Since his inauguration, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) has held two large-scale press conferences -- in obvious contrast to former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝), who rarely held such media events. High-level officials at the Presidential Office have even said such press con-ferences will become a monthly event -- a regular political show.
There are perhaps three reasons behind Chen's penchant for such media meets. One, he can use them to express his views in their entirety, clarify misunderstandings and strengthen political communication. Two, he can announce his policy directions, making up for weaknesses of the establishment and strengthening his political leadership. Three, he can use them to showcase his personal charisma, attract public sympathy and strengthen his political support base.
However, press conferences are in no way cut and dried public relations events. Reporters can be relentless in their questioning and the president is forced to answer every inquiry. Once the president's performance goes off-track, more troubles ensue.
For example, Chen generated considerable speculation during his June 20 press conference with the comment that the consensus reached in 1992 with China was "a consensus without a consensus." At the July 31 conference, Chen's off-the-cuff remark that he had not ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate accusations that legislators had been using their influence to obtain and resell stock at fixed-line companies stirred up suspicions.
This is exactly why Lee rarely held press conferences. Instead, his meetings with the media were designed to provide timely explanations on specific topics, such as economic aid to Kosovo, the 921 earthquake, or his trips to Latin America and the US. As a result, in his 12 years as president, the few large-scale press conferences Lee did hold generated widespread public attention -- and he arrived very well-prepared.
In the US -- White House press conferences are usually held in a warm, natural setting, without either A-bian-style marathon speeches or a battle-ready, crossing-of-swords climate. In contrast, both Lee's and Chen's press conferences featured a suffocating atmosphere, weighty as lead.
Chen's first press conference came just one month after he took office and was to meant to explain his cross-strait policy and to call for reconciliation from China. Even though the conference won wide international applause, Beijing remained stiff as ever and made no goodwill response.
Chen's July 31 conference came in the wake of the Pachang Creek tragedy
Chen's press conferences have strengthened political communications, but whether they have strengthened his leadership and support base is debatable. After all, these depend on whether Chen can tidy up the government, carry out party-to-party negotiations, rally the populace behind him and make good on his reform platform.
If we still don't have a strong government and strong policies -- if we hear more words than see action -- then bigger press conferences and more elegant rhetoric will not win public sympathy.
Julian Kuo is an associate professor of political science at Soochow University.
Translated by Francis Huang
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