TAIPEI, Taiwan -- The ruling Nationalist Party reversed its fortunes Saturday, ousting the opposition's top politician as voters indicated they're in no mood to even think about declaring independence from China.
Former Justice Minister Ma Ying-jeou, nicknamed "Sonny Boy Ma" for his squeaky clean image and youthful good looks and charm, led the Nationalist victory by unseating Taipei Mayor Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party."It's not my personal victory, but a victory for all of Taipei's citizens," a jubilant Ma told supporters. The Nationalists also held onto the Taiwanese Legislature, gaining 55 percent of the seats, compared with 52 percent in the last races three years ago.
The results were a blow to the DPP, whose members had counted on Chen's re-election to propel them toward winning Taiwan's presidency for the first time during elections in 2000, when President Lee Teng-hui retires.
"This is a setback for our party and for our democratic movement," lamented Lin Yih-hsiung, chairman of the DPP, which advocates independence from China. "We will learn from this and make a new start."
The DPP, which had been eroding Nationalist support in recent years, did win the mayor's office in the southern city of Kaohsiung, formerly a Nationalist stronghold.
Chen vowed to fight on, although he didn't say whether he will run for president.
The delicate issue of relations with mainland China seemed to influence the vote. Beijing views Taiwan as a renegade province to be reclaimed by force if necessary, even though the two have been politically separated since a 1949 civil war.
Most Taiwanese prefer the status quo, fearful that declaring formal independence could provoke a military attack but unwilling to accept reunification on Beijing's terms.
Many were apparently spooked by the DPP platform calling for independence, although Chen played down that stance during the campaign. The Nationalists believe Taiwan and China should be reunified at some point, although Ma remained silent about that.
The economic slump that has started to hit Taiwan may have helped put voters in a conservative mood that brought them back to the ruling party even though many had previously abandoned the Nationalists amid widespread worries about corruption.
Beijing was closely watching the results in Taiwan. Experts believed the Chinese leadership would welcome any outcome that sets back the DPP's ambitions.