My Mom's favourite politician.... Mr. Ma Ying Jeou (马英九)

Taiwan has choosen a new President. The man to succeed Chen Shui-bian, who formally leaves office in May after eight years in power is Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT. He beat Frank Hsieh of the DPP taking 58 percent of the vote.

The bets had been for a win by the KMT win given Ma's wide lead margin earlier and discontent among voters towards the stagnating Taiwan economy. The KMT win means this is the first time in eight years that the KMT has controlled both the presidency and the legislature, following its landslide win in the January parliamentary polls.

President-elect Ma has promised economic improvements and relations with China that will be smoother than it was under president Chen Shui-bian whose pro-independence stands infuriated Beijing.

Apart from choosing a new President, the people of Taiwan also cast a referendum vote on joining the United Nations, which may be seen by China as a provocative step toward independence. However, the referendum failed as it failed to muster enough votes.


Ma Ying-jeou wins landslide Taiwan presidential victory

TAIPEI - Taiwan's opposition candidate Ma Ying-jeou won Saturday's presidential election by around 17 points over his ruling party rival, the head of the central election commission announced.

"Congratulate Ma Ying-jeou for winning this election," Chang Cheng-hsiung told reporters.

He said final official results showed that the opposition Kuomintang's Ma Ying-jeou won 58.45 percent of the vote, with Frank Hsieh of the Democratic Progressive Party on 41.55 percent.

Ma proclaimed that it was a win for hope and the expression of a desire for change.

"This is a victory for people who hope for change and openness and reform, to march forward," he told jubilant supporters of his opposition Kuomintang, after thrashing ruling party chief Frank Hsieh.

"This election result is not a personal result, nor a victory for the KMT, it is a victory for all Taiwanese people," he added from behind a bullet-proof screen.

With all but a few thousand votes to count, Ma had an unassailable 17-point lead over Hsieh, ending the ruling Democratic Progressive Party's eight-year grip on the presidency.

President-elect Ma in delivering his victory speech, also offered to become the president of all Taiwanese and promised to fulfill the trust of the people, by putting in place some of the policies in the 90 point proposal he had outlined during campaigning.

At almost exactly the same time, Hsieh conceded defeat in an address to his supporters at the DPP's headquarters in Taipei.

"The Taiwanese people have cast their vote and made their decision," Hsieh said as he bowed to the crowds.

"We accept defeat. It's my own defeat, it's not the defeat of the Taiwanese people. Please don't cry for me."

Hsieh had earlier said that if he did not win in the elections, he would quit from politics.

Ma will formally take over on May 20 when outgoing President Chen Shui-bian steps down after serving the maximum two terms in office.

Speaking at a media briefing after his victory, president-elect Ma called on China to dismantle its missiles aimed at the island before the two sides can engage in peace talks.

China still claims Taiwan for itself and has threatened an invasion if it declares independence.

The two have also had virtually no direct links since 1949 after a civil war.

"I have always said that, if I get elected, I will engage the mainland on many issues, but I will protect Taiwan's identity and also its security," Ma said earlier in the day.

Ma has been more aggressive in proposing a radical overhaul of economic ties to allow Taiwanese companies access to the vast mainland market, while permitting Chinese investors to pump funds into the economy here.

KMT supporters sang, danced and let off firecrackers as they partied in the capital Taipei and elsewhere.

Ma's victory gives the KMT overall control of the nation, as they had also crushed the DPP in parliamentary elections in January on the back of an economic malaise and weariness at the strained relations with China.

Soochow University professor Liu Bih-rong, who specialises in cross-strait relations, said the landslide was unexpected.

"The election result shows Taiwan has grown into a more mature democracy," he said, predicting relations with China would improve at a faster pace.

"It shows that the Taiwanese people have given the KMT the mandate to open direct links and push for the one common market with China."

Taiwan is the world's 17th largest economy, mainly on the back of its information technology sector, but is losing jobs and investment to mainland China, while incomes are stagnant.

Separately, two referendums on joining the United Nations failed to muster enough turnout to make them valid, with less than 36 percent of voters making the effort to cast their ballot.

The referendums were controversial because Taiwan lost its UN seat in 1971 to China, which has blocked its 15 attempts since then to rejoin.