US presidential rivals congratulate Ma

The three candidates vying to become the next president of the US have all sent their congratulations to Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on his election, pledging support for good relations between Washington and Taiwan and heaping praise on the country's democracy.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama, the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, sent the most detailed statement, dealing with a long list of issues facing Taiwan as it contends with a hostile China, while senators John McCain, the Republican candidate, and Hillary Clinton, Obama's rival for the Democratic nomination, sent shorter, less detailed messages.

"The people of Taiwan deserve our respect and admiration for this free and fair election, which is just the latest step in consolidating a democracy that has advanced over the last two decades," Obama said.

"March 22nd was a good day for the people of Taiwan, for the forces of democracy around the world, and for peace and stability in the western Pacific. I will do all that I can to support Taiwan's democracy in the years ahead," he said.

MESSAGE TO CHINA

"I hope the People's Republic of China responds to this election in a positive, constructive, and forward-leaning way. It is important for Beijing to demonstrate to the people of Taiwan that the practical and non-confrontational approach that President-elect Ma promises to take toward the Mainland will be met with good faith and progress," Obama said.

"The PRC should reduce the military threat to Taiwan by drawing back the missiles it has deployed in southeast China and by other security confidence-building measures. And on issues such as Taiwan's observer status in the World Health Organization, where the health of all Chinese people is at stake, it should allow Taiwan greater international space," he said.

Turning to the US' role in the Taiwan issue, Obama said the US "should respond to Ma Ying-jeou's election by rebuilding a relationship of trust and support for Taiwan's democracy. The US should reopen blocked channels of communication with Taiwan officials. We should continue to provide the arms necessary for Taiwan to deter possible aggression. And we should encourage both Taipei and Beijing to build commercial, cultural, and other ties, laying the groundwork for a closer relationship and ultimately movement toward resolution of their differences."

Obama also said the US should maintain its "one China" policy, adherence to the three US-PRC Joint Communiques concerning Taiwan and observance of the Taiwan Relations Act.

MCCAIN'S STATEMENT

McCain, one of the leading supporters of Taiwan in the Senate, said "once again we are witnessing the peaceful transfer of political power from one government to another based on ballots in an election that was free and fair."

"The vigorous campaigning of Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT [Chinese Nationalist Party] and the DPP's [Democratic Progressive Party's] Frank Hsieh are testimony to the press freedoms, democratic process and the rule of law that the Taiwanese people have worked so hard to build," he said.

"Taiwan's election is a fine example for the region," McCain said.

Also, in an appearance on Wednesday before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, McCain said: "It's pretty clear that the people of Taiwan, the voters, have opted for closer relations with China and many have, to some degree, defused what might have been a bit of a crisis between Taiwan and the mainland [sic]."