Word: ma
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...stage in Taiwan but found a stage in China." In 2005, then KMT chairman Lien Chan made a breakthrough visit to Beijing, during which he buried the hatchet with the party's communist foes. The DPP "perceives the mainland as a threat. We should and do," says Ma. However, he adds, "we also perceive the mainland as an opportunity...
...Ma's message is so far winning out. Polls show him ahead of Hsieh by double digits. A big reason is Ma himself. The former Taipei mayor and triathlon competitor has become the new face of the new KMT. Born in Hong Kong, Ma arrived in Taiwan as a 1-year-old and, after studying in the U.S., held a long list of posts in KMT governments, including Justice Minister. While campaigning, Ma is often received more like a touring pop star than a politician. "Look at how the ladies react," comments one aide as Ma departs from a rally...
...Ma's biggest asset, however, is the DPP's outgoing Chen. His administration has been so tarnished by corruption scandals that public confidence in the DPP has soured. Even First Lady Wu Shu-chen was indicted on charges of graft and forgery in 2006; she pled not guilty and a verdict has yet to be delivered. Fed-up voters carried the KMT to a landslide victory in legislative elections in January. (Ma was also indicted last year for misappropriating public funds but was cleared of wrongdoing by the courts. An appeal by prosecutors to the Supreme Court is now pending...
...Historical Baggage The presidential election, though, is far from over. Ma has a potential Achilles heel - the mere fact that he's KMT. Hsieh can count on a full third of the electorate to vote against the KMT under almost any circumstances. Ma has tried to counter by appearing more sensitive to issues of Taiwanese identity. He has spent long stretches in the island's south - DPP territory - where he often bypasses hotels to stay in the homes of ordinary folk. At one rally of labor unionists in Taipei, Ma made sure to lead the crowd in cheers of "Taiwan...
...Even if Ma overcomes Hsieh and wins the presidency, he could face serious hurdles in realizing his vision of improved cross-strait relations. Much of his success will depend on the attitude of Beijing. On the surface, the interests of Ma and Hu Jintao appear to be dovetailing. Under Hu, whom Ma compliments as "sophisticated," China has dramatically softened its stance toward Taipei, and Hu these days sounds ready to compromise. In his speech opening the Chinese People's Political Consultative Congress in early March, Hu reiterated his offer to sign a peace treaty. "Status in negotiations would be equal...