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本帖最后由 lilyma06 于 2012-1-17 08:58 编辑
China welcomes second term for Taiwan's leader
Philip Wen January 16, 2012
http://www.smh.com.au/world/china-welcomes-second-term-for-taiwans-leader-20120115-1q1gh.html
Victorious ... Ma Ying-jeou celebrates his re-election as president on Saturday, a result welcomed by China and the US.
BEIJING: China has welcomed the re-election of Taiwan's President Ma Ying-jeou, saying the peaceful development of cross-strait relations overseen by him in the past four years was the ''correct road'', while reiterating its position against formal independence for Taiwan.
''We sincerely hope that the Taiwan society could be stable and people live a happy life,'' a spokesman for Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office said after Mr Ma's Kuomintang, or Nationalist Party, claimed victory on Saturday.
''We are willing to join hands with Taiwan's [people from] all walks of life on the basis of continuing to oppose Taiwan independence and sticking to the '1992 consensus', to break new ground for the peaceful development of the cross-strait relations.''
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The statement breaks Beijing's silence on the election. It had refrained from comment for fear of a voter backlash if it was seen to be interfering. A fortnightly press briefing held by the Taiwan Affairs Office was ''delayed'' in the lead-up to the election.
It highlights the tension that a win by the Opposition Leader, Tsai Ing-wen, could have caused. Dr Tsai, of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), has refused to recognise the so-called 1992 consensus, an unofficial agreement that there is only one China, but with a different interpretation as to who is the legitimate sovereign representative.
Instead, she had pushed for a ''Taiwan consensus'' from which Taiwan would dictate the terms of its relationship with China.
''[A Tsai win] would definitely have strained cross-strait peace. The foundation of cross-strait stability has been the 1992 consensus and not pursuing independence,'' the head of the Institute of Taiwan Studies at Beijing Union University, Zhu Songling, said.
''The DPP's position of not recognising the 1992 consensus would have resulted in another political deadlock. It [Ma's win] is a very good result for cross-strait relations.''
Mr Ma's re-election is also likely to be welcome news in the US, whose main priority is stability in cross-strait relations.
''We share, with the Taiwan people, a profound interest in the continuation of cross-strait peace and stability'' a US Department of State spokesman said in a congratulatory statement to Mr Ma, who won 51.6 per cent of the vote, compared to 45.6 per cent for Dr Tsai.
Mr Ma, 61, declared his re-election a vote for peace and stability, and an endorsement of his management of the economy and relations with China.
''With this victory, Taiwan's people have given me the clearest message to continue on this path,'' he said.
Dr Tsai, 55, announced she would step down as leader of the DPP. In a short concession speech, she congratulated Mr Ma and apologised to her supporters. ''In respect to losing the election, I will take full personal responsibility,'' she said. ''I hereby announce I will step down as party chairwoman.''
Pre-election polling had shown Mr Ma to hold a marginal lead over Dr Tsai, but most analysts believed the election was too close to call.
The tight race contributed to a high voter turnout, with about 80 per cent of Taiwan's 18 million eligible voters said to have cast their ballots. A record number of Taiwanese living in China returned home to vote.
Taiwan's economy and its relations with China were the key issues in an often fiery election campaign.
Under Mr Ma's administration, direct air, sea and postal links with the mainland resumed in 2008 after a six-decade ban. His government also signed 16 bilateral trade agreements. Trade with China rose by 10 per cent last year to a record $160 billion.
Mr Ma's opponents said his policies were too focused on China. Dr Tsai seized on a widening wealth gap between rich and poor, claiming Mr Ma's policies had only benefited the better-off, particularly those with direct business ties with China.
Mr Ma's policies on China have been blamed for a flow of jobs and investment to the mainland, and for stoking property speculation, which has made housing much less affordable.
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