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Taiwan victor promises China ties Taiwan victor promises China ties
(about 7 hours later)
Taiwan's newly-elected president has pledged to establish better economic and political ties with China.Taiwan's newly-elected president has pledged to establish better economic and political ties with China.
Ma Ying-jeou said he would like to work towards a peace treaty with Beijing, but would only do so if China removed missiles pointed at Taiwan.Ma Ying-jeou said he would like to work towards a peace treaty with Beijing, but would only do so if China removed missiles pointed at Taiwan.
He was speaking after a comfortable victory over Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party. He said he had no immediate plans to visit the mainland, but wanted to work on "substantive issues".
Official results gave Mr Ma an advantage of nearly 17 percentage points over Mr Hsieh. Mr Ma won a comfortable victory over Frank Hsieh of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party on Saturday.
He polled 58.45%, with Mr Hsieh getting 41.55%, on a turnout of 76%. Official results gave Mr Ma 58.45% of the vote - an advantage of nearly 17 percentage points over Mr Hsieh.
Mr Ma, of the Kuomintang party, had stood on a platform of economic reform and improving relations with China.Mr Ma, of the Kuomintang party, had stood on a platform of economic reform and improving relations with China.
Speaking to reporters after the vote, he said that a peace treaty with China would not take priority over economic normalisation.
I will make it crystal clear that Taiwan will be a stakeholder and will not rock the boat in the region. Ma Ying-jeou Profile: Ma Ying-jeouRocky relationshipI will make it crystal clear that Taiwan will be a stakeholder and will not rock the boat in the region. Ma Ying-jeou Profile: Ma Ying-jeouRocky relationship
"Certainly we would like to start preliminary contact with the mainland on how a peace treaty could be signed," he said. He ruled out an immediate visit to mainland China, but said he would focus on improving relations by "substantive" means including stepping up direct flights.
But, he added, "we already said very clearly if we are to negotiate a peace treaty they have to remove the missiles targeted against Taiwan." No incumbent president has visited the Chinese mainland since the Kuomintang was forced to retreat to Taiwan in 1949, as civil war broke out on the mainland.
Taiwan says China has about 1,000 missiles aimed at the island. On Saturday, Mr Ma said economic normalisation would take priority over concluding a peace treaty, which he said would be conditional on the removal of what Taiwan says are some 1,000 missiles aimed at the island.
In Sunday's further comments, he acknowledged that the issue of sovereignty was the most difficult problem affecting bilateral relations, adding that mutual recognition was "out of the question".
Instead, he proposed a middle road of "mutual non-denial" - "we will not deny their existence but we cannot recognise their sovereignty" over Taiwan, he said.
China says that Taiwan is part of its territory, although the two have been separately governed since 1949, and China has never ruled out using force against the island should it move towards formal independence.
US reactionUS reaction
Mr Ma indicated that he would move away from the stance of arch-nationalist Chen Shui-bian, who steps down in May.Mr Ma indicated that he would move away from the stance of arch-nationalist Chen Shui-bian, who steps down in May.
Some of Mr Hsieh's supporters were tearful after the poll
"I will make it crystal clear that Taiwan will be a stakeholder and will not rock the boat in the region. By stakeholder, I mean peacemaker.""I will make it crystal clear that Taiwan will be a stakeholder and will not rock the boat in the region. By stakeholder, I mean peacemaker."
In Washington, President George W Bush greeted Mr Ma's victory.In Washington, President George W Bush greeted Mr Ma's victory.
"I believe the election provides a fresh opportunity for both sides to reach out and engage one another in peacefully resolving their differences," he said."I believe the election provides a fresh opportunity for both sides to reach out and engage one another in peacefully resolving their differences," he said.
Some of Mr Hsieh's supporters were tearful after the poll
Though Mr Hsieh had also pledged to build closer commercial ties with China, his approach was more cautious than his rival's.Though Mr Hsieh had also pledged to build closer commercial ties with China, his approach was more cautious than his rival's.
Mr Ma now has a commanding mandate, as the Kuomintang controls two-thirds of the seats in parliament having won a sweeping victory in polls in January.Mr Ma now has a commanding mandate, as the Kuomintang controls two-thirds of the seats in parliament having won a sweeping victory in polls in January.
But analysts were split over how rapidly change might come, noting that Mr Ma would want to reassure voters that he was not selling out to China.But analysts were split over how rapidly change might come, noting that Mr Ma would want to reassure voters that he was not selling out to China.
Mr Ma, 57 and educated at Harvard, put the promise of an economic revival at the centre of his election campaign.Mr Ma, 57 and educated at Harvard, put the promise of an economic revival at the centre of his election campaign.
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Many Taiwanese waiting to cast their votes identified the faltering economy as their top priority.Many Taiwanese waiting to cast their votes identified the faltering economy as their top priority.
"Our economic policy has three points," Mr Ma said. "One is to love Taiwan, another is infrastructure and industry and a third is to reach out to the whole world.""Our economic policy has three points," Mr Ma said. "One is to love Taiwan, another is infrastructure and industry and a third is to reach out to the whole world."
He has set ambitious growth targets - which some analysts say will not be met, unless his pledge to establish much closer economic ties with China is also fulfilled.He has set ambitious growth targets - which some analysts say will not be met, unless his pledge to establish much closer economic ties with China is also fulfilled.
"We have already reached some consensus on the normalisation of economic ties, direct air links, and on allowing more Chinese tourists, and it will be relatively easy to reach an agreement on those issues," Mr Ma said after winning Saturday's poll.
China says that Taiwan is part of its territory, although the two have been separately governed since 1949, and China has never ruled out using force against the island should it move towards formal independence.
Under President Chen, ties were restricted because of his pro-independence stance.