Taipei Times headlines

Overall the Taipei Times (Table 4) headline discourse structure follows a similar tone and theme as The Taiwan News. In the beginning of the year its language intensity of opposition, danger and risk evolves as the trade deal nears, however after the deal is signed a new

headline discourses emerge on the negative consequences of ECFA.

In an early (January, 2010) headline (Legislative Yuan could overrule ECFA: speaker) a theme and tone of political opposition to ECFA appears through the textual structure of

‗Legislative Yuan‘ + ‗could overrule‘ that builds on a sense of doubt that will create an

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agenda for the coming year. Within this headline structure the Taipei Times insinuates that in the ruling KMT party there is still a sense of inter-party opposition. In addition it plays up the public‘s notion that the KMT‘s founding principles are to eventually reunify Taiwan with China (Editorial, 2010, April 12). The headline frames itself to create a sense of doubt that the KMT is internally divided on ECFA, and that the trade agreement is being pushed through by a political group whose loyalty is questionable. This discourse structure follows directly into the second headline (ECFA conspiracy must be stopped, 2010, April 12) with the use of

‗conspiracy‘ and the call to action of ‗must be stopped‘ alluding once again that the KMT‘s political agenda is not in the best interests of Taiwan. The message of conspiracy, danger and the an overall threat to the public good is revisited as the Taipei Times that quickly establishes an overall theme that soon turns alarmist (ECFA a threat to food security: experts; How healthy will ECFA be?, 2010, May 23) with terms such as ‗threat‘ ‗food security‘ ‗experts‘

and ‗healthy‘ by adding another layer of doubt and its corresponding danger; finally the use of

‗experts‘ is used to imply a voice of authority that is independent from the ruling

administration as the current government is incompetent in protecting Taiwan‘s sovereignty.

It should be noted that a common headline appears in both (2010, July 09) the Taipei Times and The Taiwan News (Legislators brawl over ECFA review; Talk of the day - Legislative brawl over ECFA; economic forecast) in that these newspapers include the terms ‗brawl‘ and

‗legislators‘ creating the impression to their foreign audiences of fierce opposition within the government. The use of ‗brawl‘ and ‗legislators‘ also create images of urgency and panic as the opposing lawmakers will do anything to try and stop the trade deal. As the signing date for ECFA approaches (Report from legislative agency details the cross-strait political risk of ECFA, 2010, July 29) the Taipei Times begins strengthening its previous discourse and reinforces the validity of the brawling anti-ECFA legislators. The use of ‗report,‘ ‗legislative agency,‘ ‗details,‘ ‗cross straight,‘ and ‗political risk‘ once again build upon the previous

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headline discourses of treachery and conspiracy. As the official date (June 29, 2010) of ECFA‘s ratification approaches the overall headline messages take on an urgent tone (Nightmare scenario under ECFA, 2010, June 05; Opposition vows ‗10-year‘ ECFA fight;

Lee Teng-hui calls on public to oppose, 2010, June 13) of outright rejection. There is little doubt that ‗nightmare scenario,‘ ‗opposition vows 10-year fight,‘ and having the former president calling for a public uprising could be considered the climax to the Taipei Times headline discourse. In final headline published after ECFA‘s ratification (US concerned over ECFA notification, 2010, December 16) the themes of conspiracy are once again brought to attention; ‘US concerned‘ creates a discourse that ECFA is not a trade agreement, but a geo-political agreement that will tip the balance of power in the Taiwan Straight in favor of China.

The post-ECFA headline discourses all appear to follow a common theme that ECFA is not a trade agreement supported by the public, but instead a unification mechanism that is being forced through and opposed by the Taiwanese public and American government. Out of the headlines sampled only one could be considered a positive message (New BOFT chief takes post, touts benefits of ECFA, 2010, October 19) and this can be summed up with a simple word combination not found in the Taipei Times of ‗benefits‘ + ‗ECFA‘. Even within this positive sounding headline its is still possible to speculate that since the Taipei Times has discoursed an anti-business stance towards ECFA and its backers with the added use of ‗touts‘

may give the readers a hint into the biasness of the ‗BOFT chief‘ and his pro-business and pro-ECFA agenda. In contrast, the two neutral headlines are ambiguous in their tone. (Ma succeeded in pushing ECFA, 2010, March 16 & Students hold nationwide debate on ECFA, 2010, May 23). In the first headline it could be argued that ‗Ma‘ the president forced ECFA through. However this interpretation would be speculating on the negative. In the second neutral headline ‗Students hold nationwide debate on ECFA‘ (2010, May 23), suggest a yet

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―un-settled‖ position among the students on ECFA. It can thus be said that the Taipei Times is overwhelming negative about what benefits ECFA can bring to Taiwan.

Table 4. Taipei Times headlines in articles and editorials

Legislative Yuan could overrule ECFA: speaker (2010, January 16) - Editorial: ECFA conspiracy must be stopped (2010, April 12) - Tung, Ma, Article 23 and an ECFA (2010, April 21) o

Academics support ECFA referendum (2010, May 02) - Ma succeeded in pushing ECFA (2010, May 05) o

Wen Jiabao a ‗liar,‘ ECFA a tool: DPP (2010, March 16) - ECFA a threat to food security: experts (2010, May 23) - Students hold nationwide debate on ECFA (2010, May 31) o Editorial: Nightmare scenario under ECFA (2010, June 03) - Opposition vows ‗10-year‘ ECFA fight (2010, June 05) - Lee Teng-hui calls on public to oppose ECFA (2010, June 13) - Editorial: How healthy will ECFA be? (2010, June 25) -

Legislators brawl over ECFA review (2010, July 09) -

Post-ECFA China will seek social integration (2010, July 20) -

Post-ECFA poll finds record number against unification (2010, July 21) -

Report from legislative agency details the cross-strait political risk of ECFA (2010, July 29) - DPP threatens boycott over referendum (2010, August 14) -

A downturn would strip the ECFA‘s thin façade (2010, September 05) - New BOFT chief takes post, touts benefits of ECFA (2010, October 19) +

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US concerned over ECFA notification (2010, December 16) -

Message headline coding (+) Positive (-) Negative (o) Neutral