Opposition wins Taiwan presidential vote

Yahoo AP ^ | 3/22/2008 | PETER ENAV

[steelboy]

Ma has based his campaign on promises to reverse the pro-independence direction of outgoing President Chen Shui-bian and leverage China's white-hot economic boom to re-energize Taiwan's ailing high-tech economy.

He has proposed a formal peace treaty with Beijing that would demilitarize the Taiwan Strait, 100-mile-wide waterway that separates the two heavily armed sides. But he has drawn the line at unification, promising it would not be discussed during his presidency.

Economically, he wants to lower barriers to Taiwanese investment on the mainland — it already amounts to more than $100 billion — and begin direct air and maritime links between the sides.

[Lucius Cornelius Sulla]

With this election the Kuomintang (Chiang Kai-shek’s Nationalist Chinese) takes total control of Taiwan in a totally democratic election for the first time. Their party has 66% of the legislature, and has a minority partner giving their coalition nearly 80% of the seats. The opposition originated as Taiwan nationalists who want independence, the KMT wants Taiwan to be part of China. This means there will be no calls for Taiwan independence, which should cool things down with the Red Chinese.

[decimon]

Dire straits bump

[Tainan]

Quite a bit of tears on the TV from the DPP(Greens) as they face the prospect of seeing their monies and power taken from them.
Facts are, the economic situation has tumbled a bit since CSB and his crew of no-talent cronies have been in power.
We all look forward to professionals being back in control and dealing with the hemorrhaging flow of business, capital and investment over to the mainland.
After all, why should Taiwan economically support a regime that is pledged to taking over the island?

Hopefully, with actual foreign service professionals in office, diplomatic ties can be established with something other than sinking Pacific atolls and banana land turn-coat countries interested in nothing more than the size of the red envelope being handed to them under the table.

One can hope.

By the by..todays KMT bears scant resemblance to the KMT of Peanuts' days.

[Quix]

Thanks much.

Fascinating. Kinda glad in practical terms. Sad in philosophical terms.

[SampleMan]

He has proposed a formal peace treaty with Beijing that would demilitarize the Taiwan Strait,

Let's see that comprises 100% of Taiwans defensive posture, while it covers about 5% of China's Offensive posture. Yea, that sounds smart.

[steelboy]

sad in philosophical terms?

[Quix]

I don’t like tyranny.

I realize the globalists have all significant nations fairly locked up in reality.

But I still harbor the fantasy that Taiwan is a lot freer than Beijing.

And, currently, it is.

Being engulfed in any way . . . like Hong Kong, for example . . . is not remotely attractive philosophically.

[jamese777]

Its kind of ideologically backwards but it IS the political reality that the conservative-nationalist victory in Taiwan is exactly what the communists in Beijing were hoping for. Globalism and free trade trumps political ideology.

[jamese777]

Its kind of ideologically backwards but it IS the political reality that the conservative-nationalist victory in Taiwan is exactly what the communists in Beijing were hoping for. Globalism and free trade trumps political ideology.

[flushing_kenny]

The KMT are , well, professional thieves when it comes down to it. The DPP walked into this outgunned since they no company dared to donate to them and the press is just slight more biased here in Taiwan (I am writing this from Yungho, just south of Taipei) against the DPP than the NYT is against Republicans. I even had a guy about to start a fight with me at the last rally here in Taipei until I convinced him I wasn’t a reporter.

What makes this sad is that Ma immigrated from Honk Kong and his children are basically moved out to America; he has very little connection to the island except for his power base in the KMT. His promise to increase the coupling with China’s economy is also very bad timing since that is slowing a bit. The opening of trade goods with China (remember the Asprin from this week, or the dog food, or the poison dumplings?) also will further depress production on Taiwan, not improve it. Perhaps the worst of all was his lack of concern for the deaths of Tibetans in their occupied and increasingly colonized territory.

[Tainan]

Hmmm...interesting interpretations. Can't say I actually agree with any of them.
Are you familiar with Hsiehs background? Know anything about the Kaoshiung Transit problems and his involvement? Know why he was hustled up to Taipei in the middle of the night? Do you know who Ma beat to win Mayor of Taipei?

Taiwan politics is not something that functions according to Western standards or logic. But, IMO and that of a heck of a lot of other observers, Ma brings to the table an actual coterie of professionals who just might whip this puppy into a position of respectability that will allow it to gain presence in the eyes of the world community. Much better than the cronies CSB installed.
Of course it is widely hoped, and even prayed for, that this level of governmental accountability and professionalism just might seep down into the ranks of the local pols...and maybe even...maybe even into the ranks of the Taiwan Police Departments through-out the island.

Of course that latter hope is surely just too much to even make a long-shot bet on.

Also, Ma was running for the Presidency of Taiwan. What points would he gain that would help him in that race by doing a pie say about Tibet? Make a nice sound bite for the wai guos and the foreign press - he obviously didn't think it was worth it for his immediate race. hats reality.I don't think he was/is unaware of the Tibetan situation, however in his new position he will have a stronger position to speak to this. Interesting to see how he plays it. Maybe his wife will take a lead in matters such as this. I like her a lot.

[Quix]

I understand.

Thanks.

[Tailgunner Joe]

Bush congratulates Ma on election win - March 22, 2008 - U.S. President George W. Bush congratulated Taiwan's presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou on Saturday for his election victory, saying it provides a "fresh opportunity" for China and Taiwan to resolve their differences peacefully. "Once again, Taiwan has demonstrated the strength and vitality of its democracy. I also congratulate Mr. Ma Ying-jeou on his victory," Bush said in a statement, calling Taiwan "a beacon of democracy to Asia and the world." "It falls to Taiwan and Beijing to build the essential foundations for peace and stability by pursuing dialogue through all available means and refraining from unilateral steps that would alter the cross-Strait situation," he said. "I believe the election provides a fresh opportunity for both sides to reach out and engage one another in peacefully resolving their differences," Bush said. The U.S. leader said Washington would continue to maintain its close unofficial ties with the Asian island through the American Institute in Taiwan. "The maintenance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the welfare of the people on Taiwan remain of profound importance to the United States," Bush said.

[charles m]

Perhaps the worst of all was his lack of concern for the deaths of Tibetans in their occupied and increasingly colonized territory.

Lots of my Taiwanese friends kind of think Tibet belongs to China too. Go figure. Below is the original Republic of China flag first flown in 1911 (way before the Communists took over):

That black bar you see symbolized Tibet. Red = China proper, Yellow = Manchuria, Blue = Mongolia, White = Xinjiang (Muslim), and Black = Tibet.

[Tainan]

Thanks for posting that old school ROC flag and the explanations of the colors used. Their are a number of flags that have been historically associated with Taiwan, The ROC and the numerous regimes of the area.