Opposition party trounces government candidates in three byelections, raising concerns about leadership of the ruling party
By Jonathan Manthorpe
Taiwan’s president, Ma Ying-jeou, is under public attack from leading members of his own Kuomintang (KMT) party after poor showings in recent parliamentary and municipal elections.
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) trounced the KMT in three byelections on Saturday, all in seats previously held by the ruling party.
These losses followed significant DPP advances in municipal and prefecture elections in December.
There are no clear signs of a campaign to oust Ma or find a replacement candidate for the KMT in 2012 presidential elections.
But that could change if the KMT does badly in four byelections scheduled for the end of February.
As always in strategically sensitive Taiwan, internal politics and the resurgence of the DPP, whose leader Chen Shui-bian held the presidency from 2000 until 2008 and who is now serving a life sentence for alleged corruption, have a serious regional impact.
China claims to own Taiwan while the vast majority of the island’s 23 million people consider themselves culturally distinct and an independent nation.
The DPP’s Chen irritated the United States government, which is legally required to help defend Taiwan if it is attacked, by playing up Taiwan’s independence and goading China.
The Americans were relieved when Ma was elected on a ticket of easing tensions and seeking economic links with China.
But his political stumbles come as relations between the U.S. and China are heading into stormy weather.
As she embarked on a tour of Asia Monday, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told reporters that Beijing-Washington relations will go through a rough period, but not go off the rails.
The relationship is being pushed and pulled by bilateral trade disputes as well as a U.S. decision to sell Taiwan anti-missile batteries worth $1 billion to offer the island a defence against the estimated 1,300 missiles China has aimed at its strategic targets.
Also, China is irate that President Barack Obama plans to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of seeking independence for Tibet, which China invaded and occupied in 1950.
The telegenic but politically flaccid Ma won Taiwan’s presidency with a landslide 70-percent support in the 2008 elections. But according to an Angus Reid Global Monitor poll published on Monday, his popularity has shrunk to only 23.5 per cent.
That collapse stems from his tepid response when a deadly typhoon struck the island last year and mistrust of Ma’s efforts to improve relations with China.
Ma’s administration has made some progress in negotiating an economic agreement with China and making direct contact easier between the two countries.
But suspicion has grown among the public that Ma’s dealings with China threaten Taiwan’s sovereignty, and that the island’s economy risks being smothered by the Chinese leviathan.
KMT caucus whip Justin Chou said on Monday: “The various China deals the government has signed have not brought Taiwanese people . . . any improvement in the economy.”
Then Lo Shu-lei, KMT member of parliament, the Legislative Yuan, said: “The government fails to eradicate public unease because it is unable to make clear how many jobs will be lost if Taiwan signs [the trade agreement] with China.”
Ma has tried to convince people he will protect Taiwan’s interests, but his message gets distorted by other voices in the KMT, especially the old-guard leaders who fled to the island in 1949 and imposed semi-colonial rule.
These KMT pro-China hardliners, led by former vice-president Lien Chan in alliance with former KMT bigwig James Soong who now runs his own People First Party, have established their own direct lines of communication -and many fear negotiation-with the Communist Party of China.
At the same time, the KMT has a significant group of younger members, all natives of the island, who see full Taiwanization as essential to the party’s future.
Even media outlets that usually strongly back the KMT are wondering if Ma is up to the job of managing either his party or the government.
The China Post on Monday called Ma “a leader without leadership.”
In addition, the Central News Agency commented that Ma “is trying to please everyone and is ending up pleasing no one.”
