Taiwan’s former ruling party, Kuomintang (KMT), which in recent months has favoured closer relations with Mainland China, elected Hong Kong-born Mr. Ma Ying-jeou, a staunch opponent of the controversial anti-secession law, as party chairman, on Saturday July 16. Taipei City Mayor Mr. Ma won 72.4 per cent of the total votes over his rival Mr. Wang Jin-pyng. The new chairman has reiterated his opposition to Taiwanese independence from China.
Mr. Ma, as Justice Minister in the nineties, gained a reputation of being a clean and consistently non-corrupt politician, cracking down on the “black gold” system of vote buying.
Mr. Ma was the only member from the KMT who voiced his opposition to the controversial “Anti-Secession Law” adopted in March by the People’s Republic of China (PRC); legalising an attack on Taiwan if the breakaway island declared formal independence. He also reaffirmed his opposition to a “One China, two systems” policy for Taiwan. His position on these issues led Mr. Ma in the past to being banned from visiting Hong Kong.
Popular in the capital, Mr. Ma, who comes from a family who fled Communist China, will have to strengthen his position in rural Taiwan. “Playing the ethnicity card is always an effective tool in Taiwan elections and that happens to be Ma’s weakest point,” said National Taiwan University political science professor Lu Ya-li. To win the 2008 national election, it will be necessary for Mr. Ma to gain the support of Taiwan-born Mr. Wang’s supporters.
Asked if he would resign from his Mayorship to focus on developing KMT party policies, Ma assured that he had no intention of resigning, but would continue to fulfil his promises made to the people of Taipei.
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