Sun, Feb 11, 2001 page2

• Taipei's Ma Ying-jeou: the city statesman

  • By Ko Shu-ling / STAFF REPORTER
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  Ostensibly, the purpose of Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou's (馬英九) five-day visit to Hong Kong is to attend the Taipei-Hong Kong City-to-City Forum, but some observers say that trip may be far more significant in other terms.

  It is a unique occasion in that it marks the first meeting between Taipei's mayor and his Hong Kong counterpart, Tung Chee-hwa (董建華), the chief executive of the special administration region. During his first visit in March 1999, Ma failed to meet with Tung because of a "tight schedule."

  Although official interaction between Taipei and other major cities in China has been going on for years, it was not until last September when Taipei Deputy Mayor Bai Hsiu-hsiung (白秀雄) visited China did the momentum begin for city-to-city exchanges across the Taiwan Strait.

  Bai's visit, however, was stalled four times before the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) finally gave its approval.

  Last July the MAC also rejected Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh's (謝長廷) planned trip to Xiamen, in Fujian Province, over what it said were "legal problems."

  A clear message

  Ma's meeting with Tung is seen by some analysts as significant because it represents diplomatic headway made despite a deadlock in Taiwan-China talks at the national level.

  "It sends out a strong and clear message to the international community that the dialogue across the Taiwan Strait is taking a step forward, especially among local governments," said Tung Chih-sen (董智森), a veteran journalist at the United Daily News (聯合報).

  Tung added that China wants to show the Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) administration that it prefers to talk with Taiwan's local governments on the issue of cross-strait relations because it thinks that the central government has been handling the matter poorly.

  "The obvious candidates [for China] to talk to are Kaohsiung Mayor Frank Hsieh and Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou," Tung said. "Hsieh's planned visit to China was rejected because the DPP did not want him to overshadow Chen. That left Ma to make the breakthrough."

  But Ma is not Taiwan's first high-profile local government heavyweight to visit China. Last November, Hsinchu County Commissioner Lin Kuang-hua (林光華) attended an international Hakka association forum held in Xiamen.

  Lin's visit was preceded by Hsinchu Mayor Tsai Jen-chien's (蔡仁堅) trip to Nanking last October for an international technology forum -- as the first elected local government official from Taiwan to visit China.

  In view of the Hong Kong chief executive's flagging popularity, Tung said that Hong Kong will benefit far more than Taipei from the city-to-city exchange.

  "Tung Chee-hwa needs Ma's visit to boost his personal image in the eyes of the Chinese regime because Tung is not one of the central government's favorites. Besides, Hong Kong people love Ma," Tung said.

  Philip Yu (游鴻程), a veteran journalist-turned-politician, agreed.

  "I believe they won't reach any earth-shattering conclusion at the meeting, but Tung would definitely benefit from the meeting because he needs something to strengthen his relationship with Beijing, and Ma is a good tool," he said. "Tung seems to me a Lee Kuan Yew (李光耀) of the 21st century, who tries to mediate between Beijing and Taipei."

  Plenty of political charisma

  Deemed as one of the best-looking local government officials, Ma has long been a darling of the media and is highly respected by the public. In addition to his good looks, observers say Ma has other qualities that contribute to his popularity.

  "There're two things that he knows very well that he cannot touch: women and money," Tung said. "He's been doing a good job so far.

  "In addition, Tung said, "he doesn't encourage favoritism -- whether it be among his family members, colleagues or underlings. Although this gives him a reputation of being clean-cut and honest, it may pose a potential threat to his future political career."

  Because he has shied away from cronyism, Ma has no loyal group of supporters -- familiar with his weaknesses and strengths -- who could serve to protect him in times of crisis, he said.

  Yang Hsiao-tung (羊曉東), a senior journalist at the China Times and the author of Ma Ying-jeou's Life of a Long Running Journey (馬英九的人生長跑), a biographical work on the mayor, said that Ma's charisma is derived from his squeaky-clean image.

  Comparing Ma with his predecessor Chen Shui-bian, KMT City Councilor Chiang Nai-hsin (蔣乃新) said that the biggest difference is the way they handle things.

  "If Chen is likened to the sun, then Ma is the north wind. Although it takes time for Ma to make a final decision, he always makes the right one," Chiang said.

  Tung had similar views to Chiang on the issue.

  "I see Chen as a 100m sprinter and Ma more like a marathon runner," he said. "Although the public does not feel the dramatic impact of Ma's policies -- like they do those of Chen's administration -- the outcome is always solid and receives high recognition from the public."

  DPP City Councilor Tuan Yi-kang (段宜康) said that although Ma is one of the few good men within the KMT, he has many character flaws that may do harm to his political career in the long run.

  "First of all, he doesn't trust people and that doesn't help him in forming a loyal advisory team," Tuan said. "Secondly, he's a very proud man. He thinks he's the purest person in the KMT and maybe the world."

  The road to the presidency

  Although Ma has reiterated on many occasions that he will seek a second term in the next mayoral election in 2002, it is widely speculated that it is just a matter of time before he decides to runs for the presidency.

  Tuan said that it might take as many as seven or eight years for the expectation to materialize, but added that Ma still has much to learn.

  "Even James Soong (宋楚瑜), who is an excellent manipulator of the media and the public, lost the presidential election last year. There's still a long way to go for Ma, who lacks Soong's craftiness and a crack advisory team to help him play the dirty game of politics," he said.

  Yang said that Ma does not have the intention nor ambition to run for the presidency -- at least not for now.

  "Both his personality and the hierarchy within the KMT prevent him from doing that," he said. "But, things can change, politics is always volatile."

  Tung said running for a second term as city mayor is the best way for Ma to go.

  "He literally doesn't have any competitors in the election. Even Shen Fu-hsiung (沈富雄), a DPP heavyweight who will probably run in the 2002 mayoral election, has admitted that Ma is doing a good job as mayor," Tung said.

  Lee Ping-yin (李平蔭), Ma's history teacher at junior high school 37 years ago, said that he believes Ma would make a great president.

  "I'm sure that he's destined for greater things," he said. "He's polite, smart and has a great sense of humor. When he was the justice minister, he looked serious; as the city mayor, he's close to the citizens. I believe when he becomes the president, he'll look and act like one -- and a very fine one."
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