Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan’s pro-China president, wins reelection

[beijingwalker]

Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan’s pro-China president, wins reelection


By Andrew Higgins, Saturday, January 14, 9:07 PM

TAIPEI, TAIWAN: Taiwan’s incumbent president Ma Ying-jeou won re-election Saturday, a result that will delight China and calm worries in Washington that this island of 23 million people might veer away from a policy of rapprochement with its giant neighbor.

With more than 80 of the votes counted, Ma claimed victory before cheering, rain-drenched supporters at a rally in Taipei. Ma, the candidate of the ruling Kuomintang or KMT, promised “more harmonious” relations with China. He defeated Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party, which Beijing views with deep mistrust because of its past support for Taiwanese independence.


China, which claims Taiwan as its own territory, kept mostly quiet during the campaign — in contrast to earlier elections when it staged missile tests, scrambled fighters and sent other menacing signals — but made clear that it preferred Ma.

Taiwan’s orderly election process — which also selected a new legislature — delivered a rebuke to China’s ruling Communist Party, which has long sought to present democracy as a recipe for chaos and a Western import incompatible with Chinese values. Taiwan used to have a highly authoritarian regime similar in many ways to that still in place in Beijing but is now the Chinese-speaking world’s most vibrant democracy.

Ma, a Harvard University graduate who was born in Hong Kong to parents who fled Mao Zedong’s 1949 communist revolution, first took office in 2008 and worked throughout his first term to mend ties with Beijing, reaching a raft of agreements with Beijing to expand economic and other ties between the two former enemies.

“China will be very happy,” said Yen Chen-shen of the Institute of International Relations at Taiwan’s National Chengchi University. Ma’s victory, he added, shows “Beijing doesn’t need to use missiles but can buy Taiwan through business.” Taiwan’s business community, which has invested billions in China, overwhelming supported Ma.

His defeater challenger, Tsai, took a measured position toward China during the campaign, avoiding calls for independence embraced by her party’s base, and focused more on promises to narrow a widening income gap and tackle issues such as housing. A third contender, James Soong, came in distant third place.

 

[Interpreter]

It's in accordance with expectation

 

[Sonyuke_Songpaisan]

馬英九凍蒜！

 

[SinoChallenger]

It's earthshaking news. China has successfully Finlandized Taiwan. Finlandization - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Now, it is just a matter of time before China and Taiwan sign a military cooperation agreement to give PLAN freedom of movement around Taiwan. This means that PLAN has penetrated the first island chain. With naval access to the Western Pacific via Taiwan, PLAN can encircle Okinawa, Japan and Philippines.

It looks like the current Japanese prime minister is more pro-China, at the expense of its US relations. Japan appears willing to overthrow US dollar hegemony and setting up an Asian currency with China. For the moment, we have peace with Japan.

We could see much more aggressive PLAN action against Philippines, I think. Like PLAN patrols around Philippine Islands. That would terrify them. Or PLAN patrols around Guam. This is probably why the US wanted a new base in Australia -- Guam becomes indefensible once Taiwan becomes Finlandized by China.

 

[Hack-Hook]

well this lower the tension in that region so I must say it's a good for both China and Taiwan

 

[Pakchina]

Ma Ying-jeou and the KMT are pro China and in favor of closer ties with mainland, motherland and holyland China. This confortable re-election means that Chinese of Taiwan are in favor of closer ties with China. Despite the US divide and rule policy and the strong Taiwanese anti-China lobby in the Obama administration, Chinese of Taiwan say yes to China and no to the western neo colonialist rule in Asia and no to US war mongering in Asia. Its time for all Chinese from mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and China's forever and all weather brother, Pakistan to unite economically, politically and militarily to kick out of Asia the US war criminals and Japanese imperial war criminals. Congratulations to brother Ma and to the Chinese of Taiwan for electing Ma.

 

[lcloo]

Good years ahead for Mainland and Taiwan. Closer cross-strait bi-lateral relationship will benefit everyone except war mongers.

 

[Sasquatch]

We already have one in the China defense section think the mods should move it there however we all knew he would win. hahah China-Taipei Relations will be getting better and better now.

 

[Tractor]

We already have one in the China defense section think the mods should move it there however we all knew he would win. hahah China-Taipei Relations will be getting better and better now.

You are right,this is internal affair of China,but I doubt it that China-Taipei Relations will be getting better for you see Ma is a KMT member and still insist to unify China under the three 'Min's principles.

 

[Amuroray]

very good news.

Hopefully this is one step closer to reunification

 

[beijingwalker]

the jacket he chose to wear at the moment he declared victory,on that front of his vest it says:China,KMT.

 

[beijingwalker]

now we can move our troops to rearrange their deployment,we can focus our defence on South China sea and South Tibet

 

[Generally Khan]

2012 promises to be a good year for China. All the chips are falling into place.

 

[Huan]

I'm glad that Ma wins. Suck it up, DPP'ers. lol

 

[canadian icehole]

It looks like the current Japanese prime minister is more pro-China, at the expense of its US relations. Japan appears willing to overthrow US dollar hegemony and setting up an Asian currency with China. For the moment, we have peace with Japan.

We could see much more aggressive PLAN action against Philippines, I think. Like PLAN patrols around Philippine Islands. That would terrify them. Or PLAN patrols around Guam. This is probably why the US wanted a new base in Australia -- Guam becomes indefensible once Taiwan becomes Finlandized by China.

Surprised that Noda is pro-China; vaguely remember reading otherwise.