Taiwan awaits change as pro China opposition party wins

Mar 22, 2008, 16:40 GMT

Newly elected Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou and vice president Vincent Siu wave to supporters at theirelection headquarters in Taipei, 22 March 2008. EPA/EDDIE CHENG

Taipei - Taiwan's opposition party, KMT, returned to power Saturday after its charismatic leader Ma Ying-jeou won the presidential election.

Champagne popped and firecrackers exploded after Ma, 57, defeated the ruling party DPP's Frank Hsieh by 2.2 million votes.

Ma won 76.5 million or 58.4 per cent of votes over Hsien's 54.4 million or 41.6 per cent.

Calling it a victory for Taiwan people who supported change, Ma immediately pledged to improve ties with China, revive the island's economy and promote ethnic harmony.

'I want to sign a peace pact with China, but not until China has removed the missiles facing Taiwan,' he told a news conference at his campaign headquarters in Taipei.

Unveiling his plan to rescue Taiwan's economy, Ma said his common market idea did not mean with China, but the whole world.

'We want to open common market with the whole world and China is only one link in it. For example, we want to sign free trade agreement (FTA) with the US, Japan and Singapore. If our ties with China are improved, it will cause foreign countries to want to sign FTA with us,' he said.

Ma will be sworn in on May 20, when President Chen Shui-bian of DPP steps down, after having served two four-year terms, the longest tenure for a Taiwan president.

His election win brings the Chinese Nationalist Party (Kuomintang or KMT) back to power, lost to the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2000 when KMT's corrupt and totalitarian rule brought its five- decade rule to an end.

But eight years of administration by Chen Shui-bian have brought few benefits to Taiwanese. Chen has provoked China with separatist rhetoric and his officials' corruption scandals prompted Taiwanese to vote for Ma in the hope of a better future.

'At least this is a change. If Ma does not perform well, we change vote for another political party. This is the rotation of power and this is democracy,' said Chang Hsieh-hsing, a tea merchant in Taipei, after Ma's victory.

His wife echoed his sentiments, adding: 'After eight years' rule by Chen, our country is in such bad shape, so we don't expect things to change overnight. But let's give him a chance.'

Ma is fully prepared to kickstart economic reform. Asked if he wanted to visit China or foreign countries after he is sworn in, Ma declined as overhauling the economy was his top priority.

He has a team of strong economic advisers including designate vice president Vincent Siew, who is a former economic minister and Board of Foreign Trade director.

Ma believes his rejuvenation plan could stimulate the economy which has been marginalized due to Taiwan's international isolation and fierce global competition. The Kaohsiung Harbour's world ranking has dropped from third busiest container port to seventh position. Around 500,000 Taiwan manufacturers have moved to China in search of better opportunities.

Ma's other task is to safeguard Taiwan's security.

China and Taiwan have been split since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. China considers Taiwan its breakaway province and has threatened to recover the island by force, if Taipei seeks independence.

Ma's win may ease Taiwan-China tensions as he has adopted a softer line towards Beijing. China welcomed his win and expressed hope the new Taiwan government and Beijing could cooperate to promote cross- Strait peace.

'It proves that Taiwan's independence is not popular with Taiwan people. We hope Ma and the mainland can make joint efforts towards cross-Strait peace,' Li Weiyi, spokesman for the Chinese State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office, said.

Singapore is so far the only foreign nation to congratulate Ma, a reflection of Taiwan's international isolation. Currently only 23 mostly small nations recognize Taiwan while more than 170 countries recognize China and consider the island a Chinese province.

It remains to be seen whether China will ease its repression of Taiwan after Ma becomes president and whether China will allow the island nation to rejoin international organizations such as the United Nations.

'That is a dream. China will never give up its sovereignty claims over Taiwan and its repression will only toughen. You just wait and see,' Ho Sheng-han, a Taipei engineer, said.

On March 18, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said under the one-China policy, Taiwan and China can hold talks and 'anything can be discussed.' But he also warned that Taiwan's bid to join the UN or to seek formal independence from China was doomed to failure.