Sun, Nov 27, 2011 page3

• 2012 ELECTIONS: Ma campaign seen as weak in Japan

  OUT OF TOUCH? The ‘Asahi Shimbun’ said Ma’s campaign efforts were being undermined by the perception that the government had no idea what the man on the street wants

  • By Chang Mao-sen / Staff Reporter in Tokyo
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  Several Japanese newspapers on Friday covered the run-up to Taiwan’s Jan. 14 presidential and legislative elections, with Sankei Shimbun reporting that President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) of the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) was facing a tough fight in his re-election bid and that China was mulling ways to “cautiously intervene.”

  The Sankei Shimbun said in an analysis filed from Beijing that China is actively searching for ways to try and influence the elections.

  According to the Sankei Shimbun, despite public declarations that “it will not interfere in Taiwan’s elections,” Beijing is still trying to influence Taiwanese media through statements made by its Taiwan Affairs Office Chairman Wang Yi (王毅) and other officials, adding that China is also urging Taiwanese businessmen based in China to support Ma.

  The article said that Beijing was putting out the word through pro-China groups in Taiwan that Beijing wants all 1 million China-based Taiwanese businesspeople to return home to vote in the elections, adding that the claim that some Taiwanese businessmen have been told that “if you can mobilize more votes for Ma, you will find doing business in China far easier in the future.”

  Beijing is already making big moves under the table, the article said, adding that China has learned from past clumsy efforts at intervening when the outcome was the opposite of what Beijing would have wanted, and hence adopt a strategy of “cautious intervention” on this occasion.

  Another newspaper, the Asahi Shimbun, said there has been a fall in support for Ma’s re-election campaign since he proposed signing a cross-strait peace accord over the next decade.

  Ma’s re-election campaign efforts are also being undermined by what the Asahi Shimbun -described as a generally held perception that “the government lacks the perspective of the common people,” referring to the Dreamers (夢想家) rock musical debacle, a show that cost NT$215 million (US$7.1 million) and was staged for only two nights, as well as the initial decision to increase elderly farmers’ monthly pensions by a meager NT$316.

  The analysis in the Asahi Shimbun pointed out that the KMT prefers to focus on cross-strait peace and economic development, together with the concept of safety, stability and ease of mind for all Taiwanese.

  The Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), it said, is stressing fairness and justice, adding that DPP presidential candidate Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) had said she would begin dialogue with China within four months if elected.

  The analysis also points out that the addition of People First Party candidate James Soong (宋楚瑜) to the presidential election would “possibly steal a certain amount of votes from the KMT,” adding that Soong’s strong oratory could “steal Ma’s thunder during the [planned televised] debates.”

  Meanwhile, the Yomiuri Shimbun, said cross-strait relations were the biggest issue in the elections and although Ma and Tsai both want to maintain cross-strait peace, Ma recognizes the so-called “1992 consensus,” while Tsai does not “because Taiwan is already an independent sovereignty different from China.”

  The article said various polls have shown support for the two main presidential candidates to be neck-and-neck, but that the addition of Soong to the campaign, meant that some pan-blue voters would not be voting for Ma, adding that “the common view is that things are looking bad for Ma.”

  Translated by Jake Chung, Staff Writer
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