YEH CHU-LAN DISCUSSES DPP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 001259

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/01/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL TW
SUBJECT: YEH CHU-LAN DISCUSSES DPP PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE
FRANK HSIEH'S CAMPAIGN


Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young,
Reasons: 1.4 (b/d)


1. (C) Summary: Former acting Kaohsiung Mayor Yeh Chu-lan
told the Director on May 31 that she supports DPP
presidential candidate Frank Hsieh because he wants to end
partisan confrontation in Taiwan, which is also the hope of
the general public. Hsieh had been successful in Kaohsiung
in establishing harmonious working relations with the city
council, Yeh recalled, despite the DPP's minority status in
the council. Yeh believed Hsieh and President Chen will be
able to work together because, no longer competitors, they
share the same strong interest in getting Hsieh elected.
Hsieh clearly understands the redlines in U.S.-Taiwan
relations, Yeh suggested, and his personality and pragmatism
will make him easier to work with than President Chen. Yeh
expressed hope that Hsieh will have high-level meetings
during his upcoming visit to Washington. End Summary.


2. (C) The Director met with former acting Kaohsiung Mayor
Yeh Chu-lan on May 31 to discuss Frank Hsieh's presidential
campaign and related political issues. Yeh said she supports
Hsieh because Hsieh wants to end the ongoing partisan
confrontation in Taiwan. Eight years ago the DPP needed a
powerful leader like Chen Shui-bian to oppose the KMT. But
after eight years, the public is tired of confrontations such
as last year's Red Shirt "Depose President Chen" movement.
Now, the public wants political leaders who are reasonable,
calm, and conciliatory. When Hsieh was first elected mayor
of Kaohsiung in 1998, Yeh recalled, he faced an uncooperative
city council in which the DPP was the minority. Over time,
however, Hsieh won control of the council by building an
alliance with non-DPP members. As a consequence, Yeh said,
the Kaohsiung City Council was peaceful and harmonious when
she became acting mayor in 2005, and DPP and non-DPP
politicians were able to work together focusing on the
practical issues of Kaohsiung's development.


3. (C) Both Hsieh and DPP Chairman Yu Si-kun had asked for
her support during the presidential primary, Yeh noted,
explaining that she had served as Yu's vice premier for
several months in 2004-2005. The Yu camp had argued that
Yeh, who favored Taiwan independence, should not support
Hsieh, who, they claimed, favored the "one-China
constitution." Yeh had responded that she agreed with
Hsieh's view that the "one-China constitution" needs to be
changed, but only when there is general public consensus on
the issue. Changing the national name to Taiwan is a
long-term dream and ideal, not a short term goal, Yeh
explained. In addition, Taiwan needs to consider its
relations with the U.S. and Japan in deciding sensitive
policies, Yeh stressed.


4. (C) Hsieh had expected to lose the May 6 party member
ballot, the first part of the presidential primary process,
by 20,000 votes, Yeh said, with Hsieh hoping to come back in
the planned second stage of the primary, a public opinion
poll. Hsieh's unexpected victory in the party member vote
reflected the fact that DPP members have grown tired of
political confrontation and want a more conciliatory leader.
As the ruling party, Yeh stressed, the DPP needs to be
confident and inclusive to attract more people.


5. (C) Yeh expressed confidence that Hsieh will win the 2008
presidential election. KMT candidate Ma Ying-jeou has been
"very stupid," she argued, because he has not done or said
things that would attract support, such as fostering a more
peaceful atmosphere in the LY. Ma gives the impression that
his only goal is to grasp power and that he is not seeking
the presidency as an opportunity to do something positive.
Because of his focus on power for its own sake, Ma will
definitely lose the election, Yeh predicted. By contrast,
Yeh said, Hsieh is sincere and touches people's hearts, so
they can understand and will trust him.


6. (C) Yeh said Hsieh, who is very smart, has already
thought about the problem of possible differences with
President Chen during the presidential campaign, and that is
why Hsieh has not placed any of his own people in the new

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cabinet. It will be difficult for the cabinet to accomplish
anything in the current political atmosphere, Yeh explained.
By not having any of his own people in the cabinet, Hsieh
does not need to endorse or take responsibility for what the
cabinet does.


7. (C) President Chen will assist Hsieh in the presidential
campaign, Yeh maintained, because Chen's most important goal
during his final year in office is to get Hsieh elected.
Previously both friends and competitors, Chen and Hsieh are
now no longer competitors. They need each other, and their
relations will progressively improve, Yeh predicted.
Furthermore, people will take less interest in Chen and pay
increasing attention to Hsieh as the campaign unfolds.


8. (C) Taiwan's leaders, including President Chen, will be
careful not to do anything to provoke cross-Strait tensions
or upset U.S.-Taiwan relations, Yeh stressed. Hsieh, who is
pragmatic and has a different type of personality than Chen,
understands the redlines in U.S.-Taiwan relations very
clearly. Yeh expressed hope that the USG would be willing to
have enhanced communication with Hsieh if he is elected
president. Hsieh is very trustworthy, Yeh observed, and he
would not leak information to the media. Yeh also expressed
hope that Hsieh will be able to meet with high-level U.S.
officials during his upcoming trip to the U.S.


9. (C) Asked about qualities Hsieh would look for in a
running mate, Yeh noted the personality clash between
President Chen and Vice President Annette Lu that has
resulted in an unhappy relationship. With this experience in
mind, Hsieh will wisely choose someone who can help both in
winning the election and in governing, she suggested.


10. (C) Yeh said that the "Taiwanese identity" being
promoted by the DPP is an inclusive concept, meant to include
those Taiwanese, Hakka, mainlanders, and aborigines who
identify with Taiwan. The Hakka are cohesive and
conservative, she noted, adding that they are very proud when
they see a Hakka gain a prominent position. Although KMT
Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung, like herself, is a Hakka, he has not
done much for the Hakka community, Yeh observed.

Comment
--------------


11. (C) Yeh Chu-lan met us at the office-museum that honors
her late husband Cheng Nan-jung, who in 1989 incinerated
himself rather than allowing the police to arrest him to face
charges for publishing Taiwan independence-related material.
She said that our next meeting would probably be at Frank
Hsieh's new presidential campaign headquarters, an indication
that she intends to play an important role in Hsieh's
campaign. Yeh appears to be Hsieh's preferred choice for
running mate, but President Chen hopes Hsieh will pick former
Premier Su Tseng-chang in the interests of restoring party
unity following the contentious primary. Hsieh will have to
weigh his choice carefully, considering both the need to
unify the party and the need to field the strongest possible
team in the presidential campaign.
YOUNG