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Ma InczuPresident of Taiwan.
Date of Birth: 13.07.1950
Country:  Taiwan |
Content:
Biography of Ma Ying-jeou
Ma Ying-jeou is a Taiwanese politician who served as the President of Taiwan from May 20, 2008. He is also the leader of the Kuomintang (KMT) party. Born in Hong Kong, Ma's family moved to Taiwan when he was a year old. He completed his bachelor's degree in law from the National Taiwan University in 1972. He then pursued further studies in the United States, graduating from New York University and Harvard University. Ma wrote his doctoral dissertation at Harvard Law School on the legal aspects of the sovereignty of the Republic of China over the islands of Diaoyutai, often criticizing the government's policies towards the sovereignty of these islands. He also worked on Wall Street and later became an assistant and translator for President Jiang Jingguo in 1984. Ma joined the KMT party and served as Minister of Justice from 1993 to 1996 and Minister without Portfolio from 1996 to 1997.
Political Career
In September 1997, Ma visited the Russian Federation and participated in the Moscow Forum of the International Law Association. He was a lecturer at the Faculty of Law at the National Chengchi University. From 1984 to 1988, Ma served as the Deputy Secretary-General of the KMT. He held various positions in the government, including the Chairman of the Government Research, Development, and Evaluation Commission from 1988 to 1991. He also served as the Deputy Chief of the Mainland Affairs Council, an organization responsible for cross-strait relations, from 1991 to 1993. In 1993, Ma was appointed as the Minister of Justice by President Lee Teng-hui. He left this position in 1996 and returned to academia.
In 1998, the KMT chose Ma as its candidate for the position of Mayor of Taipei. Despite the high popularity of his opponent, Chen Shui-bian, Ma won the election and became the Mayor of Taipei. During his tenure, he often clashed with the central government on issues such as healthcare and water supply during droughts. Ma's initiatives as the mayor included changing the names of streets in Taipei and renaming metro lines and stations. He expressed moderate support for the idea of gradual unification with mainland China and opposed Taiwan's independence.
Presidential Elections
During the 2000 presidential elections, Ma remained loyal to the KMT and supported its candidate Lien Chan over independent candidate James Soong. In December 2002, Ma was reelected as the Mayor of Taipei with 64 percent of the votes. As the presidential candidate of the KMT, Ma won the presidential elections on March 22, 2008, putting an end to the 8-year rule of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). He received more than 58 percent of the votes, defeating his DPP opponent. Ma's victory gave him a political mandate to carry out the promised changes and reforms in the country, particularly in the economy and cross-strait relations.
Ma was inaugurated as the President of Taiwan on May 20, 2008. Under his leadership, Taiwan's relationship with mainland China significantly improved. Ma introduced direct charter flights between Taiwan and China, opened Taiwan to Chinese tourists, and relaxed restrictions on Taiwanese investments in the Chinese economy. One of Ma's important economic promises was the "633 Plan," which aimed at achieving 6 percent economic growth, unemployment below 3 percent, and per capita income of over $30,000.
Foreign Relations
Ma's presidency also focused on improving Taiwan's international standing. He led Taiwanese delegations to India, Singapore, and several Latin American countries to strengthen bilateral relations. However, his presidency was not without controversies. Ma threatened to boycott the Beijing Olympics in case of escalating unrest in Tibet, and he faced criticism for his handling of the 2008 financial crisis.
Despite these challenges, Ma's academic background and reputation as a technocrat helped him gain popularity among women and the youth. His presidency marked a significant shift in Taiwan's political landscape, with his policies emphasizing stability, economic growth, and improved relations with China.
