Many thought that the recent election of Ma Ying-jeou as Taiwan’s next president would herald a new era of warmer cross-straight relations, but in an an exclusive interview with the Financial Times today, Ma told the paper that he would not personally engage in dialogue with Chinese leaders because this could be “too controversial in Taiwan.” From the FT:
Mr Ma’s remarks highlight how difficult it has become for elected politicians in democratic Taiwan to seek detente with its politically hostile neighbour as the island’s citizens firmly embrace an identity of their own.
Pro-independence politicians have questioned Mr Ma’s loyalty to Taiwan because he was born in Hong Kong into a mainland Chinese family. During his election campaign, he sought to allay such doubts with strong criticism of China’s handling of Tibet and vows to protect Taiwan’s sovereignty.
Mr Ma also made it clear that he expected it would take years to normalise economic relations across the Strait. While he hopes to open non-stop flights to and from China every weekend and allow up to 3,000 Chinese to visit the island every day from July, his government intends to move slowly on economic deregulation.
Mr Ma has pledged to abolish restrictions on the amount Taiwanese companies can invest in China, to deregulate financial exchanges and facilitate the flow of people across the Strait. But he warned: “For these issues, some preparation is needed.”
Watch the FT’s 3-part video interview with Ma here.
