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Ma Ying-jeou casts vote in March 22 presidential election Read the full report [PDF format, 13pp., 300k] Related Resources Strait Talk: Avoiding a Nuclear War between the United States and China over Taiwan Written by Dr. Monte R. Bullard, maintained by Jasper Liao, December 2004

SPECIAL REPORT
Taiwan's Presidential Election and its Impact on Cross-Strait Relations and Regional Security

Taiwan's recent elections will likely be an important turning point for Taipei's relations with China, the U.S. and Japan.

Prepared by the East Asian Nonproliferation Program

April 4, 2008

Ma Ying-jeou's recent victory for Taiwan's presidency was an important milestone for Taipei's relations with China, the United States and Japan. The change in administration from Chen Shui-bian's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to Ma's Kuomintang (KMT or Nationalist Party) will presage a major shift in the way nearly all of Taiwan's external relations are conducted and should mark a significant movement towards a more peaceful and stable regional environment. The DPP was in power for eight years but the party gained a reputation for governing badly. The DPP has been blamed for Taiwan's on-going economic stagnation, and DPP officials have been the subject of a number investigations involving government corruption. The administration of out-going president Chen Shui-bian has also been blamed for causing needless tension with China and weakening bilateral relations with the United States. As the end of Chen's second term approached, the Taiwanese electorate determined that the KMT offered the prospect of change.

This special CNS report explains some of the background to the return of the KMT to power and describes likely outcomes from changed domestic and external policies if Ma is able to follow through with his campaign promises.

[Full report available in PDF format]

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