Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) “6-3-3” campaign promise to revive the economy must haunt him. Or should we say, it would have haunted “Ma the incompetent” if he were a president who felt responsible for the truth, accuracy and sincerity of what he says.
Unfortunately, many Taiwanese don’t have that opinion of the president. Even the foreign media are starting to catch on to the two-faced facade that he and his PR team have built in the past decade. But that is not the point here; it seems that Ma has acquired a new moniker among Taiwanese: “Ma the fawner.”
“Ma the incompetent” is a well deserved title given his lackluster record as mayor of Taipei as well as the many boondoggles that happened under his watch. But why are people beginning to call him “Ma the fawner”?
This is not a recent occurrence. There were hints when he was mayor of Taipei, but it has intensified since he became president. As a result, a debate is developing. Has Ma become a fawner because he is desperate to bring the economy at least close to the level it was under former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and before it tanked under his administration? Does Ma feel that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) is his only hope? Or has he always been a fawner because he ultimately believes the “one China” myth that both the PRC and the Republic of China (ROC) have jointly been trying to foist on the Taiwanese and that he needs the PRC’s help on this?
Ma claims he was elected on the promise to improve the economy; that is true, for that was the point of his exaggerated 6-3-3 promise (an annual GDP of 6 percent, per capita income of US$30,000 and an unemployment rate of below 3 percent). However, it is not true, as Ma claims, that he was elected because he promised to improve the economy through increased contact with and dependence on the PRC. That second part has been tacked on by his staff and is used as an excuse to explain his fawning ways.
Ma has countered criticism by claiming that cross-strait ties have improved. But have they? To be sure, China has been quiet, but it has no reason to speak out as Ma jumps at its slightest suggestion. If a potential problem appears on the horizon, all China has to do is hint that its feelings are hurt and Ma rolls over and plays dead.
A visit by exiled Uighur leader Rebiya Kadeer? No way; she is a terrorist in Beijing’s eyes. Should there be a national day parade? An excuse is found to cancel that. Should the nation’s flag be shown at international events held in Taiwan? Not if the PRC is there. Should the human rights of Taiwanese nationals be suppressed to avoid offending a visiting low-ranking PRC official? Why not?
However, what is more surprising is the fact that it is not just green voters that are suspicious of Ma; the true supporters of the ROC — not just its profiteers — feel he is betraying them as well. With a long history of fighting Communist control, they wonder why Ma almost appears ashamed to stand up for the ROC before the PRC. For although at times Ma will invoke the outmoded Constitution of the ROC in the strangest of circumstances, when the PRC is involved it seems Ma has never heard of it.
If Ma had a reputation for competence, there would be a potential reason to give him some benefit of the doubt in his dealings with China, but Ma’s past performance and his proclivity to never accept responsibility are his own condemnation. More and more people wonder what secret deals are being worked out in the proposed economic cooperation framework agreement with China.
All this gives rise to the question that is increasingly on the minds of many: Why is Ma being such a fawner?
Jerome Keating is a writer based in Taipei.
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