Taiwan Presidential Election a Vote of Confidence for China

The Taiwanese people will vote for their new president this coming March 22, 2008. The presidential election was seen as a confidence vote for China of which the opposition Kuomintang Party candidate Ma Ying-jeou favors closer diplomatic and economic ties with their giant neighbor. The former Taipei mayor Ma is slightly ahead over his opponent Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party.

Ma Ying-jeou is heavily favored to succeed President Chen Shui-bian who was hated by China for proposing an independent Taiwan. Chen was the first Taiwan born leader who was elected in two consecutive terms. He was first elected in March 2000 with Annette Lu as his Vice President.

The ruling party however is not swayed by the lead of Ma instead the DPP and Frank Hsieh condemned Ma’s proposal for setting up a common market with China. The issue was tacked in a debate where the opposition was accused of compromising Taiwan’s sovereignty in favor of a single China Market.

According to the DPP a win for Ma and his KMT with a common market with China would also affect the employment opportunity of its own people. The 200 million jobless Chinese might flock to Taiwan and cause jobless rate to rise among Taiwanese people. Not only that, the realization of an independent Taiwan would totally put to rest by the Kuomintang whose leaders and members came from mainland China.

Taiwan has diverse culture and ethnic backgrounds which comprise nine major aborigine tribes. Two of which, Amis and Bonun tribes were ethnically related to the Philippines north. Amis language is quite similar to the language spoken in the Philippines. So, this coming March 22, 2008 the Taiwanese people will be voting for their new leader whether they will lean towards China or preserved their identity as an independent nation.