FORMER PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN ON DOMESTIC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 TAIPEI 001034 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/14/2018 TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON CH JA TW SUBJECT: FORMER PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN ON DOMESTIC POLITICS AND CROSS-STRAIT AND INTERNATIONAL ISSUES Classified By: AIT Director Stephen M. Young, Reasons: 1.4 (b/d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Former President Chen Shui-bian told the Director on July 10 that DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen has been doing a good job so far, adding that he has been working behind the scenes to support her. However, Chen expressed concern that some party heavyweights, sensing possible openings resulting from the KMT's current difficulties, might begin maneuvering for political advantage. President Ma Ying-jeou will face challenges from other KMT leaders, directed against Premier Liu Chao-shiuan as well as the president, over government performance problems, Chen suggested. In addition, Ma will be challenged when he cannot deliver on his exaggerated promises of the economic benefits to Taiwan of mainland tourists. Chen also commented on Taiwan's international space, the recent Diaoyutai (Senkaku) incident with Japan, and developments in the investigation of his state affairs funds case. End Summary. ¶2. (C) During their first meeting since Chen left office, the Director discussed Taiwan politics and related issues with former President Chen Shui-bian on July 10 at his new office near the Presidential Office in downtown Taipei. Bikhim Hsiao, special assistant to DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen, also attended the meeting. Chen explained he will receive public funding for his office for the same number of years he served as president (8),adding that he had brought over several of his former staff members at the Presidential Office. Chen said there will be a hearing on the state affairs funds case on July 24, at which time he will have an opportunity to provide an explanation. The questions are whether he should say anything and if he does say something, what kind of explanation he should make. A recent favorable constitutional ruling found that the president has the right of state confidentiality, Chen added. DPP Politics -------------- ¶3. (C) DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen has done a good job up to now, Chen acknowledged, but she is still not out of the woods yet. Tsai, a political novice, only joined the DPP four years ago when she became an at-large legislator. Chen stressed his support for Tsai, noting he had quietly told other party leaders they would have to cooperate and support Tsai. If Tsai failed, Chen warned them, the party would not make a comeback and they would have no opportunities. While he did not expect there to be any problems at the DPP party congress on July 20, Chen foresaw future challenges to Tsai from DPP heavyweights. ¶4. (C) According to Chen, many DPP leaders lost hope and their ambition after the election of Ma Ying-jeou, whom they were expecting to occupy the presidency for the next eight years. Now, however, because of Ma's performance problems, some of these leaders will sense new opportunities and they will not necessarily support Tsai, viewing her as a transitional party chairperson through the December 2009 local elections. Chen expressed concern that Frank Hsieh, Su Tseng-chang, Yu Shyi-kun, and others might start maneuvering to influence the party and its nominations for next year's local elections. Chen pointed to a television interview by Frank Hsieh the night before. Hsieh told the interviewer he originally had wanted to completely withdraw from politics, but now felt he had no choice but to fight back because Ma Ying-jeou and the KMT were attacking and trying to destroy him. ¶5. (C) Asked about the DPP's reported financial problems, Chen observed that the DPP is always in debt. This is not a serious problem for the party, which should not have money. According to tradition, the party does not support its candidates, who have to find their own sources of financial support. For the party, Chen stressed, the key question is unity. If the party is united, then money is not a problem. Divisions within the party resulting from contentious primaries were compounded by the close timing of the legislative and presidential elections. These divisions were TAIPEI 00001034 002 OF 003 an important factor in the DPP election losses. Looking to the December 2009 local elections, Chen believed the DPP might pick up one or two additional counties, for example, Nantou or Ilan. However, the party could also lose control of some areas. For example, the DPP has governed Kaohsiung and Tainan Counties for 24 and 16 years respectively, and people may want a change. Ma and the KMT -------------- ¶6. (C) Turning to KMT politics, Chen observed that Ma Ying-jeou faces competition from Legislative Yuan (LY) Speaker Wang Jin-pyng, Honorary Chairman Lien Chan, Chairman Wu Poh-hsiung and former People First Party Chairman James Soong. Their target is not just Ma but also Premier Liu Chao-shiuan. Chen suggested that several cabinet members, perhaps even Premier Liu, will have to step down to take responsibility for current problems. This would serve the interests of rivals like Wu Poh-hsiung and Wang Jin-pyng. Chen faulted Ma for "hiding" in Taipei for the first month after his inauguration. The president has to take overall responsibility both for good and bad developments, Chen argued. In Chen's opinion, Ma stays on the front line when there are no problems but moves to the second line when he encounters difficulties. ¶7. (C) Chen noted that Taiwan and China had held extensive discussions on weekend charter flights and mainland tourists while he was in office. However, the Chinese had not wanted to give him credit, and so they delayed concluding agreements until Ma became president. Chinese tourists will only make a limited contribution to Taiwan's economy, Chen maintained. However, since Ma exaggerated the economic benefits that would result from the tourism, his leadership will be challenged when he is unable to deliver what he promised. Chen noted that during the inauguration he had given Ma his best wishes and advised him to be cautious, adding that he still wishes Ma well in his presidency. "International Space" Challenges -------------- ¶8. (C) Ma Ying-jeou will soon face several tests on international issues, Chen observed. The first test will be how to handle Taiwan's annual UN campaign, and then he will have to decide Taiwan's representation at the APEC leaders' meeting in November. According to Chen, Beijing may allow Taiwan representation at the APEC leaders' meeting by anyone other than the president, vice president, premier, foreign minister, or defense minister. However, this would not be a real concession since Taiwan can already send economic-related ministers to APEC. The Director suggested APEC could be a litmus test of how China will treat the new Taiwan administration in the international arena. However, it would be best for Taiwan to set aside the UN issue, he stressed. Chen said another set of tests will come in August with inaugurations in Paraguay and the Dominican Republic, both of which are "high risk" countries that might switch diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The Diaoyutai (Senkaku) Incident -------------- ¶9. (C) The Director suggested that Ma seemed to have done relatively well in resolving the recent Diaoyutai (Senkaku) incident with Japan. Chen responded that Ma should have resolved the incident earlier and treated it as an accident rather than a sovereignty issue. Ma's unwillingness to receive Japan's Taipei representative at the early stage of the incident was a mistake. The incident almost spun out of control, and it was the Japanese side, in contact with the NSC, that provided a solution, Chen said. Comment -------------- ¶10. (C) Chen, who has been quiet publicly so far since leaving office, appeared rather relaxed in his new role as TAIPEI 00001034 003 OF 003 former president. If longtime Chen rival Frank Hsieh and other DPP heavyweights begin to raise their public profile, Chen could be tempted to play a more active political role. Despite the controversies swirling around his presidency, Chen has always struck us as a shrewd observer of Taiwan politics. YOUNG