MEDIA REACTION: TAIWAN'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000430 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - NIDA EMMONS DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: TAIWAN'S PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies continued to focus their March 25 news coverage on the aftermath of Taiwan's presidential election last Saturday, including the soaring Taiwan stock index and NT dollar appreciation Monday, the new cabinet to be formed by president-elect Ma Ying-jeou, and the personnel reshuffle of the defeated DPP. All papers also carried reports on AIT Taipei Director Stephen Young's courtesy call to Ma Monday, in which Ma expressed hope to visit the United States before his inauguration on May 20, and Young replied that the decision has to be made by Washington. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" discussed Ma's election and his attempt to mend the souring relations between Taiwan and the United States. An editorial in the conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" discussed the development of cross-Strait relations after Ma's election. The article said "Beijing should take creative approaches to demonstrate that Ma's initiative towards the mainland pays off for Taiwan." An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" comforted the pro-Green voters that the DPP's defeat in last Saturday's presidential election is not the end of the world. The article said the Taiwan people will be watching Ma's performance closely. An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News," on the other hand, called on the DPP to return to grassroots by "reaffirming its core values of democracy and social justice." End summary. A) "Sweet Revenge" Columnist Antonio Chiang wrote in his column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (3/25): "... When A-bian was elected in 2004, the United States was really slow in sending a congratulatory message to him; [Washington] subsequently sent out its letter in the name of the press secretary of the White House after Taipei had strived to obtain it. At that time the congratulatory letter [from Washington] was almost as important as the certification from [Taiwan's Central Election Commission] confirming Chen's election victory, so A-bian's anxiety in waiting for [Washington's] congratulatory message was quite understandable. Both the minister of foreign affairs and Taiwan's representative to the United States resigned in succession at that time because of this. Come to think of it, they must feel indignant right now. "For the United States' allies, a congratulatory statement signed by [U.S. President George W.] Bush is normal practice. But during A-bian's rule over the past eight years, Taiwan-U.S. relations have suffered great damage. The normal practice for other countries thus came as a surprise for Taiwan. With Bush's congratulatory statement at hand, Ma Ying-jeou emphasized that [Taiwan] will stride toward becoming a beacon of democracy, as referred to by Bush. Ma's obvious pleasure made people feel moved and sad at the same time. ... "A-bian has abused Bush's trust in Taiwan, putting Taipei-Washington relations in a distorted state and consequently turning himself into a person of very poor credit. His failure in [Taiwan's] relations toward the United States has resulted in Taiwan's deteriorating state of isolation and has done a severe damage to Taiwan's interests. Ma's election is expected to improve the souring bilateral relations rapidly, but for the [improvement of] cross-Strait relations, it will not be that easy. ..." B) "Ball Is in Beijing's Court" The conservative, pro-unification, English-language "China Post" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (3/25): "... Ma told visiting foreign reporters that Taiwan wants a 'mutual non-denial' agreement with Beijing, vowing to lay the foundations of a 'century of peace and prosperity' for the island. His priorities are to maintain the status quo with the mainland and rebuild the island's tattered economy.' ... Beijing should take creative approaches to demonstrate that Ma's initiative towards the mainland pays off for Taiwan. Otherwise there isn't going to be the domestic political support that is necessary for continuing to move forward." C) "Congratulations -- We'll Be Watching" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (3/25): "... Not for many years will the voice of the people have been as important as it will be when Ma assumes the presidency on May 20. Now that the legislative and the executive branches are under KMT control, the onus will be on them to deliver on the promises of accountable leadership they made during the campaign. The KMT victory does not mean, as some have suggested, that the devil incarnate will step into office. In fact, in the past months Ma has increasingly sounded like a leader for Taiwanese and his party has some good people in it who can be counted on to put the interest of the nation first. These people must be encouraged. "Simultaneously, as Ma steps onto the international scene, he must be brought back into line if he is ever seen to be departing from his promises to serve the interests of Taiwan, and every effort must be made to ensure that the rotten elements in the KMT -- who are easily identifiable -- do not manipulate their victory to serve interests other than those of Taiwan. Saturday's result was not a return to the authoritarian era, because democracy is now part of the nation's fabric -- and Ma must learn to navigate that environment. But democracy implies work. Hard work. And it imposes responsibilities that go far beyond showing up at the voting station on election day. Ma won, so let's give him a chance to prove himself. But we'll be watching -- all of us." D) "DPP Must Return to Grassroots" The pro-independence, English-language "Taiwan News" [circulation: 20,000] editorialized (3/25): "... The March 22 results do not imply a blanket endorsement of the KMT, but signifies a 'vote of no confidence' in the DPP government's inadequate but also underappreciated performance. The DPP must now revamp its political strategy and leadership for its future role in opposition based on an honest reappraisal of its own performance, including achievements and shortcomings and avoid falling prey to paralyzing internal recriminations. The new DPP leadership must also carry out a full reassessment of the problems faced by Taiwan's politics, society, economy and external relations at a time of globalization and the rise of a 'neo-authoritarian' camp led by the PRC and now joined by KMT-ruled Taiwan. "The road back for the party of Taiwan's grassroots democratic movement will begin back in the grassroots by reaffirming its core values for democracy and social justice. ... The test of whether the DPP has learned its lessons will come with the city and county mayoral elections in late 2009. Only if the DPP can win back the hope of the Taiwan people in these grassroots polls will there be hope for the early resumption of democratic and progressive and Taiwan-centric governance in 2012." YOUNG