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