FR Endorses Ma Ying-jeou's Re-election

On January 14, 2012 -- only six weeks from today -- the people of Chinese Taipei (AKA Taiwan or Republic of China (ROC)) will vote in their 5th presidential election.  The Kuomintang (KMT) is represented by incumbent President Ma Ying-jeou (pinyin Ma Yingjiu), and the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is led by Tsai Ing-wen (pinyin Cai Yingwen).

While Ma carries the baggages of incumbency, the Fairbank Report endorses him because he represents stability in the Taiwan Straits.  Oppostion leader Tsai and her Party are carelessly provoking China, and this could lead to war.  Ma, on the other hand, has taken a pragmatic approach toward bilateral relations with the Mainland.  His administration has worked with China to effect direct flights between Chinese Taipei and Mainland China.  He has worked with the Mainland to bring in millions of Mainland Chinese tourists to the island -- as our staff members can testify to during their recent visit to Taiwan.

Ma's anti-independence stance in addition to his practical policies toward China ensure peace, economic growth, stability and natural convergence across the Straits.

Tsai Ing-wen, on the contrary, represents uncertainty and gratuitous pugilism that are neither good for the region nor for the wider world, which is already mired in political and economic difficulties.