Voters in Taiwan on Saturday headed to the polls to vote in presidential elections,with the recent violence in Tibet in the backdrop and Taiwan's own relations with China on the front burner.The slowing economy in Taiwan is also expected to be an issue in this election.The poll is being watched closely by Beijing and Washington for signs of a shift in approach after eight years of tensions under outgoing President Chen Shui-bian.The two candidates are Harvard-educated,Ma Ying-jeou of the opposition Kuomintang,who is considered the frontrunner,against pro-independence ruling party chief Frank Hsieh.
Now both of them agrees that it is important to have a closer ties with China,but differ on details. Ma wants the benefits of China's robust economy,while Hsieh wants to go slower and hold back in some areas.China of course considers Taiwan has an inseparable part of China and constantly pushes for eventual reunification.The recent incident in Tibet would probably be playing on the back of the mind for the Taiwanese people if they ever decides to declare independence.China has even threatened to go to war,should Taiwan declare formal independence.Therefore the stakes are very high in this election.Tibet,in western China,was an independent country when China took control in 1949,the same year Taiwan split from the mainland in a civil war.Separatist aspirations and anti-government sentiments remain strong among many Tibetans as seen during the events in Tibet the last few days or so.Hsieh,pointing to China's response,says the same thing could happen to Taiwan if it gets too close to Beijing.Ma however disgaree by saying that Taiwan is not Tibet and that Taiwan is ''sovereign country and a democratic country."The island is the world's 17th largest economy,mainly on the back of its information technology sector,but is performing worse than many of its Asian counterparts unfortunately.Ma,in his last rally yesterday vowed to be the creator of a new Taiwan" and to lead a "clean and sunshine government" free of corruption while Hsieh,used his last rally to accuse Ma of being soft on China and ready to sell out the nation.Over 17 million people are expected to turn out for the voting.
Its definitely going to be a close fight between the two candidates.But my vote is going to Ma Ying-jeou because I have been really impressed with him and his background.And I think the Taiwanese people are much more comfortable interacting with him that Hsieh.He looks more friendly and I like his view that Taiwan should reunite with China if they change its policy.I think the current Taiwan President,Chen Shui-Bian has done a decent job.He is determine to declare independence from China but I dont think that is the right thing to do.The way I see Taiwan relations with China getting better if they work more closely together,instead of argueing with one another over the issue of independence.China will never ever allow that to happen,so I think it will be fruitless for the next Taiwanese President to continue doing the same thing as Mr Chen has done.The next president should instead focus on the issue within the country like the economy which isnt doing well before trying to deal with external issues and I think Mr Ma is the perfect person to do it,to bring Taiwan back into being a successful island and working at how to strengthen its relations with China without making anyone suffer or angry.I would be really disappointed if he didnt win it.
* PS: The election results was announced yesterday,and if you have watched the news yesterday,that of course you would have probably know what the result is.For the sake of those who still do not know who won it,then Im glad to say Mr Ma is going to be the new Taiwanese President.He won 58 per cent of the vote to Mr Hsieh 41 per cent.I am very happy with the result,and Im looking forward to a new Taiwan under Mr Ma's leadership.He is going to be sworn somewhere in the month of May.
*The report is taken from ChannelNewsAsia and CNN.
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