Taiwan today celebrates crucial elections on their relationship con China

Taiwan celebrates today decisive presidential and legislative elections which decides the continuation of the current policy of détente and rapprochement with China, under the watchful eye of Beijing.

The current President Ma Ying-jeou, Kuomintang Party (KMT), ended his election campaign criticizing the corruption of the previous Government of the opposition Democratic Party (PDP) (2000-2008) progressive and instilling fear that a change of Government destabilizing ties with China.

"We do not want a corrupt government, we do not want a President who believes instability in ties with China," said Ma.

The main contender for the Presidency, Tsai Ing-wen of the PDP, had the support of former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui, who left the KMT to inspire the party independence Union solidarity Taiwan.

"Votes to Tsai to give Taiwan a chance", said Lee, while the candidate ended his campaign with the slogan "we are going tomorrow to" u000a"change the Government", after criticizing the current economic management and his "excessive" approach to China.

Douglas Paal, former director of the American Institute in Taiwan (IAT), which operates as American representation in the absence of Embassy, caused a stir by declaring Thursday its support for several key elements of the policy toward China of the Chairman Ma Ying-jeou, attacked by Tsai Ing-wen.

. The spokesperson for the IAT, Christopher Kavanagh, had to make it clear on Friday that the views of Paal "were personal and did not represent the position of Washington" and that "United States respects democracy and is willing to work with whomever to leave elected".

The PDP via the Bi-khim Hsiao international relations director Paal, invited to the island as an observer, of "interference", accused of "playing music from the KMT" and "lack of respect for the people of Taiwan".

In this election, the main issues have been the economy and the u000aties with China, with the ruling party, ensuring he has greater experience in the management of the two themes and attacking ability of Tsai to stabilize relations with Beijing.

Opposition has played the card of unrest linked to the effects of the global economic crisis on the island and nationalism Islander, fearful that China used the increasingly intense economic and social ties to political unification.

In legislative elections 283 candidates competing for the 79 directly elected seats in the regional districts and Aboriginal, while 127 candidates from 11 parties contested 34 seats allocated proportionally to vote received by the parties.

In previous presidential elections in 2008, Ma Ying-jeou with 58,45 percent of the vote defeated the candidate of the PDP, Frank Hsieh, who won the 41,55 percent, while in the legislative, held separately, the u000aKMT won 81 of the 113 seats and the PDP only 27.

Share this article

Digg it!

del.icio.us

MySpace

Facebook

Fark

Reddit

Newsvine