President Ma slips again in public opinion polls


http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/arch...3/20/2003468498


By Mo Yan-chih
STAFF REPORTER
Saturday, Mar 20, 2010, Page 1

President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) approval rating and confidence index slipped further this month, a poll released by the Chinese-language Global Views magazine yesterday showed.

The poll, conducted by Global Views Survey Research Center between Monday and Wednesday, showed Ma’s approval rating dropping 0.9 points from last month to 23.8 percent, while his disapproval rating increased from 62.7 percent to 66 percent this month.

Ma’s approval rating this month was the second lowest since he assumed the presidency. It hit its lowest level — 22.9 percent — in the aftermath of Typhoon Morakot, when slow government response to the disaster sparked public anger.

Ma also suffered from a lower trust index, the latest poll showed, with his trust index dropping 2.5 points to 38.8 percent this month.

In a separate poll conducted by the Chinese-language United Daily News on Thursday and released yesterday, Ma’s approval rating fell to a new low of 27 percent, compared with about 30 percent after Morokot, while 53 percent of respondents were not satisfied with his performance as president.

The poll also suggested that if the presidential election were held now, Ma would lose to former premier Su Tseng-chang (蘇貞昌) of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), with Ma receiving only 29 percent support rate versus Su’s 38 percent.

The contest would be a tie if Ma ran against DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文), with both receiving 33 percent support rate, the poll showed.

Among respondents who said they had voted for Ma two years ago, about 50 percent said they would support Ma in the 2012 presidential election, while about 20 percent said they would vote for the DPP instead.

Asked about Ma’s low approval rating, Presidential Office Spokesman Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強) yesterday said Ma would take the results of the poll as a warning and reflect on his performance.

“What we should do now is keep up the hard work and win more support by improving our performance and communicating with the public,” he said.

Lo cited the government’s continuous efforts to improve the economy, and said Ma believed it would draw more public support as the economy gets better.

Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) spokesman Su Jun-pin (蘇俊賓) said yesterday that Ma’s flagging approval ratings only reflected the current political atmosphere, but added that the party would not take them lightly.

The ratings would rise when the Ma administration’s policies begin to yield more results, he said.

Su also cited recent positive developments, including unemployment declining in the past five consecutive months and the economy growing 9.22 percent in the fourth quarter of last year.

He said the KMT administration would continue to strive to improve cross-strait relations, raise domestic consumption and boost tourism.

The seeds of Ma Ying-jeou’s demise


http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials...3/21/2003468565


Sunday, Mar 21, 2010, Page 8

The embarrassing truth about how President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) has concerned himself with electioneering rather than running the nation is becoming clearer by the day. Despite this, his approval rating keeps falling. Not only Taiwanese, but also foreign academics are starting to doubt his chances of re-election.

Shelley Rigger, associate professor of political science at Davidson College in North Carolina, recently said Ma’s prospects for re-election look bleak because of his abysmal approval rating and public dissatisfaction with the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT).

One does not need to be a political scientist to predict that Ma’s frequent policy mistakes, his personnel problems and his longstanding low approval ratings will make re-election difficult. Rigger’s opinions were nothing out of the ordinary. However, she did say that one of the reasons the government has lost the trust of the public is because of its lack of transparency in policy-making.

The Democratic Progressive Party, for example, claims that senior KMT members are willing to sacrifice Taiwan’s autonomy to reach an agreement with Beijing.

Rigger also said a weaker government would be beneficial to safeguarding Taiwan’s interests because cross-strait talks are unequal and domestic opposition can help counteract this inequality. If we expand this statement, what Rigger is suggesting is that the government has lost public approval because of its ­cross-strait policies and could well end up falling from power as a result.

After Ma came to power, he did not change his mindset from that of a candidate runing in an election. He has sought to pave the way for his re-­election, which explains why he has run around the country for almost two years stumping for candidates, shaking hands and posing for pictures. Ma seems to be at every event, big or small. However, when Taiwan needs decisions to be made or when leadership is needed in times of crisis, Ma is nowhere to be found.

All politicians care about gaining power and worry about losing it. However, when a newly elected president does not focus on his duties and only thinks about getting re-elected, what we have is a political hack.

The verdict given by public opinion is fair and the more politicians care about power and ignore national affairs for the sake of elections, the quicker the public will abandon them, and it will become increasingly difficult for these politicians to secure re-election.

Ma is trapped by his anxiety over losing political power and this renders him powerless and incapable of improving the situation.

The only way in which Ma can redeem himself is paradoxical: The more he wants to win re-­election, the more he should forget all thoughts of re-election and rather show determination and daring in implementing policy. This is the only way he can do anything for Taiwan, win back public confidence and retain any hope of re-election.

For a person like Ma — who has only ever relied on personal charisma, the image of a superstar and the support he receives from a certain segment of society to ascend the political ladder — winning the public over through policy implementation will be very difficult, if not impossible.

The result? Ma will continue to put on an empty show and ignore national policy.

Tragically, Ma’s incompetence and policy mistakes are dangerous because they are misleading everyone. At its worst, this could lead to Taiwan’s annexation by China and turn Taiwanese into Chinese subjects. In all fairness, even if incompetent leaders are unable to do a decent job, if they are smart enough, they can rely on a strong administrative team to improve governance. Throughout history, there have been instances of peaceful and prosperous periods under governments following the ancient Daoist principle of non-action, or wuwei.

However, if a leader is not only incompetent but also employs a group of mediocre people to promote policies that betray the nation, public dissent is sure to ensue. If the leader does not wake up and persists in his erroneous ways, his political career will be over and he will have destroyed his country in the process.

The Ma administration is a prime example of such a government. The economic and democratic miracle Taiwan created over several decades of hard work could be destroyed in just four years under Ma’s pro-China presidency.

Even worse, mainstream public opinion is clearly opposed to Ma’s China-­leaning policies. The opening up to China and Ma’s looser policies are all of questionable value in reviving Taiwan’s economy and they will deeply hurt the public’s interests. The economic cooperation framework agreement (ECFA) Ma insists on pushing through shows a total disregard for the welfare and safety of Taiwanese.

Abolishing the death penalty was former justice minister Wang Ching-feng’s (王清峰) personal opinion, but because this ideal does not conform with legal regulations and mainstream public opinion, Wang had to step down.

By the same token, eventual unification as one of Ma’s personal goals also does not fit in with mainstream public opinion or even with the power and responsibilities given to Ma via the Constitution.

Although we cannot demand that Ma step down right now, it would only be natural that we do not support him in the next presidential election. Rigger’s prediction about Ma not having much of a chance at being re-elected is really just putting words to what was already cleat to all.

Not surprising when he's obsessed with handing taiwan over to china using "economy" as his false pretense.

Ma's shortening of mandatory military service to eventual end.
Ma's change from traditional to mainland simplified text.
Ma's opening of the country and air links with china.
Ma's insistence that China is Taiwan's future....economically.
Ma's birthplace controversy....as well as his allegiance.
And the end of whatever sovereignty taiwan has left once the ECFA deal is made and taiwan is rampant with chinese nationals/more waishangren.

but of course, it's not entirely his fault since money grubbing taiwanese put him there in the first place.
If it were any other country in east asia, Ma or his d!ck equivalent would have been assassinated by now.

good luck to the survival of taiwan....sigh

Seems to make sense. You really think China is going to fight Taiwan? All military expenses are a waste of money. Just develop a nuke if you want to stop nations from invading. China is obviously the economic future for Taiwan.

It sounds like this guy does not have a very good political strategist.

China is the cause for the end of Taiwan.
Getting chummy with your enemy only works if you're the bigger one of the two in terms of military power, influence, population, economy and we all know china eclipses taiwan in all respects.

Don't you mean "You really think TAIWAN is going to fight China?"
Yes, i would hope taiwan had the balls to defend themselves, if there ever was an invasion, but it's highly unlikely that it'll happen anytime soon, if ever.

China being the economic future for taiwan is a joke, more like the economic plight.
Why narrow yourself to a single country as your future when the rest of the world is beyond it? This is Ma's mentality, what Ma wants you to think, especially after the recent financial crisis.
The risk of putting all your marbles into one market, especially in china, is an understatement and not a smart gamble by any means.

You think it's good that all of taiwan's major companies are shifting operations to china?! It's only good for one party, china.
Check the economic statistics for taiwan in the past 10 years and you'll see how much exports have fallen because of "taiwanese" factories in china.
What a nice way to sell out your country to save some manufacturing costs and more often than not, transfer technology to part-CCP owned joint companies.
These taiwanese companies are making goods with 'made in china' stickers on them, using chinese labour, using chinese facilities and services, paying chinese taxes, etc. Now tell me how that is helping taiwan?

It's because China will be the worlds largest economy soonn and is so close to Taiwan.


You can't fight that. It's economics.

It's the same argument as making products in America. Why? No one is willing to pay you $30,000 when someone can do it for $2,000. Nobody owes you a higher standard of living relative to the poor in other countries.

investing in america or india or anywhere else for that matter isn't the same as investing in an enemy that's already much stronger than you are.

so more money for the few tw elite > the sovereignty of taiwan. game over.

Cause the whole electronics industry supply chain is centered around Western Pacific RIM, japan, korea, China, Taiwan. malaysia, Singapore the parts have to relatively close distance.

now you want Taiwan to move its operations away from the main supply chain to expensive or faraway places like US and India. Does it even make sense? The transportation cost would kill alot of profit thin and highly competitive business.

Not to mention China has much more spending power than India. so, Taiwan has to invest in China to profit by avoiding those importing tariffs.

It makes no business sense at all.

Supply chain close proximity + China big market will destine Taiwan close to China.

i didnt say taiwan should invest in usa, india, etc, it was an example.

my argument is that taiwanese should invest in taiwan.

Koreans won't allow them.

As the korean are setting up very advance LCD plants to capture China's market. Taiwan has to move or else the koreans would steal their lunch, and dinner.

taiwan already got mauled very badly by the koreans in DRAM sector in the global market.
Samsung is a terrifying name to taiwan hightech sector.

While China pose threat to Taiwan politically, Koreans pose threat to taiwan economically.
So, itaiwan can choose its poison.

I am glad the koreans act out like the equalizer, without them, the Taiwaneses would still view the mainland with hostility and contempt. But now, they ain't so tough after all... Little hostile taiwan has to come to Big Daddy China cause taiwan has tough time competing with the koreans. lol.

in 20 years, Taiwan will be something like Portugal, poor country(compared to other western EU countries) because it is on the edge of a big economy, has no natural resources or important position.

...always about money.
who cares if portugal isn't the richest nation in europe.

If taiwan became anything like portugal, it would be a great thing.
When it comes to taiwan, everything should be secondary to being free and sovereign.

anyhow, not worth arguing with you short-sighted guys.
good luck making lotsa money, if that's what really makes you sleep at night.

Don't be stupid. Taiwan's economy is the only thing thats keeping Taiwan somewhat relevant in the international arena.

These are obviously exaggrations. Taiwan's economy will remain the similar to what it was a decade ago. I was just in Taipei 2 months ago. I compared all the prices of living there and the material goods that people have. It is the same as it was in 1996, and to even 1985, when I started traveling to Taiwan. Hi Tech industry is only a small part of Taiwan's economy. If Taiwan can stop buying cars from Japan and scooters from japan. Taiwan's economy will jump right back up. Currently, Taiwan don't built any of their own cars or scooters. They really should.
I did also stop by HK airport , I have noticed that there were many books in HK trashing talking about China's government, China's factories. There were several best selling books on "The reality of Communist China" I was thumbing through it, it wrote all kinds of ruthless news about China's government, even more so than Epcho times newspaper. And there were another book about, the factories where the chinese workers were really mistreated.
I was quite surprised to see that HK media was so anti china? I always thought Hong Kong was a part of China. And HK like being part of China.

I'll show you one of the books that was on sale in HK airport.
Factory Girls: From Village to City in a Changing China

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url...amp;x=0&y=0

The China Fantasy: Why Capitalism Will Not Bring Democracy to China [Bargain Price] (Paperback)
~ James Mann (Author)

http://www.amazon.com/China-Fantasy-Capita...f=pd_rhf_shvl_2



There are several other anti china books in HK , but , I couldn't find them here in the states. oh well.

dlai, I'm agree with you. Taiwan economy has been stagnant for almost 20 years. Most of Taiwanese didn't notice it, even some Taiwanese disbelieve and call me liar when I told them that S Korea already surpass Taiwan GDP per capita.

I like what Ma Yingjiu doing. I believe in the next 4 years, Taiwan economy will be flourish. I hope Taiwan keep growing and reach GDP per capita USD 40000 as soon as possible.

This last 4 years, Ma Yingjiu already done great things. But the result can't be see today, the effect will be happen in the next 4 years.

The bad news is if the evil DDP win the next election, evil DDP will take all the credit for what Ma Yingjiu done today. Claiming the next 4 years of Taiwan economy growth as their effort. They will say when the evil DPP rule Taiwan, the economy grow, while Ma Yingjiu didn't bring any progress in Taiwan, it's ultimate proof. I believe many idiot Taiwanese will believe that.

Only educated and experienced person, they will notice the future of Taiwan economy growth is not because of the evil DPP, instead the effect of what Ma Yingjiu do today. The credit should be given to the right person, Ma Yingjiu. He lay foundation of the future growth. He also bring Chinese people from mainland and Taiwan even closer. He is a hero for Chinese people.

He's only been president for 2 years.




I know you're enthusiastic, but temper it with some facts.

Yeah, with all their 'Made in China' products.
Great way to advertise and support a nation and its own domestic economy.

I hope Ma loses. Let the DPP rule for another 8 years. By then, the Taiwanese public would be begging for annexation.

What's the point of economic growth? So Taiwan can be like Japan? Where people work to live? LOL

I noticed poor people tend to glorify money. Lots of Chinese people are like that. It's a peasant mentality.