Whether one likes it or not, the paths of Taiwan and the US seem to be tightly entwined.
This was proved again on Tuesday, when just eight months after voters here decided to put an end to eight years of rule by a man and his party, the US electorate followed suit, choosing an opposition party figure to replace a president who has been berated and lampooned in equal measure.
US president-elect Barack Obama’s victory on Tuesday was an epoch-defining moment. Not only will he become the first black president in the history of the US, but his victory brings the curtain down on one of the most controversial and divisive presidencies of all time. Many Americans are hoping that, come January, their new president can quickly rebuild bridges and repair their country’s tarnished global image. They also hope he can re-establish what many call the US’ “moral authority,” something badly eroded by two terms under President George W. Bush.
This is similar in some respects to President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) victory in March, as he was the first non-Taiwanese to be elected president, and on promises that he would turn Taiwan into a cross-strait “peacemaker,” not a “troublemaker.”
Obama swept to power on a message of change, convincing voters that he has what it takes to change the politics of Washington and heal the deep rifts that persist in US society.
US voters put their faith in a message of hope, unity, a new direction for their country and promises of better economic management — again echoing Ma’s campaign.
Obama’s victory, if one looks at the Electoral College, would appear to be a landslide, but with 52.3 percent of the popular vote compared with Republican Senator John McCain’s 46.4, Obama knows he has a lot of people to win over. This was apparent in his victory speech when he told those who did not vote for him: “I may not have won your vote, but I hear your voices … and I will be your president, too.”
Ma’s margin of victory was slightly larger at 58.45 percent, but he too recognized the need for unity and promised to work for all Taiwanese. On the night of his victory he told the gathered crowd: “This election result is not a personal result, nor a victory for the KMT [Chinese Nationalist Party], it is a victory for all Taiwanese.”
Obama has a much broader and complicated range of tasks to handle than Ma. However, the tasks are similar in this: Obama will take charge of a state that has a problem with its international standing.
It is in the world’s interest that Obama is up to the huge task that has been placed on his shoulders, because the alternative is deepening uncertainty and instability — feelings that most Taiwanese are burdened with just six months into Ma’s term.
In a summer of intense political maneuvering, Taiwanese, whose democratic vibrancy is a constant rebuke to Beijing’s authoritarianism, delivered a powerful verdict not on China, but on their own political leaders. Two high-profile recall campaigns, driven by the ruling party against its opposition, collapsed in failure. It was a clear signal that after months of bitter confrontation, the Taiwanese public is demanding a shift from perpetual campaign mode to the hard work of governing. For Washington and other world capitals, this is more than a distant political drama. The stability of Taiwan is vital, as it serves as a key player
Yesterday’s recall and referendum votes garnered mixed results for the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT). All seven of the KMT lawmakers up for a recall survived the vote, and by a convincing margin of, on average, 35 percent agreeing versus 65 percent disagreeing. However, the referendum sponsored by the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) on restarting the operation of the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant in Pingtung County failed. Despite three times more “yes” votes than “no,” voter turnout fell short of the threshold. The nation needs energy stability, especially with the complex international security situation and significant challenges regarding
Much like the first round on July 26, Saturday’s second wave of recall elections — this time targeting seven Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers — also failed. With all 31 KMT legislators who faced recall this summer secure in their posts, the mass recall campaign has come to an end. The outcome was unsurprising. Last month’s across-the-board defeats had already dealt a heavy blow to the morale of recall advocates and the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), while bolstering the confidence of the KMT and its ally the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). It seemed a foregone conclusion that recalls would falter, as
The fallout from the mass recalls and the referendum on restarting the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant continues to monopolize the news. The general consensus is that the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has been bloodied and found wanting, and is in need of reflection and a course correction if it is to avoid electoral defeat. The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) has not emerged unscathed, either, but has the opportunity of making a relatively clean break. That depends on who the party on Oct. 18 picks to replace outgoing KMT Chairman Eric Chu (朱立倫). What is certain is that, with the dust settling
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