Cablegate: Media Reaction: Kmt Chairman Ma's Op-Ed On Taiwan

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

260901Z Oct 05

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TAIPEI 004343

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD - ERIC
BARBORIAK
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OPRC KMDR KPAO TW
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: KMT CHAIRMAN MA'S OP-ED ON TAIWAN
RETROCESSION DAY

1. SUMMARY: (U) The lead story in Taiwan dailies October 26
is passage of the National Communications Commission bill in
the Legislative Yuan, the reactions from the pan-Green
alliance, and the consequences of the passage of the bill.

2. (SBU) Taiwan dailies October 26 covered the issue of the
"Taiwan Retrocession Day," i.e. October 25. In contrast to
the DPP government's plan to downplay the significance of
this day, KMT Chairman Ma Ying-jeou placed October 25 a full-
page op-ed article in the centrist, pro-status quo "China
Times" to mark the 60th anniversary of Taiwan's return to
China after World War II. Sources at the China Times told
AIT Public Affairs that this "op-ed" was in fact a paid
placement by the KMT, although nothing in either the print
or Internet version betrayed the fact.

3. (U) In the op-ed, Ma accused the governing DPP party of
intentionally ignoring the significance of the anniversary.
Ma dismissed the long-held assertion by the DPP that the
"228 Incident" and KMT's "White Terror" crackdown on pro-
Communists intellectuals after the 1947 incident were the
driving forces for the Taiwan independence movement. Ma said
the government's land reforms in the 1950s prompted some
wealthy Taiwanese to seek Taiwan's independence. Citing
examples from historical events, Ma criticized Chen's
administration for promoting change in Taiwan's official
name and urged the DPP to respect the spirit of DPP pioneers
that allows rotation of political power in Taiwan -
suggesting Ma's strong intention for KMT to regain its rule
in Taiwan. President Chen Shui-bian, on the other hand, said
Tuesday the retrocession of Taiwan after World War II does
not equal the return of Taiwan to China.

4. (U) EDITORIALS AND COMMENTARIES. The pro-independence
"Taiwan Daily" editorialized that Ma's October 25 op-ed
article serves only the purpose of helping him win the 2008
presidential elections. The pro-independence "Taipei Times"
editorialized that China has nothing to do with the Taiwan
Retrocession Day, and added that China's commemoration of
the day was part of its "United Front" work. End summary.

1. "Ma Ying-jeou Distorted History, Embarrassed the Deceased
Wise Men in Order to Get Rid of the Ugly Name of `Foreign
Political Party.' Ma's Efforts are Destined to be in Vain."

The pro-independence "Taiwan Daily" [circulation: 150,000]
said in its editorial (10/26) that:

". Ma Ying-jeou asked scholars working for him to write an
article, and he used his name to publish that article
entitled `In Remembrance of the 60th Anniversary of the
Retrocession of Taiwan: Remember the Paradigms of the
Deceased Wise Men, and Rebuild the Spirit of Taiwan' in the
`China Times.' . The names of the deceased wise men
mentioned in the article are stepping-stones for Ma Ying-
jeou to link the KMT to Taiwan. The purpose [underlying the
article] aims to not only clear the name of the KMT
government as a `non-native regime,' but also to establish
the mainstream position of the KMT in Taiwan society. [Ma
hopes that] the article would give the KMT legitimacy for
`mainland Chinese [in Taiwan (read: Ma)]' to take part in
the 2008 presidential elections."

2. "An Odd Event Across the Strait"

The pro-independence, English-language "Taipei Times"
[circulation: 30,000] editorialized (10/26):

"China's `United Front' campaign against Taiwan moved into
new territory when Beijing marked Retrocession Day
yesterday. For decades, China has ignored this day, but
this year Beijing invited members of Taiwan's opposition
parties and senior Chinese leaders to take part in three
days of festivities.

"When the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was in power,
Retrocession Day was a big event in Taiwan, but after the
Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) took the presidency, this
changed. The new government's interpretation is that Oct.
25 signifies no more than the end of the Sino-Japanese War,
and is not related to Taiwan's sovereignty. For this
reason, commemorative activities in Taiwan were much more
low key this year.

".In fact, the sovereignty of Taiwan and that of China are
completely unrelated. The 1951 San Francisco Treaty states
that Japan renounces all right, title and claims to Formosa
and the Pescadores. But nowhere does it specify that
sovereignty was returned to the Republic of China (R.O.C.),
let alone the People's Republic of China. ."

5. (U) COMMENT: Commemoration of Taiwan Retrocession Day in
Taiwan was marked by political competition between the pro-
independence Pan-Green parties and the pro-unification Pan-
Blue parties, reflecting the rising temperature of Taiwan
politics in the run up to the December 3 local elections.
President Chen Shui-bian took advantage of his meeting with
participants in the "U.S.-Japan-Taiwan Strategic Dialogue"
conference the same day, Oct 25, to both deny that Taiwan
retrocession meant the return of Taiwan to China and to call
for closer security cooperation among Japan, the U.S. and
Taiwan. END COMMENT

KEEGAN

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