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China news tagged with: Ma Ying-jeou (58)

• Ma Calls on China to Remove Missiles, Vows Closer Economic Ties

  

  From Bloomberg:

  Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou vowed to prioritize economic ties with China even as he stressed the mainland must remove short-range missiles before any peace agreement can move forward.

  “There are so many financial and economic issues that haven’t been properly addressed between the two sides,” Ma said in a briefing in Taipei with foreign media to commemorate his one-year anniversary since taking office. “We should deal with those issues first because they are so closely and directly related to the well-being of our people.”

  Ma’s first year in power has been marked by improving relations with the mainland after he abandoned his predecessor’s pro-independence stance. His willingness to negotiate with China has also angered the island’s opposition, which held street protests involving tens of thousands of people objecting to his policies on May 17.

  » Read more
  • May 20, 2009 3:02 AM

• Building Bridges to China

  

  From Michael Schuman of TIME, a look at Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou’s approach towards Taiwan-China relations:

  Just about anywhere Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou goes these days, he ends up talking about China. On a Saturday morning in early May, Ma, casually clad in a red polo shirt and blue jeans, is marketing Taiwan as a tourist destination to foreign diplomats at a restaurant perched on a forested hillside in the county of Hualien on the island’s east coast. The government, he tells them, is upgrading bike trails in the area and hopes to get World Heritage Site status for a nearby gorge, which Ma compares to the Grand Canyon. The diplomats chat about the local hotels and scenic spots for a few moments, but then quickly shift the conversation to what is really on everyone’s mind: Taiwan’s rapidly warming relations with China.

  Ma, 58, seems only too happy to dive into the issue that has dominated his first year as Taiwan’s leader. Tourists from the Chinese mainland were allowed to visit Taiwan for the first time last year and are arriving by the thousands each day, he notes, giving the recession-hit local economy a welcome, albeit minor, boost. He stresses that he wants Taiwan to benefit economically from better ties with China — but he won’t let the island be assimilated by the rising giant. “I won’t sell out Taiwan,” Ma told TIME, adding that “I’ll sell China Taiwan fruit … We’re trying to create an atmosphere of peace.”

  Ma has already done more to close ranks with China than anyone in Taiwan’s brief history. Ever since Ma’s political party, the Kuomintang, fled mainland China to Taiwan after losing a civil war to Mao’s communists in 1949, relations between the two have been antagonistic at best. Beijing treats Taiwan as a runaway province and has blocked the democratic Taipei government from receiving diplomatic recognition or participating in many international forums. Both sides armed the Taiwan Strait to the teeth, turning it into one of Asia’s most dangerous military flash points. Contact between them has been grossly restricted. A year ago, Taiwan residents couldn’t take a scheduled flight or mail a letter directly to the mainland, and Taiwan-made goods had to be trans-shipped through Hong Kong and Japan.

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  • May 14, 2009 10:56 PM

• Taiwan Says It Is Not Ready for Peace Talks With China

  

  Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has declined Wen Jiabao’s invitation for closer Taiwan ties, stating that “relations are too tenuous to consider discussing political or military issues.” From the Washington Post:

  Analysts in Taiwan and on the mainland said Wen’s overtures are unlikely to bring substantial results in the short term, given the substantial domestic political pressure on Ma from those who remain wary of Beijing’s motives.

  “Accepting the ‘one China’ principle would be political suicide for Ma,” said George Tsai, a professor of politics at Taipei’s Chinese Culture University.

  Before moving forward with any discussion with China, Taiwan must first resolve its domestic debate, said Zhang Wensheng, a Taiwan researcher from Xiamen University on the mainland. “There is a lack of consensus on military and political talks within the island itself,” Zhang said.

  Ma, who is expected to run for election again in 2012, has said he wants to put aside political differences to focus on creating closer business and economic ties.

  » Read more
  • March 6, 2009 4:47 PM

• Transcript: An interview with Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou

  

  From The Washington Post:

  On Tuesday, Dec. 9, The Washington Post interviewed Taiwan’s President Ma Ying-jeou in the Presidential Building in Taipei.

  The Washington Post: Given the global downturn and the current financial crisis, how quickly will Taiwan see some of the benefits of closer economic ties with China, and given rising unemployment, do you feel any political pressure to move more slowly?

  President Ma Ying-jeou: Actually, when we decided to inaugurate cross-strait direct flights beginning last July, the idea is to reduce the cost of firms doing business with mainland China. For instance, for ocean-going ships, they could save $5,000 to 10,000 just to get a stamp to show that they have anchored in a third place, and to reduce the travel time for around 5 million people who travel between Taiwan and the mainland. So that will be an immediate benefit. So by the time later this month when we have everyday charters, the savings will be much greater as a result.

  The idea is not to encourage our people to invest on mainland China, because the investment climate over there isn’t as good as it was before. Actually in the last six months the investment as recorded by our government to mainland China was actually down 3 percent. So the idea is not to encourage investment over there but instead to make Taiwan’s own investment climate better, because it will become freer for companies to make decisions. If they want to go to the mainland, that’s fine, there’s no restriction, as they were before. So the idea is basically to make the environment freer.

  » Read more
  • December 11, 2008 12:09 AM

• Taiwan’s Ma to Meet Mainland Envoy in Historic Visit

  

  After being trapped inside a Taipei hotel with thousands of pro-Taiwanese activists waiting outside on Thursday, China’s top envoy to Taiwan, Chen Yunlin, will meet with the island’s president, Ma Ying-jeou, on the last day of his historic visit. From Bloomberg:

  Taiwan’s future will be decided by its 23 million people, Ma said today at a press briefing in Taipei ahead of his meeting with Chen. This week’s talks don’t threaten the island’s sovereignty, they benefit both sides, he said. Ma said his meeting with Chen won’t involve any negotiations.

  China considers Taiwan part of its territory, making cross- strait diplomacy a delicate dance of words and moves since Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang government was defeated by Mao Zedong’s communist forces in 1949. Taiwanese newspapers have been speculating how Chen will address Ma during their meeting.

  Calling Ma “President” could be read to mean that he recognizes Taiwan’s sovereignty; addressing him as “Mr.” may be too informal.

  Taiwan’s China Post newspaper today reported, without identifying sources, that both sides have held several rounds of talks about the so-called title issue, which the newspaper said is one of the most sensitive matters in cross-strait relations.

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  • November 5, 2008 8:09 PM

• Main Photo: Pro-Taiwan Protest

  

  

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  • October 21, 2008 9:42 PM

• Taiwan Leader Ma Vows No War With China in His Term

  

  From Reuters:

  Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou vowed on Tuesday that no war would break out with long-time political rival China, which considers the self-ruled island as part of its territory, during his term in office.

  China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and has vowed to bring the island back under its rule, by force if necessary.

  Ma’s government has held historic talks with Beijing and set up new trade and transit links since he took office in May, following decades of hostility.

  He said he was confident war would be averted, his office quoted him as saying after a speech to military leaders.

  On the same day Ma made his announcement, a Chinese envoy visiting the island was attacked by pro-independence protesters. See CDT’s post (with video) here.

  » Read more
  • October 21, 2008 5:29 AM

• Taiwan President Vows To Improve Economy, China Ties

  

  From AFP:

  Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou on Friday urged confidence in the economy and pledged to promote peace with China as the island marked its first national day under his government.

  “We are facing an unprecedented global financial crisis and the government will actively handle the situation while promoting cross-strait peace and international friendship,” Ma said in his national day speech.

  “Improving the economy is the government’s top priority and we will push for economic reforms amid the current challenges… We will conquer the obstacles and head to prosperity if we have firm confidence,” he said.

  » Read more
  • October 10, 2008 5:36 AM

• Taiwan Says President To Meet China Official

  

  From Reuters:

  China’s top negotiator on Taiwan will meet the island’s president for the first time, a Taipei official said on Thursday, in what would be a further sign of improved relations between the diplomatic rivals.

  The two sides would also sign deals on regular flights and direct cargo shipments, P.K. Chiang, Taiwan’s top negotiator on China policy, told Reuters.

  Chen Yunlin, head of China’s Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, would meet President Ma Ying-jeou in Taiwan at the end of October or at the beginning of November, Chiang said.

  China’s Taiwan Affairs Office was unavailable for comment.

  China has claimed sovereignty over self-ruled Taiwan since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949 and has vowed to bring the island under its rule, by force if necessary. But relations have greatly improved since Ma came to office in May.

  » Read more
  • October 9, 2008 1:29 AM

• Thousands Rally Against Taiwan’s China Policy

  

  From AP:

  Tens of thousands of Taiwanese marched in the streets of the capital Saturday to protest the president’s efforts to improve relations with rival China.

  The protest was the first mass rally against President Ma Ying-jeou since his inauguration about 100 days ago. It came amid worries among some people that Ma’s efforts to boost Taiwan’s economy with China’s help could threaten the island’s sovereignty.

  In downtown Taipei, people shouted, “Ma Ying-jeou, step down!” Some waved cardboard signs reading, “Taiwan Yes, China No.” Police said about 40,000 people participated in the rally.

  Protesters said they are worried that Ma is leaning toward China too quickly and that it might bring disastrous political consequences.

  Read also Opposition supporters to rally against gov’t from The China Post, Pro-localization groups stage rally on Ma’s 100th day from Taipei Times, and Tens of thousands rally against Taiwan’s Ma from AFP.

  » Read more
  • August 30, 2008 5:01 AM

• Talking to Taiwan’s New President

  

  From Time:

  In the less than three months Ma Ying-jeou has been Taiwan’s president, relations between Taiwan and China have arguably seen the most rapid advancement in the six-decade standoff between the two governments. Ma launched direct weekend charter flights between China and Taiwan for the first time, opened Taiwan to mainland tourists, eased restrictions on Taiwan investment on the mainland and approved measures that will allow mainland investors to buy Taiwan stocks. Yet the road towards his ultimate goal — peaceful relations with Beijing — is still fraught with political challenges. Ahead of his first international diplomatic trip, Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, 58, spoke with TIME’s Zoher Abdoolcarim and Michael Schuman on relations with China, the economy and his domestic political problems.

  TIME: It seems to us that you are taking quite a low-key approach on your overseas trip. Are you trying to make it easy for both the Chinese leadership and Washington?

  MA: We have made quite a few accomplishments in our relations with the mainland, the United States and Japan in the last two and a half months. [After] many, many years, now the U.S., Japan and Southeast Asia can rest assured that hostilities or even confrontation is unlikely in the Taiwan Strait. This is the reason why when I will transit in the U.S. I don’t want to do things not compatible with the purpose of transit. Why? There is no need for me to do that. I don’t have to do things that will hurt the high level of trust.

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  • August 12, 2008 7:29 AM

• Taiwan’s Ma To Renew Truce With China: Report

  

  From AFP:

  Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou plans to bolster the island’s ties with China later this month to coincide with the 50th anniversary of a battle between the cross-Strait rivals, a report said Sunday.

  Ma will fly to Kinmen, a Taiwan-controlled fortified island group just miles off China’s southeastern Xiamen city, on August 23, and deliver a speech “of historic significance,” the United Daily News said.

  Ma is expected to extend an olive branch to Beijing during his speech centring on “rapprochement and peace,” it said.

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  • August 2, 2008 11:53 PM

• China Says it is Preparing to Restart Talks with Taiwan

  

  AFP reports on latest developments in cross-Straits relations:

  China said Thursday it was preparing to resume direct talks with Taiwan for the first time in over a decade, in a sign of improving relations after the inauguration of the island’s new leader.

  Ma Ying-jeou, who took office Tuesday as Taiwan’s president vowing to mend ties with China, has raised hopes that long-term tensions may ease across the narrow strait dividing the two rivals.

  » Read more
  • May 22, 2008 4:13 PM

• Ma, New Taiwan President, Calls On China to Embrace Democracy

  

  From Bloomberg:

  President Ma Ying-jeou urged China in his inaugural speech to move toward democracy and allow Taiwan a larger international role, testing his relationship with a government that claims sovereignty over the island.

  “We hope that mainland China will continue to move toward freedom, democracy and prosperity for all people,” Ma said after being sworn in today in Taipei. “Taiwan doesn’t just want security and prosperity. It wants dignity.”

  Ma’s comments, which included a pledge to acquire more weaponry, triggered the largest decline in Taiwan’s stock market since his March 22 election. Ma, 57, pledged during his campaign to open regular direct flights with China for the first time in six decades while his party chairman will meet with mainland leaders next week in Beijing.

  Read also Taiwan’s new president calls for China talks by AFP, Taiwan’s new president offers China dialogue by Ralph Jennings.

  » Read more
  • May 20, 2008 5:25 AM

• New Taiwan President to Take Reins, Court China

  

  From Reuters:

  Taiwan’s President-elect, Ma Ying-jeou, will take office on Tuesday with a pledge to improve ties with China, symbolically sending his party’s chairman to Beijing as one of his first acts in power.

  Ma, 57, the Nationalist Party (KMT) candidate and a former Taipei mayor, will take over from Chen Shui-bian after a landslide win in March following a campaign focused on shoring up Taiwan’s sagging economy and making peace with China.

  China has claimed Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong’s Communists won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek’s KMT fled to the island. Beijing has vowed to bring Taiwan back under its control, by force if necessary.

  » Read more
  • May 19, 2008 5:26 AM

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