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
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