Ma makes pledges on Chinese tourists, farmers' pensions

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) presidential hopeful Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) promised that if elected, he would triple the proposed volume of Chinese tourists visiting Taiwan and increase pensions for senior citizen farmers.

Ma, who has been on campaign trips over the past two days in Hsinchu and Miaoli, made the remarks in a meeting with fishermen in Hsinchu on Saturday.

The former Taipei mayor promised to allow up to 1 million Chinese tourists into the nation per year, if elected.

Ma that he believed that the current policy of allowing 1,000 Chinese tourists into the country per day is too conservative, and that he would increase the number to 3,000 per day, if elected.

"That way, we'll have one million visitors from China per year," he said.

more tourists

Ma also further promised to expand the number of Chinese tourists to 3 million per year by the end of his four years' term as president, if elected.

Besides plan to increase the number of Chinese tourists, Ma also promised to increase pensions for farmers.

Ma that before national compensation was in place, the compensation for elderly farmers would be increased from the current NT$5,000 to NT$6,000 if the KMT wins next year's election.

"It [the increase] is not to bribe voters ? it's meant to enhance equality in society," he said.

"Loosening economic controls, direct cross-strait flights and allowing Chinese tourists into Taiwan are the three solutions to reviving Taiwan's economy," he added.

research committee

Ma also said that he would organize a "research committee on the Democratic Progressive Party's [DPP] dirty campaign tricks" to prevent any "unusual tactics" being used by the DPP during the election.

Only extending the gap between himself and the DPP candidate can KMT victory be assured, he added

Ma Legislative Speaker Wang Jin-pyng (王金平) were opponents vying for the KMT's presidential nomination.

However, Wang failed to pick up a registration form to enable him to take part in the party's presidential primary while Ma did -- a development which means that Wang is out of the primary.

However, it remains unclear whether Wang will choose to join Ma on a KMT presidential ticket.

Speculation arisen that Wang might opt to run as an independent in next year's presidential election.

Additional reporting by CNA