Ma Ying-jeou Leads Opposition Party to Victory in Taiwan’s Presidential Election

Nationalist Party supporters celebrated in Taiwan on Saturday as Ma Ying-jeou won the presidential election based on a platform promising economic expansion with China while maintaining a clear political independence from their Communist neighbor.

Ma, the former mayor of Taipei, easily defeated ruling party candidate Frank Hsieh 58 percent to 41.5 percent.

While Ma assured voters that he would sustain a political independence from China he also said he would avoid any outright independence from the country. Ma’s main concern was easing any tension with China in order to capitalize on the economic opportunities present in their relationship.

China has pressured Taiwan into unification but that is something Ma said we would be unwilling to discuss during his presidency.

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