馬英九
Ma Ying-jeou - President of the Republic of China
Table of Contents
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Overview
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- Early life and education
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- Political career
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- 2012 presidential election
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- First term
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- Second term
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- Cross-Strait relations
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- Economic policies
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- Political corruption scandal
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- Later life
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- Legacy
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References
Overview
Ma Ying-jeou is a Taiwanese politician who served as the President of the Republic of China from 2008 to 2016. Prior to his presidency, he was the Mayor of Taipei from 1998 to 2006 and the Chairman of the Kuomintang from 2005 to 2007. He was also a member of the Legislative Yuan from 2002 to 2005.
- Early life and education
Ma Ying-jeou was born in Kwong Wah Hospital in Kowloon, Hong Kong on July 13, 1950. His parents were from Hunan Province in China. Ma Ying-jeou has an older sister and a younger brother. When he was two years old, his family moved to Taipei, Taiwan.
Ma Ying-jeou attended Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Elementary School from 1956 to 1962. In 1963, he enrolled in Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Junior High School. In 1966, Ma transferred to National Taiwan Normal University and studied there for a year. In 1967, he enrolled at National Chengchi University and graduated in 1971 with a Bachelor of Arts in History.
- Political career
Ma Ying-jeou is a Taiwanese politician who served as the President of the Republic of China from 2008 to 2016. He was previously the Mayor of Taipei from 1998 to 2006, and the Chairman of the Kuomintang from 2005 to 2007.
Ma was born in Hong Kong in 1950, to a family of Mainland Chinese origin. He moved to Taiwan at the age of two, and was educated at National Taiwan University, Harvard University, and New York University. He returned to Taiwan in 1979, and taught law at National Chengchi University.
Ma was elected as the Mayor of Taipei in 1998, and was re-elected in 2002. He retired from politics in 2006, but returned to lead the Kuomintang in 2005. He was elected as the President of the Republic of China in 2008, and was re-elected in 2012.
Ma’s time in office was marked by improved relations with Mainland China, and increased economic and cultural ties between Taiwan and the Mainland. He also oversaw a period of economic growth in Taiwan, although this was later followed by a period of stagnation. Ma’s presidency ended in 2016, and he was succeeded by Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party.
- 2012 presidential election
In the 2012 presidential election, Ma Ying-jeou was the candidate of the Kuomintang (KMT) and was pitted against Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
Ma Ying-jeou was born in Hong Kong in 1950 to a family of Mainland Chinese origin. He grew up in Taiwan and graduated from National Taiwan University with a Bachelor of Laws degree. He then went on to study at Harvard University, where he earned a Master of Laws degree.
Ma Ying-jeou began his career in the public sector, serving as a prosecutor in the Taipei District Prosecutors Office. He then worked as a research fellow at the Academia Sinica before becoming the Vice Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council.
In 2006, Ma Ying-jeou was elected as the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). He was re-elected in 2012, defeating Tsai Ing-wen by a margin of 51.6% to 45.6%.
During his time as president, Ma Ying-jeou has been credited with improving Taiwan’s economy and relations with Mainland China. He has also been criticized for his handling of certain issues, such as the 2014 Sunflower Movement.
- First term
Ma Ying-jeou is a Taiwanese politician who was the President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) from 2008 to 2016. He was previously the Mayor of Taipei from 1998 to 2006.
Ma was born in Hong Kong in 1950. His family moved to Taiwan when he was a child. He studied law at National Taiwan University and Harvard Law School.
Ma was elected as the Mayor of Taipei in 1998. He was re-elected in 2002. He resigned as Mayor in 2006 to run for President.
Ma was elected President in 2008. He was re-elected in 2012. He stepped down as President in 2016.
Ma’s first term as President was marked by major changes in Taiwan’s relations with China. In 2008, he signed the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with China. The ECFA was seen as a major step towards economic integration between Taiwan and China.
In 2009, Ma lifted the ban on travel to China for Taiwanese citizens. In 2010, he oversaw the opening of direct flights between Taiwan and China.
Ma’s first term was also marked by increased tensions with China over the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty. In 2010, Ma responded to a Chinese military exercise near Taiwan by ordering the Taiwanese military to increase its readiness.
In 2011, Ma announced his support for a “referendum” on Taiwan’s membership in the United Nations. The referendum was seen as a way to assert Taiwan’s sovereignty. However, it was opposed by China and did not take place.
In 2012, Ma was re-elected to a second term as President. He continued to pursue improved relations with China. In 2013, he met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing. This was the first meeting between the leaders of Taiwan and China since 1949.
In 2014, Ma announced his intention to step down as President in 2016. He did not seek a third term.
Ma’s second term as President was marked by slower economic growth and increased tensions with China. In 2015, China announced a new set of “air defense identification zones” that included territory claimed by Taiwan. This led to a increase in military activity by Taiwan and the United States in the region.
In 2016, Ma stepped down as President. He was succeeded by Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party.
- Second term
After being reelected in 2012, Ma’s second term was marked by continued tension with Beijing over the status of Taiwan. In February 2014, Ma visited Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the first meeting between the leaders of China and Taiwan since 1949. The meeting was seen as a breakthrough in cross-strait relations, and led to increased economic cooperation between the two sides.
However, in 2015, Taiwan’s legislature passed a bill allowing same-sex marriage, a move that angered Beijing. In 2016, China conducted a series of military exercises in the Taiwan Strait, in response to which the United States sent naval vessels to the area. These tensions led to Ma’s defeat in the 2016 presidential election, in which he was succeeded by Tsai Ing-wen of the Democratic Progressive Party.
- Cross-Strait relations
Cross-Strait relations refer to the relationship between the people on the Taiwan Strait. The term is usually used to refer to the relations between Mainland China and Taiwan.
Cross-Strait relations have been marked by tension and conflict since the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the Kuomintang (KMT) both claim to represent all of China, including Taiwan. The CCP views Taiwan as a rebel province that must be reunified with the mainland, while the KMT views Taiwan as an independent country.
Since the 1990s, Cross-Strait relations have improved significantly. In 1992, the two sides held their first official talks in over 40 years. In 1999, the two sides signed the Mutual Defense Treaty, which ended the state of war between them. In 2002, the leaders of the two sides met for the first time.
In 2008, Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT was elected President of Taiwan. He pledged to improve Cross-Strait relations and boost the economy. In 2009, he met with Chinese President Hu Jintao in Beijing. The two leaders issued a joint statement pledging to work together for the benefit of the people on both sides of the Strait.
Since Ma Ying-jeou took office, Cross-Strait relations have continued to improve. In 2010, the two sides signed the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, which has boosted trade and investment between them. In 2015, the two sides held their first summit in over 60 years.
The improvement in Cross-Strait relations has benefited the people on both sides of the Strait. It has also increased stability in the region.
- Economic policies
Ma Ying-jeou’s economic policies can be divided into two main categories: domestic economic policies and cross-strait economic policies.
Domestic economic policies:
During his time in office, Ma Ying-jeou enacted a number of policies aimed at stimulating the Taiwanese economy. These included the 12 measures to revive the economy, the “Three tranches of NT$600 billion stimulus package”, the “Specialty crops planting project”, the “Tourism promotion project”, the “Short-term employment program”, the “First-time homebuyers’ program”, and the “Livelihood protection project”.
Cross-strait economic policies:
Ma Ying-jeou’s other main focus was on improving economic ties with mainland China. He did this through a number of initiatives, including the “Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA)”, the “Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement (CSSTA)”, and the “Cross-Strait Investment Protection Agreement (CSIPA)”.
- Political corruption scandal
In September 2008, Ma Ying-jeou was indicted on charges of embezzlement and misuse of public funds during his time as Mayor of Taipei. The charges were based on Ma’s allegedly funneling NT$11 million (US$340,000) in city funds through two dummy corporations to pay for personal expenses, including overseas trips, plastic surgery, and his daughter’s tuition at Harvard Law School. If convicted, Ma faced up to 10 years in prison.
In June 2009, Ma was found not guilty of all charges by the Taiwan High Court, which ruled that the evidence against him was insufficient. The court’s decision was widely seen as a victory for Ma, and was seen as a major setback for the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP).
- Later life
Ma Ying-jeou was born in Kwong Wah Hospital in Kowloon, Hong Kong on July 29, 1950. He is of Hakka descent. His father, Ma Ho-ling (馬鶴凌), was a professor of history at National Chengchi University, and his mother was a housewife.
Ma Ying-jeou grew up in Taiwan and attended the prestigious National Taiwan University. He played tennis for the university team and was elected president of the student council. After graduation, he passed the bar exam and became a prosecutor.
In 1981, Ma Ying-jeou married Christine Chow (周美青）. They have two daughters, Lesley Wei-chung Ma and Kelly Ma.
Ma Ying-jeou served as the Mayor of Taipei from 1998 to 2006. He was the first Kuomintang (KMT) mayor in Taipei in 50 years. He was re-elected in 2002 by a large margin.
As Mayor of Taipei, Ma Ying-jeou improved the city’s infrastructure and attracted foreign investment. He also worked to improve relations with mainland China.
In 2007, Ma Ying-jeou was elected President of the Republic of China (Taiwan). He was re-elected in 2012.
As President, Ma Ying-jeou has worked to improve relations with mainland China and boost the economy. He has also pushed for reforms, including an easing of restrictions on media and the internet.
Ma Ying-jeou’s term as President ends in 2016. He has said that he will not seek a third term. After he steps down, he plans to return to teaching.
- Legacy
Ma Ying-jeou is considered by many to be one of the most effective presidents in Taiwan’s history. He is credited with helping to improve the country’s economy and relations with China. He also helped to bring Taiwan into the World Trade Organization.
After leaving office, Ma Ying-jeou remained active in politics. He was elected Chairman of the Kuomintang in 2009 and served in that role until 2014. He also served as a member of Taiwan’s legislature from 2016 to 2020.
Ma Ying-jeou’s legacy will likely be remembered for his work in improving Taiwan’s economy and relations with China. He is considered by many to be one of the most successful presidents in Taiwan’s history.
References
- Ma Ying-jeou’s official website
- The Government Information Office of the Republic of China
- Taiwan’s Presidential Office
- The Central News Agency
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China
- The Council of Grand Justices of the Republic of China