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Hsieh, Ma face off in last debate

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou, left, and Democratic Progressive Party candidate Frank Hsieh, greet each other prior to yesterday's debate. PHOTO: CNA

Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) presidential candidate Frank Hsieh (謝長廷) and his Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) rival Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) faced off in the second and final televised debate yesterday, with Hsieh attacking Ma's cross-strait economic policy, while Ma criticized the performance of the DPP administration.

Proposing to put the "cross-strait common market" to a public vote in a referendum, Hsieh, in his closing remarks, urged voters who support the common market concept to vote for Ma and voters that oppose it to vote for him.

Hsieh said Ma should be clear in presenting the pros and cons of a cross-straight common market.

"He is dishonest and cheating the Taiwanese public," Hsieh said. "I am against the `one China market' because it undermines the interests of the 23 million people of Taiwan."

Absolute power breeds absolute corruption, Hsieh said. The public must decide whether they want to see one party control both the legislature and Cabinet or two parties balance each other and drive the country forward.

Ma, meanwhile, said the DPP owed the public an apology for failing to meet their expectations.

"Some argue that the DPP administration has `one not and four noes,'" Ma said. "They do not know how to govern, they have no achievements, no talent, no guts and no integrity."

If elected, Ma said he would bring an end to corruption and usher in an era of clean and transparent government.

At the post-debate press conference, Hsieh said he thought it was strange that Ma skipped the "one China market" issue in his opening and closing remarks. He said he suspected that Ma did not have much confidence in the policy.

Ma also lied about his support for the arms procurement budget, Hsieh said, because the KMT blocked the budget for three years.

In his opening remarks, Hsieh said he would do a better job than Ma and was confident he could deliver on his promises if elected.

"I will protect Taiwan's safety, interests and dignity. This is my promise to this land and our ancestors," Hsieh said. "I will be a protector of Taiwan. Not only I am fit for the presidency, but my destiny is connected with that of the country."

Hsieh lambasted Ma's cross-strait economic policy as "unrealistic," saying a national leader with a sound mind would never pin the country's economic development on the whims of another country.

Hsieh also accused Ma of being inconsistent and changing his position under pressure.

Emphasizing the importance of coexistence, Hsieh said that rival political parties must coexist and Taiwan must coexist with China and the rest of the world.

Ma, meanwhile, said the DPP was responsible for worsening ties with Washington. He also accused the DPP administration of neglecting small and medium-size businesses and the needs of low and medium-income families and residents in central and southern Taiwan.

He promised to protect the country and be the pioneer of a new Taiwan.

Ma said the country had regressed during eight years of DPP administration on four fronts: political stability has worsened, the Cabinet has seen repeated shuffles, corruption has increased and the government has flip-flopped on policies.

"It seems the country is for the DPP, by the DPP and of the DPP," he said.

At a press conference after the debate, Ma accused Hsieh of twisting his policies and failing to answer his questions.

Ma rebutted Hsieh's portrayal of him as pessimist about the nation's future. Ma also said he had not lied about his support for arms purchases.

"Hsieh avoided three-and-a-half of my five questions. I asked him to comment on the performance of Minister [of Education] Tu Cheng-sheng [杜正勝], but he didn't even mention his name," Ma said.

In response to Hsieh's challenge over his stance on the Regulations for the Handling of and Compensation for the 228 Incident (二二八事件處理及補償條例), Ma said he did not support the use of the word "restitution" because of legal issues. The term "compensation" was more appropriate, he said.

ADDITIONAL REPORTING BY MO YAN-CHIH

Also See: Presidential election 2008: 12 days to go: Hsieh and Ma face the nation

Also See: Presidential election 2008: 12 days to go: Presidential hopefuls spar on critical issues
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