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Pro-China Party Wins in Taiwan

President-elect Ma favors reunification with (a democratic) China

By Wesley Oliver,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 22, 2008 11:02 AM CDT

(Newser) – Taiwan’s China-friendly opposition party handily beat the island’s ruling party in today’s presidential election, signaling smoother relations between the feuding governments, Reuters reports. President-elect Ma Ying-jeou, who won the vote over the Democratic Progressive Party 58%-42%, campaigned on a call for stronger economic ties with Beijing.

He says he would be open to a peace deal if Beijing stopped aiming an alleged 1,000 missiles at Taiwan. “Before we can talk about peace, we need to remove the threat,” said Ma, whose party favors reunification with China, once it embraces democracy, instead of independence. Beijing has offered peace talks with Taiwan, which it still claims as its own, but only under its “one China” policy.

Taiwan's opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou, center, celebrates his presidential victory.
Taiwan's opposition leader Ma Ying-jeou, center, celebrates his presidential victory.   (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
A poster of Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou.
A poster of Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party presidential candidate Ma Ying-jeou.   (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
Members of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party bow to supporters after their presidential candidate, Frank Hsieh, lost the election.
Members of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party bow to supporters after their presidential candidate, Frank Hsieh, lost the election.   (AP Photo)
Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party president-elect Ma Ying-jeou shouts to supporters.
Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party president-elect Ma Ying-jeou shouts to supporters.   (AP Photo/David Longstreath)
Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party president-elect Ma Ying-jeou gestures after winning Taiwan's presidential election.
Taiwan's opposition Nationalist Party president-elect Ma Ying-jeou gestures after winning Taiwan's presidential election.   (AP Photo/Wally Santana)
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