MEDIA REACTION: PERFORMANCE OF THE MA YING-JEOU

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000875 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: PERFORMANCE OF THE MA YING-JEOU ADMINISTRATION ¶1. Summary: Taiwan's major Chinese-language dailies focused June 20 news coverage on President Ma Ying-jeou's nomination of Examination Yuan members Thursday, on approval ratings for the one-month-old Ma administration, and on new developments in cross-Strait relations. The pro-independence "Liberty Times" ran an exclusive news story on page three with the headline "The United States Will Not Decide on Its Arms Sales to Taiwan before the Olympic Games." The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times," a sister paper of the "Liberty Times" front-paged a banner headline reading "U.S. Arms Decision [i.e., to delay the processing of the arms procurement package to Taiwan] Made Last Christmas." ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, a "Liberty Times" editorial criticized the poor performance of the Ma Ying-jeou administration and said the administration is distancing itself from the United States and Japan in order to appease China. An editorial in the pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" also criticized the Ma administration's move to freeze arms procurement from the United States, saying it has compromised Taiwan's self-defense capabilities and taken away Taiwan's bargaining chips in negotiating with China. An editorial in the pro-unification "United Daily News," on the other hand, spelt out both the achievements and challenges facing the one-month-old KMT administration. End summary. A) "The Ma Administration Has Taken the Wrong Path of 'Leaning toward China While Distancing Itself from the United States and Japan'" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 720,000] editorialized (6/20): "...In terms of Taiwan's sovereignty and foreign relations, [the Ma administration] has shifted from Taiwan's previous position of standing by the Western democratic camp to leaning closer to China. [The Ma administration's moves in leaning toward China] include the [launch of the] direct charter flights, opening up Taiwan to mainland Chinese tourists, suspending arms procurements from the United States, and [its attitude during the] dispute between Taiwan and Japan over the Tiaoyutai Islands. Also, in order to engage with China, [Ma] recognized the fabricated 1992 consensus and did not hesitate to incur self-humiliation by giving up his capacity as �0A;President and calling himself 'Mr. Ma [when he meets with the visiting Chairman of China's Association for Relations across the Taiwan Strait this fall].' Such phenomena demonstrated clearly that the Ma administration has taken the path of 'leaning toward China while distancing itself from the United States and Japan.' In fact, the United States and Japan have both expressed their grave concern over the Ma administration's direction. Japanese media even pointed out that Taiwan and China might plot together to incite nationalism, betray its long-term allies and throw itself to its potential major enemy. Will [such a development] conform to Taiwan's security and interests? ..." B) "Wanted: a Government with Backbone" The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times" [circulation: 30,000] editorialized (6/20): "... The Ma administration has, in record time, managed to denigrate the nation's sovereignty and the standing of its leader while ingratiating itself to China, all in return for a few minor economic rewards from Beijing. But a new low was reached last week when it was revealed that it was the government that requested the US government halt some US$12 billion in arms sales, although now it appears the scene was set several months before Ma took office. Notwithstanding the vast amounts of money Beijing is investing in improving its war machine, it is a safe bet that many voters did not believe a total freeze was what Ma meant when he promised 'not to engage in an arms race with China' ahead of the presidential election. ... "Volunteering to put a halt to arms procurement - when a great deal of uncertainty exists over the future of the sales - was a shortsighted, reckless move that could have serious ramifications. The KMT, as an opposition party, was responsible for a delay of several years for many of the items on the shopping list. Should the delay continue until a new president takes up residence in the White House, the US may decide to make it permanent. This may seem implausible, but there is legitimate concern as Taipei cuddles ever closer to China that advanced US military technology may eventually fall into Chinese hands. Add to this the fact that the KMT has already ganged up with the Chinese Communist Party to marginalize the independence movement, and the question follows: What's to stop the KMT throwing in its chips with a rising China in the battle against the world's only superpower? ..." C) "A Month Has Passed Since the KMT Returned to Power and the DPP ADMINISTRATION Stepped down" The pro-unification "United Daily News" [circulation: 400,000] editorialized (6/20): "... General speaking, the major achievements of the one-month-old KMT administration are: First, [Taiwan people] have a clearer national identity; ethnic antagonism has gradually cooled down; and the constitutional system has stabilized. The foundation for a more serene and peaceful society has emerged amid various noises on the surface. Second, [the launch of] direct transportation across the Taiwan Strait and the wrestling [between Taiwan and Japan] over the Tiaoyutai Islands have either created or will likely create significant changes to the ... four-sided relationship among 'Taiwan, the United States, Japan and China.' From now on, if the Taiwan-centric status can be underlined and become more flexible, 'cross-Strait [relations]' and 'Taipei-Washington-Beijing [relations]' will not have to be treated separately, and instead, 'Taipei-Washington-Tokyo-Beijing' [relations] can be viewed as one single chess game. On top of that, the major challenges that the KMT administration is facing are: given the pressure of oil price hikes and inflation, how is it going to realize [the ideal of] an equal and economically prosperous society, and how can it move from such a basis toward playing a role as a 'Pacific-Asia platform' both economically and politically. YOUNG