Taiwan, so it turns him into a heavy-artillery man that attacks his government from the United States. It is an even sadder mistake of Ma's that during his U.S. trip, he is using the signboard of the ROC that now only exists in name to cover up the fact of Taiwan's existence ..." B) "Ma's Avoidance of Talking About Taiwan's Independent Sovereignty in His Speech at Harvard University Reveals His Conservative Mindset Inherited from [Taiwan's Previous] Authoritarian Era and Is Like a Poisonous Pill" The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 100,000] commented in an editorial (3/23): "At the invitation of Harvard University's Fairbank Center for East Asian Research, KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou recently delivered a speech on 'A Vision for Peace and Prosperity." Even though the topic of his speech may seem high-sounding, the contents were actually very impractical. Ma avoided talking about Taiwan's independent sovereignty, [the fact that] Taiwan is not part of China, and the targeting of Taiwan by Chinese missiles; he also failed to promote Taiwan-centered values overseas. Instead, he spent a lot of time talking about cross-Strait exchanges and vision of peace, totally overlooking the fact of China's military threats against the island. Ma's speech showed a reflection of his pro-China and anti-Taiwan mindset; he still maintains a conservative stance of the authoritarian era in this democratic and open-minded society. Ma's performance has failed to meet the Taiwan people's expectations. ..." C) "Ma's Visions Are No Substitute for Taiwan Democracy" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (3/23): "Kuomintang Party Chairman and Taipei City Mayor Ma Ying-jeou embarked on a whirlwind tour of the United States earlier this week with major addresses to the New York-based Council for Foreign Relations and at Harvard University. Ma has striven to put forward a 'pragmatic' vision of how the KMT, which has endured six years in opposition after nearly 55 years of monopolizing power in Taiwan, would handle cross-strait policy with the People's Republic of China. Just as in Europe, Ma has not failed to disappoint those who hoped that the new KMT leader would prove more rational and moderate than his predecessors. ... "Claims by KMT leaders such as Ma that Taiwan's vibrant democracy must operate within the bounds of Beijing's or the KMT's 'one China' principle or accept as religious faith the KMT's self-serving legitimacy myth are no less demagogic than claims by extreme elements of the pan-green camp (not, by the way, including Chen or the DPP) that all of Taiwan's problems would be solved by a new name. Until Ma learns to curb his own demagogy and stand up for the rights of Taiwanese, we will consider him to be unfit for national leadership." D) "Ma Ying-jeou's Middle Road Both Authentic and False" The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 500,000] wrote in an editorial (3/23): "... It's a pity that Ma only talked about cross-Strait relations without condemning to the international community China's threats against Taiwan, its violation of human rights, and its authoritarianism. Neither did Ma safeguard Taiwan's call for democracy and freedom. Ma's performance in the United States this time was mainly aimed at removing Washington's concerns. The remarks he made were also meant for the Taiwan people and his purpose was to position himself for the presidential election in ¶2008. ... E) "In Addition to Peace and Prosperity, Do Not Forget There Is Also Democracy" The pro-status quo "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (3/23): "... As of now, what Ma Ying-jeou has been talking to the international media on the public occasions [during his U.S. trip] most was about his position toward cross-Strait relations and toward unification/independence. In addition to his prior controversial 'ultimate unification' comment and 'the KMT's listing Taiwan independence as a possible option,' what Ma has been reiterating still has focused on how to 'maintain the status quo.' ... Ma's remarks basically do not go beyond the contents of the KMT's 'win-win' discourse, started in the wake of [former KMT Chairman] Lien Chan's visit to China [last spring]. To a certain extent, they also have kept clear the difference [of the KMT's platform] from the DPP's discourse on 'Taiwan independence. Ma's remarks [in the United States] were timely in the way that they helped to mold a moderate, pragmatic and flexible image for him in international society. But for this newspaper, such comments are not enough. Just like as this newspaper's editorial stated right after Ma's trip to Europe, we believe Ma has talked too much on the topic of unification and independence while he has talked too little on the topic of democracy. ... "To be sure, given the current level of democratic development on mainland China, it will be difficult for both sides of the Taiwan Strait to achieve real peace and prosperity if China's democratic development remains at the current level. Ma should have the attitude and vision to proactively express continued concerns about mainland China's deficiencies in [its people's] freedom of speech, its rule of law, and human rights protection. ..." YOUNG