TAIPEI (XFN-ASIA) - Opposition candidate Ma Ying-jeou surged to a landslide
victory in Taiwan's presidential election which was dominated by concern over
the economy and hopes for better ties with China.
"This is a victory for people who hope for change and openness and reform,"
Ma told his jubilant Kuomintang (KMT) supporters after trouncing ruling party
chief Frank Hsieh by around 17 percentage points.
Harvard-educated Ma has promised to work for closer ties with China,
including a peace treaty to put an end to decades of hostilities, and to revive
Taiwan's own stuttering economy.
The vote has been 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.
Final official figures released by the election commission showed that Ma
won 58.45 pct of the vote, with Hsieh on 41.55 pct.
"This election result is not a personal result, nor a victory for the KMT,
it is a victory for all Taiwanese people," Ma said.
"Your voices are heard. People have the right to demand a better life. Only
change can bring hope, only change can provide opportunities."
At almost the same time Hsieh was admitting defeat in a speech to his own
despondent Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supporters in Taipei.
"We accept defeat. It's my own defeat, it's not the defeat of the Taiwanese
people. Please don't cry for me," he said.
Ma will formally take over on May 20, when Chen steps down after serving a
maximum two terms in office.
Ma's victory gives the KMT overall control of the nation, as they had also
crushed the DPP in parliamentary elections in January on the back of an economic
malaise and weariness at the strained relations with China.
Soochow University professor Liu Bih-rong, who specialises in cross-strait
relations, said the landslide was unexpected.
"The election result shows Taiwan has grown into a more mature democracy,"
he said, predicting relations with China would improve at a faster pace.
"It shows that the Taiwanese people have given the KMT the mandate to open
direct links and push for the one common market with China."
Separately, two referendums on joining the United Nations failed to muster
enough turnout to make them valid, with less than 36 pct of voters making the
effort to cast their ballot.
The referendums were controversial because Taiwan lost its UN seat in 1971
to China, which has blocked its 15 attempts since then to rejoin.
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