LETTERS: Ma’s first steps

Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was elected as the next president of Taiwan with the campaign slogan “Taiwan moves forward.” However, by visiting and paying his respects to the late dictator Chiang Kai-shek (蔣介石) he is retreating into the past.

If the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) is a modern party that represents Taiwan and has a vision for the future, it would distance itself from Chiang. Instead it is displaying its true colors as a party of the past that suffers badly from historical amnesia.

Ma would be much better spending his time paying respect to the victims of the White Terror and making efforts of achieve transitional justice.

Taiwan needs to move forward in a spirit of harmony and reconciliation.

The president-elect should set a better example.

David Reid

Xindian



The proposal that Ma visit the US before his inauguration next month is a great idea that should serve the best interests of the US, China and Taiwan in the long run.

After reading Sushil Seth’s article (“Can Ma work cross-strait miracles?” page 8, March 28) and Li Chen-ching’s letter (Letters, page 8, March 29), I think that there are many considerations for the US to realistically endorse the request.

First, the US should realize that the most suitable time for Ma to visit Washington would be before his inauguration, good timing that will help warm up cross-strait relations.

US President George W. Bush has stressed that it is a fresh opportunity for China and Taiwan to solve long-term tensions.

He has also reiterated that a peaceful relationship between Taiwan and China will be beneficial to multilateral interest. A visit by Ma to the US before May 20 is a practical option for enhancing multilateral relations.

As China is busy coping with the hectic problems of Tibet and simultaneously bracing for the Olympic Games in August, endorsing Ma’s unofficial visit to the US before his inauguration is a pragmatic and acceptable arrangement, signifying harmony and cooperation for all in the years to come.

Debbie Hou

Taipei