MEDIA REACTION: OBAMA'S INAUGURATION

UNCLAS AIT TAIPEI 000085 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: OBAMA'S INAUGURATION ¶1. Summary: January 21, Taiwan's major Chinese-language and English-language dailies gave significant news and editorial coverage to the inauguration of U.S. President Barack Obama Tuesday. Almost all papers devoted their first few pages to Obama's taking the helm as the United States' 44th president and the challenges facing him and his administration. News coverage also focused on the pre-trial hearings in former President Chen Shui-bian's legal cases and the consumption vouchers recently issued to all citizens and legal permanent residents on the island. The pro-unification "United Daily News" front-paged the results of its opinion survey, which showed that 54 percent of those polled said they have a favorable impression of Obama, the first African-American U.S. president. ¶2. In terms of editorials and commentaries, an editorial in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" criticized China's white paper on its national defense in 2008 and what it characterized as the Ma Ying-jeou Administration's excessive tilt toward China. The article said that the precondition set in China's white paper for future cross-Strait relations is akin to Ma posing a difficult problem for Obama to maintain peace and stability in the Western Pacific. A "Liberty Times" news analysis also chimed in by saying that China is accelerating its pace in building forces to counterbalance the United States, which will exacerbate the already imbalanced and adverse situation across the Taiwan Strait. A separate "Liberty Times" column urged Obama to tolerate diversified cultures in the world and not to use "U.S. interests" or "U.S. values" as its one and only standard. A column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" said the clash between Israel and the Arab world is the first challenge that Obama will face after taking office. A separate "Apple Daily" op-ed piece discussed Washington-Beijing-Taipei relations in the Obama era and said that economically "symbiotic" relations will become the principal axis for future U.S.-China relations. An editorial in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" predicted that the next four years will be an era that will test Obama most relentlessly. A separate "China Times" column said Obama has the greatest opportunity to lead Americans through crises and create a miracle for the United States. End summary. A) "Ma Ying-jeou Poses a Difficult Problem for Barack Obama" The pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 700,000] editorialized (1/21): "... Following the Ma Ying-jeou Administration's 'proactive achievements,' not only has Taiwan's economy been quickly locked into [that of] China's, but the Taiwan Strait has also gradually become an inland sea of China. Is it possible that, under China's 1992 Consensus, Taiwan's clinging to China in terms of its economy and national defense is the 'grand plan' that President Ma had made in pursuit of ultimate unification? Given Ma's efforts to 'lower threats and to convert enemies into friends,' it will not take long and will probably be as easy as turning one's hand over if China wants to unify with Taiwan by peaceful means or force. Should that really happen, drastic changes will befall the Taiwan Strait, which will have a huge impact on neighboring countries. One can say that the so-called 'major, active changes in the cross-Strait situation' as depicted in China's [white paper on national defense for 2008] are tantamount to President Ma posing a difficult problem for Barack Obama in terms of maintaining peace, security and prosperity in the Western Pacific." B) "Stopping U.S. Arms Sales to Taiwan Is China's Top Goal" Journalist Su Yung-yao said in an analysis in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 700,000] (1/21): "In addition to the wars being fought in the Middle East, what the Bush Administration left to President Barack Obama is the financial storm that has swept the globe. For the Obama Administration, which faces [the need to] reorganize [the U.S.] national strength, its initial focus of administrative performance certainly will not fall in the Asia-Pacific area. Given that China is accelerating its pace in building forces to counterbalance the United States, this will surely exacerbate the already imbalanced and adverse situation across the Taiwan Strait. ... Over the past eight years, even though there were ups and downs in U.S.-Taiwan relations, both the quality and quantity of [U.S.] arms sales [to Taiwan] reached a certain peak. In the wake of power transfers happening both in Taiwan and the United States, the Obama Administration, at its initial stage, will not be able to put its attention on the Taiwan Strait. Adding to this the Ma Administration's excessive tilt toward China, the United States and China will no longer form an equilateral triangle with Taiwan as in the past. "Former AIT Board Chairman Richard Bush said in a seminar held during his recent visit to Taiwan that 'Taiwan needs to handle the sovereignty issue very carefully." His implication was that during the [current] stage, when the United States is fully occupied with things it needs to attend to, the rapid integration between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait has caused concern for those Americans who have been paying long-term attention to cross-Strait issues. On Beijing's part, seizing the right opportunity to strengthen its united front efforts against Taiwan is akin to making an advantageous first chess move for the future development of U.S.-China-Taiwan relations. By rights, Taiwan should await more favorable opportunities to seek more support for itself, including engaging proactively in communication with the new U.S. Administration, rather than acting in concert with the pace set by Beijing and thus turning the cross-Strait status quo into an irreversible situation. ..." C) "Dreams of a President and Dreams of a Nation" The "Free Talk" column in the pro-independence "Liberty Times" [circulation: 700,000] wrote (1/21): "... In order to create a new 'Obama era,' Barack Obama needs to transform his 'road to dreams' into a dream that is shared commonly among the American people. All the more, he should tolerate diverse cultures, or further different identities that clash with each other in this world, rather than seeing the 'U.S. interests' or 'U.S. values' as the sole criterion. In this way he will be able to lead the world into the future. Obama's challenges have just begun the day when he assumed office. ..." D) "Obama and Hamas" Columnist Antonio Chiang wrote in his column in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (1/21): "Before Barack Obama was inaugurated, Hamas announced a ceasefire, and Israel decided to withdraw [from Gaza]; as a result, Gaza civilians in distress were able to have a breather for the moment. Such a move gave the new U.S. president a big face. ... "The United States is Israel's most important ally. Without the support and aid of the United States, Israel would be isolated internationally. [Former U.S. Presidents] Bill Clinton and Bush Junior were friendly with Israel, and Arab countries criticized the United States for showing undue favor toward Israel. Obama calls for change, and the Arab world has great expectations for him. The clash between Israel and the Arab world will be the first touchstone for [Obama]. ... "The conflict between Israel and Palestine has had an impact on the Middle East, including Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and the Gulf countries as well as the whole Muslim world, and it weighs immeasurably on the United States' national interests. The ceasefire in Gaza is the first test for Obama. If Hamas launches rockets at Israel again, Obama's honeymoon will be over earlier than expected." E) "U.S.-China-Taiwan Relations in the Obama Era" Yin Hui-min, a U.S.-based freelance commentator, opined in the mass-circulation "Apple Daily" [circulation: 520,000] (1/21): "... No matter how sympathetic Barack Obama is with the situation of unemployed workers in the United States, economically 'symbiotic' relations will become the principal axis in the U.S.-China relations, and it will be the prevailing reality for the future U.S.-China and U.S.-Taiwan relations. ... Now that Obama has appointed Hillary Clinton as his Secretary of State, who is going to lead the diplomatic crew of the former Clinton Administration, it appears that the U.S.-China relations will continue on the pragmatic path of putting its emphasis on business. ... What is worrisome now is not the guideline of 'business first, politics later' advocated by Ma Ying-jeou or the united front conspiracy of Hu Jintao, but the marginalization of the DPP on Taiwan's political stage after it has sunk into becoming a party of slogans." F) "The United States Has Officially Entered the Era of Obama" The centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 150,000] editorialized (1/21): "... The victory of Barack Obama not only had an epoch-making significance for the United States but was also an encouragement for the entire world. All the more, the hegemony image of the United States has made a turn -- [a person] originally born of an disadvantaged minority is able to become a state leader via democratic procedures is a strong inspiration for the ethnic minorities in the world or those who believe the U.S.'s hegemony only oppresses the weak with its sheer strength. For the United States, even though it bid farewell to the former Bush Administration while welcoming the new Obama Administration, it still needs to heal the wounds of the problems left behind, among which the war on terrorism is the one that has left the deepest scars. ... "For Obama, his real test will be the first 100 days in office, which normally decides a president's place in history. ... The following four years will be the era of Obama, but the era that is about to unfold will also be one that will test him most relentlessly." G) "The Break of Dawn in the United States" Columnist Lin Po-wen wrote in his column in the centrist, KMT-leaning "China Times" [circulation: 150,000] (1/21): "... Among the various challenges that Barack Obama will face after taking office, none will be easily resolved. The three severest challenges facing him are economic recovery, national health care reform, and troop withdrawal from Iraq plus reorganizing the war in Afghanistan. It not only will require a great deal of mental power and wisdom but will also take a great amount of time to resolve such daunting problems. Luckily, the American people have faith and patience in Obama. This is the greatest advantage that Obama enjoys. ... "As many as two or three million people gathered in Washington, D. ¶C. in an attempt to dip into the joy of renewing the old and be the witnesses to as well as participants in history. The United States is entering a brand new era and is ready to stride forward from the dark valley to the peak at the break of dawn." YOUNG