Biographies
Ma Ying-jeou 馬英九President
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Born in Hong Kong on July 13, 1950, Ma Ying-jeou moved with his family to Taiwan one year later, and has lived on the island ever since. After receiving a bachelor of law (LL.B.) degree from National Taiwan University in 1972 and performing military service afterward, he earned a master of laws (LL.M.) degree from New York University School of Law in 1976, and a doctor of juridical science (S.J.D.) degree from Harvard Law School in 1981.
Upon returning to Taiwan in 1981, Ma became Deputy Director of the First Bureau at the Presidential Office, doubling as President Chiang Ching-kuo’s English interpreter and secretary. He later served concurrently as Deputy Secretary-General of the Kuomintang (KMT). In 1986, he was directed by President Chiang to study the possibility of lifting martial law, initiating cross-strait exchanges and reforming the parliament.
In 1988, Ma was appointed Chairman of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission, a Cabinet post. Concurrently, he was assigned to form a Mainland Affairs Task Force in charge of formulating policy toward mainland China and subsequently served as its executive secretary. Three years later, he was appointed Vice Chairman and Spokesman of the newly established Mainland Affairs Council.
Ma became Minister of Justice in 1993. In that post, he directed aggressive campaigns to combat corruption, drugs, vote buying and organized crime, and he oversaw reform of the prison system. In 1996, he was appointed Minister without Portfolio. After resigning from this post 10 months later to take responsibility for failure to prevent a rash of serious crimes, he became a professor at National Chengchi University’s College of Law.
Ma was elected Mayor of Taipei City in 1998, and four years later won re-election by a landslide. During his eight-year tenure as mayor, Taipei became recognized abroad as a world-class metropolis in various aspects of city life. In 2005, he was elected Chairman of the KMT, in which capacity he took the lead in reforming and rejuvenating the party.
In early 2007, Ma threw his hat into the ring for the 2008 presidential election. Campaigning on a platform to revive the economy, build a clean government and improve relations across the Taiwan Strait, he was elected on March 22, 2008, with 58.5 percent of the vote. His May 20 inauguration as president marked the second turnover of ruling parties in the nation’s history.
In his inaugural speech entitled “Taiwan’s Renaissance,” President Ma pledged to restore political ethics, breathe life into civil society, and create a more favorable investment climate based on sustainability, entrepreneurship and innovation. In addition, he vowed to create an open and just society with expanded opportunity for the underprivileged.
Since taking office, President Ma has sought to situate Taiwan at the forefront of global trends. This means working for international peace and security, revitalizing Taiwan’s economy, and strengthening the political and social fabric of society.
Ma initiated bold policies toward mainland China that have effectively shelved 60 years of military and political confrontation across the Taiwan Strait, and enabled Taiwan to concentrate on the issues that directly affect the well-being of its people. His administration has concluded nine agreements and one joint communiqué with mainland China covering initiatives such as the “Three Links” with the mainland in air, sea, trade and postal services, and the liberalization of capital investments between the two sides. As a result, the Taiwan Strait has changed from a dangerous flash point into a wellspring of peace and prosperity.
In foreign affairs, President Ma declared a diplomatic truce with the Chinese mainland, which has paved the way to peaceful negotiations and put an end to diplomatic warfare between the two sides. His “flexible diplomacy” has won the applause of the international community, which welcomed Taiwan back into the World Health Assembly in Geneva in May 2009 after 38 years of exclusion. This milestone is one of many in the first year of his presidency. President Ma’s administration is also bolstering the country’s economic and political infrastructure. In the economic sphere, the plan is to make sure that Taiwan will be able to fully capitalize on its advantageous geographic location and become a natural hub for regional trade, investment and innovation when the economy revives.
In the political sphere, President Ma has worked to fortify Taiwan’s democratic institutions. Protection of human rights, rule of law and judicial independence are especially important. He signed the instruments of ratification for the United Nations Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights as well as the United Nations Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in May 2009, and his administration plans to fully implement both the letter and spirit of the two covenants within two years.
The administration has achieved unprecedented breakthroughs, but knows it cannot rest on its laurels. President Ma understands that challenges remain, and that his administration must redouble its efforts to transform those challenges into opportunities and rewards.