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Taiwan’s president to resign from party leadership Taiwan’s president to resign from party leadership
(35 minutes later)
BEIJING — Taiwan’s president announced on Tuesday that he would step down as chairman of the ruling party after it suffered heavy losses in local elections last week.BEIJING — Taiwan’s president announced on Tuesday that he would step down as chairman of the ruling party after it suffered heavy losses in local elections last week.
Ma Ying-jeou will remain in office, but the fallout from the election day drubbing underscores the troubles for the Kuomingtang party after pushing Taiwan toward significantly closer ties with mainland China. Ma Ying-jeou will remain in office, but the fallout from the election day drubbing underscores the troubles for the Kuomintang party after pushing Taiwan toward significantly closer ties with mainland China.
“As chairman of the party, I want to apologize to all our supporters. I let the founding pioneers down and disappointed every one of you. I must deeply reflect on myself and the past mistakes,” Ma said at a press conference today and bowed to audience.“As chairman of the party, I want to apologize to all our supporters. I let the founding pioneers down and disappointed every one of you. I must deeply reflect on myself and the past mistakes,” Ma said at a press conference today and bowed to audience.
Ma is expected to officially resign as the party leader Wednesday. But he will remain president until this term – his second and final one — ends in 2016.Ma is expected to officially resign as the party leader Wednesday. But he will remain president until this term – his second and final one — ends in 2016.
Saturday’s election was the Kuomingtang’s most humiliating defeat since it was chased out of the mainland and took power over Taiwan in 1949. The party, known as the KMT, lost nine of the 15 cities and counties it used to hold, and only won six out of 22 seats for city and county heads. The opposition party DPP took 13 of these seats. Saturday’s election was the Kuomintang’s most humiliating defeat since it was chased out of the mainland and took power over Taiwan in 1949. The party, known as the KMT, lost nine of the 15 cities and counties it used to hold, and only won six out of 22 seats for city and county heads. The opposition party DPP took 13 of these seats.
Shortly afterward, Taiwan’s Premier Jiang Yi-huah and 80 cabinet members resigned en masse in acknowledgment of the publics disapproval of the administration.Shortly afterward, Taiwan’s Premier Jiang Yi-huah and 80 cabinet members resigned en masse in acknowledgment of the publics disapproval of the administration.
Some analysts believe Ma’s pro-China policies may have driven away many voters.Some analysts believe Ma’s pro-China policies may have driven away many voters.
China regards Taiwan as a rebellious province that must eventually be reunified with the mainland by force if necessary — a threat backed up by at least 1,600 missiles that remain aimed at the island, according to military analysts. Taiwan insists on the rights it has maintained as a self-governed entity since 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek’s forces fled to the island after their defeat by Mao Zedong’s Communist Party.China regards Taiwan as a rebellious province that must eventually be reunified with the mainland by force if necessary — a threat backed up by at least 1,600 missiles that remain aimed at the island, according to military analysts. Taiwan insists on the rights it has maintained as a self-governed entity since 1949, when Chiang Kai-shek’s forces fled to the island after their defeat by Mao Zedong’s Communist Party.
But since Ma took over, he has improved ties with China to their warmest level in decades.But since Ma took over, he has improved ties with China to their warmest level in decades.
In March, protesters led by students started a weeks-long protest, dubbed the “Sunflower movement,” against a trade pact with mainland China.In March, protesters led by students started a weeks-long protest, dubbed the “Sunflower movement,” against a trade pact with mainland China.
Ma’s resignation will mean he enters into a lame-duck period with little mandate and will likely face difficulty pushing forward new policies, especially concerning ties with China. A possible power struggle within the party for leadership could also hurt the KMT’s chances in the 2016 presidential elections.Ma’s resignation will mean he enters into a lame-duck period with little mandate and will likely face difficulty pushing forward new policies, especially concerning ties with China. A possible power struggle within the party for leadership could also hurt the KMT’s chances in the 2016 presidential elections.
Gu Jinglu contributed to this report.Gu Jinglu contributed to this report.