MEDIA REACTION: DPP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FRANK HSIEH'S

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001690 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: DPP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FRANK HSIEH'S U.S. TRIP, TAIWAN'S UN BID ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused news coverage July 27 on DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's trip to the United States, on Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations, on the plunging Taiwan stock price index Thursday, and on a local teenager who killed his father Thursday. The pro-independence "Liberty Times," Taiwan's largest-circulation daily, ran a banner headline on page two that read "Taiwan People's Expectation and Rage: A Big March for [Taiwan's] UN Bid to Be Held on September 15; Millions of Letters [Will Be Sent] to 'Bombard' Ban Ki-moon." ¶2. In term of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" discussed the reasons why Washington opposes Taiwan's UN referendum and urged President Chen Shui-bian to stop the referendum and "ward off disaster before it is too late." An editorial in the pro-unification "United Daily News" discussed Frank Hsieh's U.S. trip and said he has unexpectedly opened the Pandora's Box -- namely, Hsieh's remarks have evidently clashed with those of President Chen Shui-bian, who, in response, has positioned himself on the high ground of Taiwan independence. An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" discussed U.S.-China-Taiwan relations as well as the values shared by Taiwan and the United States. With regard to Taiwan's UN bid, an op-ed in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" said the United States is in no position to oppose Taiwan's UN referendum, because it is already too late and because Washington is no longer justified in doing so. A separate "Taipei Times" op-ed said Taiwan's flexibility is of no help on the sovereignty issue. End summary. ¶3. DPP Presidential Candidate Frank Hsieh's U.S. Trip A) "Rein in a Horse at the Edge of a Precipice -- Ward off Disaster before It Is Too Late" The mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] editorialized (7/27): "Very much to Frank Hsieh's surprise, almost all the think tank scholars and political figures he met in the United States have unanimously articulated strong opposition to Taiwan's referendum on joining the United Nations. The reason [for these people's opposition] is actually very simple. The move is viewed as ONE that is aimed at using Taiwan as the island's national name and its UN bid as a smokescreen, in an attempt to conduct a popular vote on changing the island's national title. Once the referendum is passed, it will surely embarrass the Chinese leaders, who, in turn, will be forced to take action, and the consequence will be that China will have to confront the United States and thus disrupt the latter's global strategic deployment. ... "In addition to the aforementioned reasons, other reasons behind the United States' strong opposition to [Taiwan's] UN referendum include: First, [Washington] cannot accept the fact that it is being restrained by Taiwan, nor will it possibly walk into a trap set by Taiwan to wage war with China. Second, it can mitigate China's anxiety and rage if it is the United States that comes forward to admonish Taiwan and hold down its plan on the UN referendum. As a result, Washington has to take a strong stance so as to prevent China from making any reckless moves. Third, Washington and Beijing each use disciplining Taipei and Pyongyang as quid pro quo. If the United States fails to curb Taiwan, China will not do anything to restrain North Korea, or vice versa. Fourth, now is a critical moment for the war on terrorism. Given the fact that the war in Iraq has triggered protests in the United States, it is better not to start any conflicts [in other parts of the world]. This paper wants to urge President Chen to ward off disaster before it is too late. He must not turn hostile toward the United States and put all the Taiwan people under great risk just for his face and personal feelings." B) "Frank Hsieh Has Opened Pandora's Box" The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (7/27): "Frank Hsieh's original plan was to use his U.S. trip to boost his campaign but, unexpectedly, he has opened Pandora's Box. First, clashes between Bian's and Hsieh's discourses have escalated. Bian has evidently positioned himself on the high ground to dictate the issue, while Hsieh is marginalized in terms of his campaign discourse. Second, under such circumstances, the possibility of the 'Hsieh-Su ticket' is quickly on the rise, which will put Hsieh completely under Chen Shui-bian's shadow. ... "... The worst clashes between Hsieh and Bian is that to 'placate' Washington, Hsieh said he has openly announced his 'Three Nos' -- namely, there is no need for a referendum on Taiwan independence, for Taiwan independence movements, or for Taiwan to declare independence. Hsieh's remarks were appeared to be in sharp opposition to Chen's 'Four Nos and ONE Without.' In particular, be it a verbal mistake or not, the sentence 'there is no need for Taiwan independence movements' has totally contradicted the fundamental doctrines of the DPP. To no one's surprise, within a few hours following Hsieh's remarks, Chen pointed out in Taipei as a challenge to Hsieh that 'Taiwan's future and [the development of] cross-Strait relations should be decided via a referendum.' Chen's statement has evidently exceeded the 'UN referendum,' and all the more, by aiming at Hsieh's 'Three Nos,' Chen seized this opportunity to take the high ground on the independence referendum. ..." C) "Taiwan and American Values" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (7/27): "For all of the talk of tension between them, it is perfectly clear that Washington makes demands of the Taiwanese government on the assumption that the two share fundamental interests. Taiwan's resulting burden, as a de facto US ally, involves coming to terms with being treated -- and sometimes spoken to -- like an errant schoolchild. This patronizing tone can be difficult to tolerate, especially for those among pro-independence forces who suffered for years to create a society that shares the best of American values. The tone becomes genuinely unbearable, however, when it threatens to have a chilling effect on the Taiwanese who are most sympathetic to the US. ... "In recent years, it is these people -- not just President Chen Shui-bian -- who helped to create an impression among US officials that Taiwanese are troublesome, scattershot in their approach and unreliable in their allegiances. By the same token, it is clear that the political-academic establishment in Washington does not adequately comprehend the fundamentals of Taiwanese politics. It is as if they assume Taiwan to have the quasi-monolithic features of an autocratic party-state such as China. Consequently, the lion's share of the blame for military and diplomatic tensions falls on the government and not the hardline legislature that has handicapped it. Rarely are domestic factors such as these given the weight they deserve in accounting for political developments, which is odd considering how little political change there is in cross-strait relations. "It is also becoming abundantly clear, for example, that in the bowels of the US Department of State there are advisers who look upon Taiwanese as collectively responsible -- that is to say, irresponsible -- for the difficulties in the US-China relationship. ... Keeping Washington happy while furthering the interests of Taiwanese self-determination is a perplexing task, but it is ONE that has proceeded reasonably successfully under the Chen administration, notwithstanding its many failures. Washington and the State Department in particular, like to imply that Chen is hurting the Taiwan-US relationship. But it Democratic Progressive Party presidential candidate Frank Hsieh wins the next election, they will quickly discover that the job description for a leader protecting this democracy from tyrants includes this enduring dilemma: Standing up to China inevitably involves treading on a lot of American toes. But it is not inevitable that Washington or Americans should perceive these actions as a slight against them. On the contrary: It is an affirmation of the same values that make the US powerful and that sustain its dignity even when its credibility in the international community is at low ebb." ¶4. Taiwan's UN Bid A) "The United States Is in No Position to Oppose Taiwan's UN Referendum" Professor Edward Chen of Tamkang University's Graduate Institute of American Studies opined in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 400,000] (7/27): "Recently, officials in Washington D.C. have more than once informed Taipei via various channels that the United States is opposed to Taiwan holding a referendum on joining the UN. Washington believes that such a referendum is a move approaching the red line, and there is only a thin line between it and the referendum on independence. But judging from the following reasons, the United States is no longer in a position to oppose Taiwan's UN referendum. "First, since Washington already reacted too slowly to this issue, it is obviously too late for it to do anything right now. It has been at least more than a month since Chen Shui-bian announced formally that the island will enter the UN under the name Taiwan. In reality, his attempt to push Taiwan's bid to join the World Health Organization using the name Taiwan is a prelude of Taiwan's UN referendum. It has been nearly a year since Chen tossed off probingly last year issues ONE after another such as name change, U.S. TRIP, TAIWAN'S UN BID writing a new constitution, the Second Republic, and Taiwan's UN referendum. Almost every political party in Taiwan is aware that it would be fine if Chen decided not to play the game of holding a referendum in tandem with major elections, but should he decide to do so, he will definitely pick the biggest ONE - namely, the referendum on Taiwan's UN bid. It is thus evident that Washington has missed the optimal timing to oppose [such a referendum]. Second, since the United States 'started with a bang and ended with a fizzle' when it opposed the DPP's holding a defensive referendum in 2004, Washington is no longer justifiable in taking the lead to oppose Taiwan's UN referendum this time. ... "Third, either Washington or Beijing must analyze first the advantages and disadvantages of Taiwan's UN referendum. What Washington and Beijing are really opposed to should be the 'disguised independence referenda' on Taiwan's future and the formal 'referendum on Taiwan independence.' Frank Hsieh has stated and pledged that he will not push for an independence referendum after he is elected. But Chen, with a short remainder term of office, instead, likely will rush headlong into danger. The red line that Washington and Beijing should draw should be on a formal 'referendum on Taiwan independence' or a disguised 'independence referendum,' not the UN referendum. ... "Neither Washington nor Beijing believes that Taiwan independence is in their national interests. In order to give the momentum of anti-independence going, however, both Washington and Beijing should adjust their positions. ... Washington should convince Beijing that even though Taiwan's UN referendum in of high political sensitivity, the passage of such a referendum does not indicate that Taiwan will be admitted into the UN. Such a move thus has no worries about changing the status quo. Rather, Washington and Beijing joining hands to block Taiwan's UN referendum will cause Chen to stake everything on a single throw of dice and push for a disguised independence referendum or a formal referendum on Taiwan independence, which will truly alter the cross-Strait status quo." B) "Flexibility of No Help on Issue of Sovereignty" Lai I-chung, head of the DPP's Department of International Affairs, opined in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] (7/27): "... Taiwan's past flexibility on the issue of sovereignty in international contexts has only emboldened China to step up propaganda in support of its 'one China' fantasy. This has allowed China to make its 'one China' concept international. As a result, many countries are completely apathetic to China's aggressive promotion of the 'one China' principle. This has gone so far as to lead UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to say that Taiwan is part of China, which is a blatant denial of the political reality. ... "What all of this means is that we need to abandon the strategy of avoiding conflict by being flexible on our sovereignty. It is time to make Taiwan's opinion on its sovereignty clear to the world. ... The only course of action is to let the UN know that Taiwan -- not only its government, but also its people -- wants to become a member. This will force it to stop turning a blind eye to the fact that our population is not represented at the UN." YOUNG