MA: HOLD CHEN ACCOUNTABLE FOR CORRUPTION,

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 002166

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/22/2016
TAGS: PGOV TW
SUBJECT: MA: HOLD CHEN ACCOUNTABLE FOR CORRUPTION,
INCOMPETENCE

REF: TAIPEI 2138

Classified By: Director Stephen M. Young, Reason(s): 1.4 (B/D).


1. (C) Summary: In a June 21 televised address, KMT
Chairman Ma Ying-jeou defended the Pan-Blue effort to recall
President Chen and urged him to step down to take political
responsibility for corruption scandals and incompetence in
managing Taiwan's economy and relations with the U.S. In
response to Chen's "report to the people" the night before,
Ma questioned the credibility of Chen's response to scandal
allegations involving his family. He advised the DPP not to
sink with the ship and urged prosecutors be impartial and
fair in investigating scandals. Ma called on the Taiwan
people to support the recall, explaining that the recall
effort, intended to clean up corruption, was neither a power
grab nor a power struggle. Ma refused to endorse PFP James
Soong's call for a no-confidence vote against Premier Su
Tseng-chang. Like Chen the night before, Ma was seeking to

SIPDIS
motivate his base for the December mayoral elections and
beyond and to bring swing voters and "Light Blue" voters back
into the fold. End Summary.

Talking to Everyone
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2. (SBU) In an effort to counter President Chen's June 20
"report to the people" (reftel),KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou on
June 21 delivered a half-hour live-television address, titled
"Recovering Taiwan's Justice and Conscience." Ma delivered
his speech alone, seated at a desk in a small wood-paneled
room with no flags or posters at the new KMT office building.
Afterward, Ma, flanked by KMT spokesperson Cheng Li-wen and
KMT Secretary General Chan Chuen-po, held a half-hour live
press conference in a larger room with political slogans on
the wall.


3. (SBU) Unlike Chen, who spoke almost entirely in
Taiwanese, Ma made his remarks in Mandarin. In a barb aimed
at Chen for playing the ethnic card, Ma explained at the
press conference that, although he could have delivered his
speech in Taiwanese, he chose to speak in Mandarin so that
those Hakka, Aborigine, and Mainlander people who do not
speak Taiwanese could also understand him.


4. (SBU) Ma displayed more conviction and emotion than in
some previous speeches. He left no doubts about his negative
view of President Chen, who, Ma said, had lost the confidence
and respect of the Taiwan people. Dividing his speech into
four sections, Ma addressed in turn President Chen,
supporters of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP),the
prosecutors investigating various scandals, and lastly, the
people of Taiwan.

The President: Corrupt and Incompetent
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5. (SBU) Ma accused the President of resorting to legalistic
arguments while refusing to provide clear answers to
questions about corruption allegations leveled against his
family and closest advisors. Ma urged Chen to step down in
order to take political responsibility for the ethical
failings of those around him. He also criticized Chen for
damaging Taiwan's relations with the U.S. and for being
responsible for a decline in Taiwan's economic performance
compared to the period when the KMT was the ruling party.

The DPP: Save Yourselves
--------------


6. (SBU) In remarks to the DPP and its supporters, Ma voiced
his appreciation for the party's contributions to Taiwan
democracy, and urged its members to honor the party's proud
past by holding Chen accountable for his misconduct. Ma said
his hope was that the DPP and KMT could become "both
competitors and partners" in building a clean government for
Taiwan.

The Prosecutors: The People Are On Your Side
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7. (SBU) Ma urged the prosecutors investigating the
allegations against Chen's family and administration to be
courageous, thorough and impartial in their pursuit of the
truth, knowing they had the full support of the Taiwan
people. Ma empathized with the prosecutors, saying that as a
former Justice Minister, he understood the pressures involved
in investigating ranking officials and presidential
relatives.

The People: It's For You
--------------


8. (SBU) Appealing to the people at large, Ma stressed that
the KMT was not doing this for partisan advantage. In
arguing that recalling Chen would not benefit the KMT, Ma
asserted it would be better for the KMT to leave a tarnished
Chen in power until 2008. But, he continued, Taiwan could
not afford to continue spinning its wheels or tolerate
corruption in its leaders. Ma pushed Chen to resign earlier
rather than later, suggesting that if Chen quit now, "he
might still win sympathy from the Taiwan people."


9. (SBU) Ma rejected any consideration of PFP Chairman James
Soong's idea of immediately calling for a no-confidence vote
against Premier Su should the recall bill fail, at least at
this time. Ma said the KMT should spare no effort to win the
recall vote, and not shift the focus of its efforts to other
possible options until the recall fight is finished.

Polls Show Little Impact
--------------


10. (SBU) Media polls conducted after President Chen's June
20 "report to the people" indicate that the speech did not
have much impact on public opinion. Results were mixed in
different polls, which showed small increases or small
decreases in support for and opposition to the recall motion.
According to polls by the two major pro-Blue newspapers,
support for the recall motion is about 43-47 percent and
opposition about 34-38 percent. According to the same polls,
support for a vote of no confidence against Premier Su
remains significantly lower, with just 35 percent in favor
and 36-38 percent opposed. It should be noted that Taiwan
media polls are useful for reference only and that polls in
the pro-Blue media are somewhat biased in favor of Blue
positions.

Comment
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11. (C) Given the limited impact of both speeches and given
the near certain failure of the recall motion, it is
difficult to understand the intensity with which both sides
are waging this battle. Both sides are jockeying for
position as they look forward to the electoral battles of the
next two years. Last night, like Chen the night before, Ma
was seeking to shore up his base before the year-end mayoral
elections. In addition Ma was using the medium in which he
is most comfortable, television, to persuade voters that he
can be a tough, principled candidate and leader.
KEEGAN