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Taiwan media: Local elections warning for Ma
By DEBWU,Associated Press Writer -
Monday, December 7
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TAIPEI, Taiwan – Taiwan's major media outlets said Sunday the strong opposition showing in local elections on the weekend was a warning for President Ma Ying-jeou on his Beijing-friendly stance, ahead of a visit by a senior Chinese envoy.
The pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party's comeback at the polls Saturday after two crushing electoral defeats follows Ma's monthslong efforts to improve relations with Beijing in the hope of boosting Taiwan's economy.
The comeback of the main opposition party also comes as a recession caused by the global financial crisis has hurt Ma's popular support.
The DPP has used the campaign to hit hard at Ma's China-friendly policies and the perceived failure of the government to address the day-to-day concerns of ordinary Taiwanese.
In Saturday's elections, the DPP held onto its three magistracy positions _ equivalent of governorships in the U.S. _ and won one back from Ma's Nationalists. It also sharply closed the gap in several localities, winning 45.3 percent of all votes against the Nationalists' 47.9 percent. The DPP got only 38.2 percent in the magistrate and mayoral elections four years ago.
Taiwanese newspapers said Sunday Ma will need to reflect on his China engagement program following a significant slide in Nationalist votes.
"The Ma government is being battered by a sluggish economy and a high unemployment rate, and grass roots voters are especially worried about his cross-strait policies," the independent Apple Daily newspaper said in its Sunday editorial.
The opposition says Ma's ongoing push for a free trade pact with the mainland will undermine Taiwan's sovereignty and cost its workers thousands of jobs amid a flood of cheap Chinese imports.
Ma counters that the proposed trade pact would boost the island's competitiveness and prevent it from economic marginalization as countries around the world form regional trading blocs.
The sides are expected to discuss the pact during Chinese envoy Chen Yunlin's visit in late December. Taiwan officials have said they want to seal the deal next spring.
Taiwan and China split amid civil war in 1949. Beijing continues to claim the island as part of its territory and threatens to attack if it moves to formalize its independence.
The pro-opposition Liberty Times newspaper also lashed out at Ma's China program.
"Taiwanese voters slapped the Nationalists this time because they are extremely worried that Ma is giving up Taiwan's sovereignty and giving in to China," the newspaper said in an editorial Sunday.
Even the usually pro-government United Daily News newspaper acknowledged the election outcome to be a huge warning for the Nationalist Party, saying "Ma's leadership has been significantly damaged."
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