KMT's Ma wins Taiwan election
24 March 2008
Taiwan and the mainland may resume dialogue over closer economic links following Ma Ying-jeou's victory in Taiwan's presidential election, the Financial Times reported. Ma said that he expects to resume talks with Bejing through semi-official institutions such as Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait. The talks would focus on establishing direct flights across the strait, allowing Chinese citizens to visit Taiwan and granting Taiwan banks access to the mainland market. Ma, a member of the opposition Kuomintang, won in a landslide with around 58.5% of the vote. Ma is known for his more pragmatic attitude towards the mainland, favoring economic growth over Taiwanese nationalism.
