Roberto Abraham Scaruffi

Weekly Report from Taiwan Security Research (Jan. 22, 2012)

For full text, click on the title or visit the TSR web page at taiwansecurity.org

Incumbent Ma Ying-jeou Won the Presidential Election--Reactions and Assessments

Several Foreign Nations Welcome Local Election Results As Indicator of Firmly Rooted Democracy (China Post, Jan. 16, 2012) The U.S. State Department and Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs congratulated President Ma Ying-jeou on his victory in the presidential election, a victory the two countries hoped will continue to contribute to cross-Taiwan Strait and regional stability.

Taiwan Election Stirs Hopes among Chinese for Democracy By Andrew Jacobs(New York Times, Jan. 17, 2012) There was another winner in the election this weekend that handed President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan a second term in office — the faint but unmistakable clamor for democracy in China.

It’s All Right, Ma
(The Economist, Jan. 21, 2012) Perhaps most striking this time round was the reaction the presidential and parliamentary polls aroused in China. There, some saw President Ma Ying-jeou’s re-election in a peacefully contested race as evidence that democracy might one day have a chance in China too.

DPP Should Update Cross-Strait Policy: Hsu
(China Post, Jan. 19, 2012) Former Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) chairman Hsu Hsin-liang urged the party to build Tsai Ing-wen's cross-strait policy into its official platform.

DPP Fails to Reflect on Loss: Annett Lu
(CNA, Jan. 20, 2012) Former Vice President Annette Lu criticized the DPP for failing to thoroughly review its losses in the just concluded presidential and legislative elections.

What Next for Taiwan’s Opposition? By Jenny W. Hsu
(China Real Time Report, Jan. 20, 2012) Shelley Rigger said that while Ms. Tsai should be lauded for restoring burnishing the DPP’s image, she might have overlooked a key constituency – the “green” pro-independence die-hards—who might constrain the DPP from moving to the center.

Why Ma Won the Elections and What’s Next for Taiwan and China By Daniel Lynch(Foreign Affairs, Jan. 15, 2012) Ma's victory almost certainly raised Beijing's expectations. China's leaders may pressure Ma to begin formally discussing Taiwan's political future. So, rather than stabilizing the cross-strait status quo, Ma's election might usher in a new period of instability in which Chinese demands on Taiwan intensify.

Taiwan Vote Shows Doubt about China By Paul Mozur and Jenny W. Hsu (Wall Street Journal, Jan. 16, 2012) Ma Ying-jeou's victory in Taiwan's presidential elections gave him a renewed mandate to press ahead with economic opening to China, but analysts said the vote underlined deep suspicions among voters toward their giant neighbor.

US Expert Sees Cautious Cross-Strait Policy By William Lowther(Taipei Times, Jan. 19, 2012) Former AIT chairman Richard Bush said that negotiations over cross-strait political and security issues are not high on Ma Ying-jeou’s agenda.

Breathing Easier on Taiwan By Dennis V. Hickey(LA Times, Jan. 17, 2012) Ma Ying-jeou’s reelection lowers the chances for new tensions with mainland China. But that doesn’t mean U.S. support for Taiwan in unnecessary.

Taiwan’s Economic Tunnel Vision By Philip Bowring(Wall Street Journal, Jan. 17, 2012) Failure to achieve the aspiration of being a regional trade and services hub was long blamed on the absence of cross-Strait links, particularly after China emerged as a major player. But the creation of those links by the Ma government has exposed the fact that other forces are thwarting Taiwan's growth.

Cross-Strait Issues

Tycoon Prods Taiwan Closer to China By Andrew Higgins
(Washington Post, Jan. 21, 2012) Many Taiwanese tycoons now look to China for most of their profits, and the island’s wealthy cheered the election victory last Saturday of President Ma Ying-jeou against a rival who favors keeping Beijing at arm’s length.

At Least 3 Mainland Cities to be Added to Individual Travel List
(China Post, Jan. 22, 2012) Chinese people from at least three more cities in China are likely to be allowed to visit Taiwan as individuals tourists starting early March, according to Executive Yuan officials.