PARTISAN POLITICS AND POSTURING CLOUD NATIONAL DAY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 002312 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/11/2017 TAGS: PGOV TW SUBJECT: PARTISAN POLITICS AND POSTURING CLOUD NATIONAL DAY CELEBRATIONS REF: 2006 TAIPEI 03480 Classified By: AIT Acting Director Robert S. Wang, Reasons: 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: Taiwan's October 10 National Day celebrations, including a speech by President Chen to senior officials, had a partisan slant but produced no major "surprises." In his speech, President Chen highlighted the recent application to the UN under the name "Taiwan" and the importance of referenda, including the DPP's UN referendum, and he defended his administration's economic performance against opposition naysayers. Chen then joined guests outside the Presidential Office Building (POB) to view a military parade, the first in 16 years, that displayed publicly for the first time the Taiwan-developed Hsiung-feng III supersonic antiship missile, the Tien-kung III surface-to-air anti-tactical ballistic missile, and an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). Although the parade also included a short-range Hsiung-feng II anti-ship missile launcher, it did not include the controversial Hsiung-feng IIE land attack cruise missile. Protest activities were very limited compared to last year. KMT leaders, led by presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou, boycotted the official event, which they claimed denigrated the "ROC," and they held rival ceremonies in Taipei City and County. End Summary. President Chen Reaffirms UN Bid, Referendum Drive -------------- -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Taiwan celebrated the 96th anniversary of the Republic of China on October 10. Departing from past practice in which the President delivered a speech and shouted slogans in front of an audience assembled outside the Presidential Office Building (POB),this year President Chen spoke only to senior officials at the preliminary formal ceremony that takes place inside the building. After joining in singing the Republic of China (ROC) national anthem and thrice bowing to ROC Founding Father Sun Yat-sen's portrait and the ROC flag, President Chen delivered a thirty-minute address in which he consistently used the name "Taiwan" rather than "ROC." Chen reaffirmed the administration's stance on applying to the UN under the name "Taiwan," pointing out that the reviewing stand in front of the POB was, in a break from past practice, adorned with a giant banner reading "UN for Taiwan, Peace Forever." He emphasized at the outset that Taiwan is an "independent, sovereign country" and only its 23 million citizens have the right to decide their country's future. ¶3. (SBU) Chen asserted that his administration's new strategy to join the UN under the name "Taiwan" has been successful in raising international awareness of Taiwan's situation. He said Taiwan did not seek to "return" to the UN as the ROC as such a move would be a direct challenge to UN Resolution 2758 that would only further isolate Taiwan internationally--an indirect criticism of the opposition KMT's proposed referendum to do just that. Chen characterized referenda as the "most direct expression of democracy" and urged the Central Executive Commission to hold the UN-related referenda in conjunction with the March 22 presidential election. He argued that "mothballing" the National Unification Council and Guidelines in 2006 had dispelled "the misconception of 'ultimate unification' with China as a foregone conclusion, thereby enabling the 23 million people of Taiwan to enjoy the right to decide the future of their nation via referendum." ¶4. (SBU) Chen cited President Bush's public praise of freedom and democracy in Taiwan as a model for China and other nations. He said "the international community should not, in fear of China's military might, demand that Taiwan keep quiet." He urged the international community to "squarely face" the "reality" that cross-Strait problems do not derive from democratic Taiwan but from China, which is "still under totalitarian, dictatorial rule." Chen then defended his administration's economic record, citing statistics to undercut KMT claims that DPP mismanagement has allowed South Korea to outdistance Taiwan in recent years. TAIPEI 00002312 002 OF 003 Without referring directly to Ma Ying-jeou or KMT Vice Presidential candidate Vincent Siew, Chen rejected their proposal to create a cross-Strait "common market," saying such a market would be a "one-China market" based on Beijing's "one China principle" that would cause Taiwan to lose its economic autonomy. Chen also said direct cross-Strait links must evolve in an orderly, gradual manner, adding that it is impossible to open such links "in one huge leap, or to impose any timeline." Military Hardware Showcased -------------- ¶5. (C) After the speech and after public remarks outside the POB by Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (the formal host of the event),President Chen joined other officials, foreign dignitaries, and guests in a viewing stand to observe the national day parade, which included a display of military weaponry. The first such military display in 16 years showcased Taiwan air and land military hardware and elite units. The parade began with overflies by S-70 rescue helicopters, OH-58D Kiowa Warrior helicopters, and AH-1W Cobra Attack helicopters, and CH-47 helicopters, which were followed by a series of other aircraft, including F-16s, Mirage 2000s, and Indigenous Defense Fighters, and AT-3 flown by the Thunder Tiger Demonstration Team. A parade of ground forces then passed the reviewing stand and included transporters for Tien-kung I and Patriot II surface-to-air anti-tactical ballistic missiles and Hsiung-feng II anti-ship missiles. Three advanced weapons developed by Taiwan's Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology were shown to the public for the first time: an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV),the Hsiung-feng III supersonic anti-ship missile, and the Tien-kung III surface-to-air anti-tactical ballistic missile. Notably absent from display was the controversial Hsiung-feng IIE land attack cruise missile, which Ministry of National Defense officials had told AIT are still under development and would not be displayed. Red Shirt Sideshow -------------- ¶6. (SBU) Last year's "Double Ten" celebration was marred by protests during President Chen's public speech and afterwards (reftel). By comparison, this year's celebrations went smoothly. Former DPP Chairman Shih Ming-teh, leader of the anti-Chen "Red Shirt" movement, walked to the surrounding barricades and was, to his surprise, invited by Wang Jin-pyng to join the audience on the parade viewing stand. In the stands, Shih was seated next to National Security Bureau Director Hsu Hui-you. Shih, who caused no disruption, departed after about ten minutes. In remarks to the media, Shih criticized the DPP for having become corrupt in power, and said that the day marked a time for "self-examination rather than celebration." Shih also raised questions about the KMT, suggesting it had not discarded its authoritarian legacy. Two red-clad protesters seated in the viewing stand created a minor disturbance by shouting "Chen Shui-bian Step Down" when the president entered to take his seat. The protesters were promptly hustled away by security personnel. The KMT Goes its Own Way -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The DPP government this year angered pan-Blue supporters by insisting on displaying the words "Taiwan Enters the UN" on the Presidential Office tower rather than the customary words "Celebrate the ROC National Day." (Note. The "Republic of China" name was however displayed prominently on a large makeshift board immediately behind the speaker's podium.) To show their displeasure, KMT leaders (except Wang Jin-pyng, who is host of the official celebration),boycotted the government's National Day proceedings and attended "ROC" ceremonies hosted by the KMT-controlled Taipei County and City governments. Ma Ying-jeou accused President Chen of disrespecting the ROC by not displaying the standard "ROC National Celebration" signs. He claimed the KMT was defending the ROC against the ruling TAIPEI 00002312 003 OF 003 DPP and Beijing, which, he said, were "colluding" to suppress the ROC. Comment -------------- ¶8. (C) This year's National Day celebrations went rather smoothly given the highly partisan political atmosphere in the run-up to legislative and presidential elections early next year. By underscoring Taiwan identity themes and denigrating the "ROC," President Chen may have hoped both to attack the pan-Blue and to appease Deep Green fundamentalists, disappointed that the DPP did not pass a more radical "Normal Country" resolution at its recent party congress. The KMT, once again put on the defensive, boycotted the national ceremonies in favor of their own events that emphasized "loyalty" to the ROC, an appeal that plays to Deep Blue base supporters but may have limited resonance among the general population. WANG