President of Taiwan Is Re-elected, a Result That Is Likely to Please China

In Taiwan, President Ma Ying-jeou was reelected beating his rival Tsai Ing-wen by 51.6 of the vote versus 45.6 percent. Mr. Ma has consistently formulated policy for building secure relations with China government. It was business sector, who benefited from that policy, made the victory of Mr. Ma for reelection. As quoted in the article, “What this election showed is that business interests in Taiwan now trump ideological ones.” Ms. Tsai offended Mr. Ma using the strategy to prompt nationalistic emotions toward independence of Taiwan, but the voters chose Mr. Ma, possibly recalled Chen Shui-bian, whose administration worsened relations with China and stirred concerns in the United States. The result relieved not only the business sector of Taiwan but also American officials who did not want more complicated stance of the US toward the relations between Taiwan and China.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/world/asia/taiwan-presidential-election.html?ref=world

Sophia Park