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Ma sweeps to Taiwan victory
22/03/2008 13:00 - (SA)
Taipei - Taiwan's opposition candidate Ma Ying-jeou surged to victory over his ruling party rival in a presidential vote dominated by concern over the economy and hopes for better relations with China.
With all but a few thousand votes left to count, Ma had a massive 17-point lead over Frank Hsieh of the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Harvard-educated Ma had been seen as the frontrunner despite accusations from Hsieh that he would be soft on Beijing, with analysts saying voters were focused on the slowing economy and hopes of better cross-strait ties.
The vote is being closely watched by Beijing and Washington for signs of a new approach in the flashpoint region after eight years of recurring tensions under outgoing President Chen Shui-bian.
While there was no immediate word from the candidates, jubilant Kuomintang (KMT) supporters sang, danced and let off firecrackers as they partied in the capital Taipei and elsewhere.
"We are very hopeful of the result, and we hope that the election will end in peace, reason and victory," KMT campaign manager Chan Chun-po told AFP earlier.
Over at DPP headquarters, there were tears among supporters and apologies from officials, and former lawmaker Cheng Wen-tsan acknowledged the extent of the defeat.
"Many traditional strongholds of the DPP showed expanding support for the KMT," he said.
"It means people there don't trust the DPP any more, they have rejected our administration after eight years and handed us a no-confidence vote."
Chen formally leaves office as president on May 20 after serving a maximum two terms.
Closer ties with China
Ma has pledged to work for closer ties with China, including a peace treaty to end decades of hostilities between Beijing and the self-ruled island.
His victory gives the KMT overall control of the nation after they already crushed the DPP in parliamentary elections in January.
Turnout was estimated at more than 80% of the 17.3 million eligible voters.
People were also asked to vote on two simultaneous referendums on joining the United Nations, although they may not get the required 50% turnout that would make them count.
After casting his ballot in a Methodist church building in Taipei, Ma said he felt confident and vowed to engage with China, which claims the self-ruled island as part of its territory.
He added: "We want to normalise the trade and investment relationship with the mainland as we have done with other parts of the world."
Tibet too far
China and Taiwan have had virtually no direct links since the island split from the mainland in 1949 after a civil war.
"I have always said that, if I get elected, I will engage the mainland on many issues, but I will protect Taiwan's identity and also its security," Ma said.
China's military crackdown in Tibet has allowed Hsieh to attack Ma's plan for an economic common market and peace treaty with China, but it appeared to have cut little ice.
"What is happening in Tibet is too far from me and I am not interested in one-China or common market, I just want a better life," said voter Chen Che-yu as he ran to his job as a waiter in a fast food restaurant.
China still claims Taiwan for itself and has threatened an invasion if it declares independence, confining the US-allied island to a murky limbo of de facto but unrecognised sovereignty.
The island is the world's 17th largest economy, mainly on the back of its information technology sector, but is losing jobs and investment to mainland China, while incomes are stagnant.
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