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Post-Election 2008: Cross-strait relations still present challenges: official

There are still numerous challenges ahead in cross-strait relations although the outcome of the recently-concluded presidential election is a relief to China, the nation's representative to the US said on Saturday.

Speaking during an interview with CNN, Joseph Wu (吳釗燮) said that although Taiwan maintains close economic relations with China, Beijing has continued to suppress Taiwan in the international arena and to intimidate it with threats of military force.

WORK

Under these circumstances, the new administration, to be led by the Chinese Nationalist Party's (KMT) Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), will need to work very hard to deal with relations with China and the US, Wu said.

Wu said he believes the election of Ma, who is generally considered more liberal in terms of policy toward China, and the failure of the two referendums on Taiwan's bid to join the UN will make China feel more at ease. However, in light of Ma's recent criticism of Beijing over its crackdown on protesters in Tibet and its harassment of human rights lawyers, China will need to carefully consider how it is going to interact with Ma's administration, Wu said.

TAIWAN-US RELATIONS

In terms of Taiwan-US relations, Wu said he thinks Washington will want to give less prominence to the Taiwan issue while the crises in North Korea, Iraq and Iran exist.

Also, Washington will expect Taiwan to strengthen its capability to defend itself, an issue that the new government will need to pay close attention to, he said.

OUTCOME

Wu said the election's outcome indicates that the majority of Taiwanese voters hope to see progress in cross-strait relations and in Taiwan-US relations.

In addition, the peaceful election has marked a step forward in the country's democratic development and has further consolidated democracy, Wu said.
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