MEDIA REACTION: DPP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FRANK HSIEH'S

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 001730 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 August 3 on Taiwan's stock index, which suffered its biggest decline in more than three years Wednesday; on rising oil and consumer prices; on the DPP's "Normal Country Resolution" draft; and on Taiwan's bid to join the United Nations. The pro-unification "United Daily News" ran an exclusive banner headline on page four that read "The United States Allows Bian to Transit outside the Continental U.S. but Not to Stay Overnight." The sub-headline added: "[Bian to] Visit Central America on August 20; the United States Reportedly Refuses Bian to Transit the Continental U.S. Because It Objects to [Chen's] Push for [Taiwan's] UN Bid. Taiwan Does Not Exclude [the Possibility of] Having a 'Breakthrough Journey' Again." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, the "Black and White" column in the "United Daily News" discussed DPP presidential candidate Frank Hsieh's remarks Tuesday that, once he is elected, Taiwan's name change and the writing of a new constitution will be completed within five years. In a sarcastic tone the article urged the Taiwan people to vote in favor of Hsieh, since he already has a timetable for Taiwan independence and has said he will not make promises he cannot keep. A separate "United Daily News" op-ed said it would be a tough test for Beijing, since both the KMT and the DPP are pushing for Taiwan's UN bid. End summary. ¶3. DPP Presidential Candidate Frank Hsieh's U.S. Trip "Frank Hsieh's Timetable for Taiwan Independence" The "Black and White" column in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] wrote (8/2): "How on earth did Frank Hsieh get to a state where he is speaking so incoherently? Hsieh said one thing when he was in the United States and something totally different after he returned to Taiwan. Hsieh announced his 'Three Nos' in the States -- there is no need for a referendum on Taiwan independence, for the Taiwan independence movements, and for Taiwan to declare independence. After he returned to Taiwan, when being pressed for an answer by the host of a TV news program, he changed his statement and said name change and the writing of a new constitution will be realized within five years [after he is elected]. Hsieh has finally taken a stand on advocating 'ultimate Taiwan independence.' Even more, he has come up with a 'timetable for Taiwan independence,' which will be implemented within five years. "As a matter of fact, it is already a 'status quo' tacitly recognized by Washington, Beijing and Taipei whether one claims that 'Taiwan is an independent sovereign state' or 'the Republic of China is an independent sovereign state.' The only thing that is left to determine is whether a move alters the status quo or whether Taiwan independence is nothing but a name change and the writing of a new constitution. If [Taiwan] does not 'change its name and write a new constitution,' it is not 'sabotaging the status quo'; if it does, it is considered [to be a move]'sabotaging the status quo' or toward 'de jure Taiwan independence.' ... "Hsieh has repeatedly emphasized that he does not pledge easily, and that once he does, he will surely see it through. In that case, in order to rectify Taiwan's name, write Taiwan a new constitution, put de jure Taiwan independence into practice, and to 'transfer' the sovereignty of the 'Republic of China' to the 'Republic of Taiwan' within five years, let us all cast our ballots to Frank Hsieh, the new godfather of Taiwan independence! Hsieh, you'll have to keep you five-year promise!" ¶4. Taiwan's UN Bid "Both Parties Are Pushing for Referenda, a Test for the Anti-Secession Law" Former DPP Legislator Lin Cho-shui opined in the pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] (8/2): "Both the DPP and KMT are jointly pushing for the UN referendum. It goes without saying that this is a harsh test for China's Anti-Secession Law. ... Currently, there are two frontlines China is engaged in opposing de jure Taiwan independence: One is to stop major countries in the world from establishing diplomatic ties with Taiwan and to prevent Taiwan from participating in the international organizations for which statehood is a requirement. China has not encountered many problems on this aspect. The other is to stop the national system of Taiwan from becoming independent in a legal form. This will not be such an easy task. Previously, be it the elections for the entire legislative body, the popular vote on the president, the writing of referenda into the Constitution, the abolishment of the Taiwan provincial government, the name change campaign, or the abolition of the National Unification Council, they U.S. TRIP, TAIWAN'S UN BID were all legal moves pushing Taiwan toward independence, and they were all severely opposed by Beijing and blocked by the conservative force in the KMT. But such 'illegal' red lines have been crossed [by Taiwan] one after another. Now, even Ma Ying-jeou has softened his stance and said he does not exclude the possibility of revising or writing a new constitution in the future that meets Taiwan's needs. Ma even jointly pushed for the UN referendum with the DPP, and he does not object to a UN bid under the name Taiwan. All these have made it more difficult for China to block Taiwan from moving toward legal independence. ..." YOUNG