President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) delivered his New Year’s Day address on Thursday last week. Following his resignation as Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) chairman after the KMT’s resounding defeat in the Nov. 29 nine-in-one local elections, his latest address deserves closer attention.
In a more than 3,300-word speech, he engaged in some self-reflection and said that he was willing to acknowledge his responsibility for widespread dissatisfaction — something many people have been calling for.
He also proposed a new direction in his efforts to solve problems within society. Compared with his past New Year’s Day addresses, this speech contained noticeably less bureaucratic language, empty talk and false claims.
People have listened to what he said and will now observe his actions in the hope he does what he said he would do, and takes advantage of the year-and-a-half that he has left in office to create some political accomplishments that avoid hurting both himself and Taiwan.
“Temporary calm does not mean that issues have been resolved, but rather that people are anticipating reform. If we who are responsible for governing the country fail to critically assess our performance and find ways to dispel dissatisfaction and antagonism, society will not remain peaceable for long,” Ma said.
He said the government’s three main priorities are social reconciliation, cooperation between the ruling and opposition camps, and peace across the Taiwan Strait.
On social reconciliation, Ma said that “as president, it is I who bear responsibility for addressing the issues we face,” and addressing cooperation between the ruling and the opposition parties, he said that “we cannot afford the luxury of disunity. Please direct any dissatisfaction toward me, and let me take whatever blame there may be.”
On cross-strait relations, he said that the nation’s sovereignty should be safeguarded, adding that “everyone in society ought to share in the peace dividend generated by cross-strait peace, especially the benefits that come from stronger economic and trade ties.”
This address was an eye-opener to everyone as Ma finally said that a president should take the utmost and ultimate political responsibility. In the past, he often took credit for what others did and passed the buck when things went awry, as if the president could do no wrong.
He once portrayed the Sunflower movement as a barrier to the nation’s trade expansion, despite the KMT’s absurd attempt to force the passing of the cross-strait service trade agreement.
He also blamed the numerous food safety scandals on local governments’ slack inspections, but seldom acknowledged the central government’s administrative laziness.
In addition, he failed to acknowledge public opinion in relation to several draft economic and trade bills, repeatedly criticizing the opposition for occupying the legislative speaker’s platform and paralyzing the legislature’s operations.
Ma’s arrogant and irresponsible shirking of responsibility every time there has been a problem has highlighted the government’s ineptitude and it now appears that the public no longer trusts him.
Following the KMT’s landslide defeat in the Nov. 29 nine-in-one elections, suggestions have emerged that the presidential system should be replaced with a Cabinet system. The main reason is Ma’s abuse of power and lack of accountability, which has lead to an explosion of public anger.
If Ma really meant what he said, he would follow up political pledges he made in his New Year’s Day address with action. Most importantly, he should use the dignity of the presidency to focus on reform.
As he said, this is what the public wants. The nation needs reforms and he should start with the most pressing issues, including the malfunctioning constitutional system, the imbalances in the various retirement pension systems that are harming social and inter-generational justice, Ma’s China policy, which jeopardizes Taiwan’s sovereignty and national security, and his economic and trade policy, which threatens Taiwan’s economy.
In addition to standing down as KMT chairman, Ma, as president, should transcend his pan-blue camp allegiances. To be a president who truly represents the interests of the nation as a whole, he should not only promote exchanges between the KMT and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), especially while Taiwan’s ruling and opposition camps are at such odds.
He should not have delayed granting medical parole for former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) until after the New Year holiday by saying that documents were delayed. Doing so only turned the pledges he made in his address of delivering information rapidly, enhancing communication and responding to people’s concerns into empty promises.
Moreover, he should actively facilitate the return of the KMT’s illicitly obtained assets to ensure fair competition and democratic development.
In terms of critical external relations, Ma should abandon his personal ideology of eventual unification with China.
He should alter Taiwan’s policy in the face of public opposition and try to broaden the nation’s horizons.
With public support, he should engage in negotiations for Taiwan’s bid to join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and carry out preparations for economic and trade industrial adjustments to link the nation’s economy, trade and industry to the US, Japan and advanced European countries.
When it comes to Taiwan’s relationship with China, Ma should not treat China’s soft-power measures, such as those delivered by its United Front Work Department, as a sign of cross-strait peace, or let himself be deceived by the so-called “peace dividend” while ignoring the ruthless side of Beijing, which has constantly expanded its military might with the aim of annexing Taiwan.
Since coming to power, Ma has used bureaucratic language in his New Year’s Day addresses, but following the KMT’s electoral defeat, he changed his tone this year.
He no longer holds the reigns of both state and party power, and he is under no election pressure for the remainder of his presidency.
Given these circumstances, one can only speculate as to whether he will cling obstinately to his course, or if he will make a fresh start. Everyone is waiting to find out.
Translated by Eddy Chang
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