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The Importance of Tact
Ma Ying-jeou
PRESIDENT OF TAIWAN

The recent global downturn has darkened economic forecasts around the world, but in Taiwan, it nearly blotted out the sun. Last February, The Economist called the country\'s financial forecast "the ugliest of them all." Producing about 70 percent of the world\'s laptops and PDAs and 12 percent of its cell phones, Taiwan relies on the West to buy its high-tech gadgets. Unfortunately, Americans haven\'t been spending a lot of time at Best Buy lately.

In the past few months, however, Taiwan’s prospects have started to look rosier, thanks in large part to the country’s new president, Ma Ying-jeou. How is he saving the country? ...By being the world\'s best marriage counselor.

( 全球最佳的婚姻顧問)


TAIWAN AND CHINA -- THE AWKWARD COUPLE

Technically speaking, Taiwan is a part of China, but in reality, they are two separate countries with two separate identities. And, until recently, they rarely talked to each other. Although he was successful in driving out the Japanese during World War II, General Chiang Kai-shek lost the Chinese Civil War to the internal communist forces in 1949. He then fled to Taiwan, a Chinese island 100 miles off the coast. Vowing to reclaim the mainland, Chiang Kai-shek and his band of nationalists set up a military dictatorship in Taiwan, and the island remained in a state of perpetual (if stable) martial law until 1987. For nearly half a century, capitalist Taiwan (the Republic of China) and communist China (the People\'s Republic of China) had virtually no diplomatic relations, and travel between the two countries was strictly forbidden. The nations had separated but refused to reconcile or get divorced. After all, reconciliation would mean one nation giving in to the other, and divorce would lead to all-out war. Even now, China has hundreds of missiles pointed at Taiwan, which they threaten to launch should Taiwan declare independence. In case you were wondering how this affects the United States, the American government has sworn to protect Taiwan in the event of an invasion. If they go to war, we would probably go along with them.

Months before his death in 1988, Taiwan’s last dictator, Chiang Kai-shek’s son Chiang Ching-Kuo, allowed the nation to become a democracy. It was at this time that Ma Ying-jeou, the future president, first made his mark on the international scene.

Ma came from one of the families that had followed General Chiang Kai-shek to Taiwan, and Ma’s father had decided that his only son’s life would have national purpose. The expectations were great. Ma was forced to study Chinese classics after school every day, and he was pressured to perfect his calligraphy. Ma’s father also made him run daily to rid him of any laziness.

While Ma hated every minute of it, the experience did instill a certain discipline. He obtained a law degree from NYU and a doctorate from Harvard before returning to Taiwan to teach. There, at age 37, Ma became the former dictator’s protege. The two shared a deeply held desire to reunite China and Taiwan under the banner of democracy.

Ma knew that the first step was getting the two nations on speaking terms again. Using his legal expertise, he drafted what would become known as the “1992 Consensus,” a masterpiece of diplomatic ambiguity. It declared there to be only “one China,” but let both countries interpret the phrase however the pleased. The flexible agreement opened up a dialogue with China that led to increased commerce between the two nations. It also helped Ma gain a reputation as a savvy politician, which, along with his general handsomeness, got him elected mayor of Taipei in 1998. (In a poll of Taipei women, asking which public figure they would most like to father their children, Ma was the resounding winner.)

Yet, mending fences with China would not prove simple. Ever since Taiwan became a democracy in 1987, there has been a sizable political movement to break away entirely. After all, Taiwan is an open society that believes in free speech and civil liberties. China, in spite of all its economic gains, is still rife with human rights violations, from Hong Kong to Tibet.

In 2000, Taiwan elected a pro-independence president, Chen Shui-bian, and diplomacy with China took a nosedive. Both countries began saber-rattling and imposing financial restrictions on one another. Their relationship took a turn for the ridiculous in 2005, when China offered Taiwan a goodwill gift of two pandas named Tuantuan and Yuanyuan—a play of the Chinese word for reunion. Taiwan officially rejected them. As trade between the two countries waned, Taiwan’s economy grew sluggish. Taiwan’s ties with the United States also became strained because the American government didn’t want to be dragged into a conflict with China.


REUNITED, AND IT FEELS SO GOOD

For years, Taiwan and China weren’t talking; today, they’re giving each other pandas.

On March 22, 2008, Ma Ying-jeou was elected president of Taiwan by a wide margin, after campaigning on the idea of a “Great China market.” Modeled after the European Union, it would allow the free movement of goods and capital and encourage tourism between nations. In his inauguration speech, Ma reaffirmed his belief in the fantastically vague concept of “one China,” and Taiwan’s relationship with China improved almost immediately. Ma was able to sign a series of agreements that increased trade and investment across the Taiwan Strait, opening up vital parts of Taiwan’s service and manufacturing sectors to Chinese investors. Even more dramatically, Ma passed legislation to make air travel between the nations possible. On July 4, 2008, a commercial airplane brought passengers directly from China to Taiwan for the first time in nearly 60 years. Now, about 3,000 Chinese tourists arrive to invade Taipei’s shopping malls each day. Also, when China offered Taiwan the pandas Tuantuan and Yuanyuan again, President Ma gladly accepted them.

Improved relations with China have also translated into improved relations with the United States. Now that china and Taiwan aren’t belligerent towards each other, Westerners are again seeing Taiwan as a safe place to invest their money. Unfortunately, ma assumed office just as his country began to feel the effects of the global economic downturn. (In the first quarter of 2009, Taiwan’s economy shrank by a record 10.2 percent from a year earlier.) But many economists believe that, with money pouring in from both China and the United States, Taiwan may be on the road to recovery. Will Ma’s dream come true? Will China and Taiwan every reunite under the banner of democracy? Many foreign affairs experts would tell Ma to keep dreaming. But 25 years ago, these two countries weren’t talking at all; and today, they’re giving each other pandas. Anything is possible.

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解碼後HD版本...  from http://www.wretch.cc/blog/cliquer/17876950

總統府表示，本文報導內容是事實，外界不需有特別的過度解讀。

The World's Gutsiest Leaders
By Jennifer Drapkin

老謀深算的重要 —— 
台灣總統馬英九

近來的全球金融風暴使世界各國的經濟前景持續看衰，而台灣的狀況，則幾乎到了天昏地暗的地步。今年二月，經濟學人雜誌稱台灣是這一波經濟危機衝擊下，最為淒慘的國家。全球有70%的筆電和PDA，以及12％的手機由台灣生產製造，因此這個國家的經濟命脈，深深仰賴西方國家對高科技產品的消費來維繫。不幸的是，老美最近已經沒有心思敗家了。然而過去幾個月以來，台灣的經濟竟然有了起色，很大一部份，要歸功於新任總統馬英九。他是如何拯救這個國家的呢？答案是，當個全球最佳的婚姻顧問就成了。 

台灣與中國：一對冤家

從技術上來說，台灣雖然是中國的一部分，但實際上，台灣和中國是兩個各自獨立的國家，而且雙方長期以來形同陌路，一直到最近才開始有互動。雖然蔣介石成功地將日本人趕出中國，他率領的的國民黨軍隊卻於1949年在中國內戰中敗給共產黨，因而逃難到中國東南沿海100哩外的台灣島，並誓言反攻大陸。蔣介石和他所領導的國民黨在台灣展開長期的軍事獨裁統治，一直到1987年，才解除戒嚴令。將近半世紀以來，資本主義的台灣（中華民國）和共產主義的中國（中華人民共和國）可說毫無任何外交上的往來，兩岸人民也嚴禁互訪。這兩個國家儘管分居，卻老是不願和解，也不肯乾脆正式離婚。畢竟，和解意味著某一方要向另一方低頭，離婚則會導致雙方大打出手。至今中國仍對準台灣佈下了一千多枚飛彈，並揚言只要台灣膽敢宣佈獨立，中國就立刻開打！這又將對美國造成什麼影響呢？原來，美國早已誓言，一旦台灣受到（中國）入侵，美國將出兵保護台灣。也就是說，萬一中國和台灣開打，美國大概也要被捲進去了。

台灣最後一位獨裁者，也就是蔣介石的兒子蔣經國，在臨死之前幾個月，終於宣佈解嚴。就在這個時候，台灣未來的領導者馬英九，開始在國際政治舞台上嶄露頭角。

 馬英九的父母早年隨蔣介石來到台灣。馬英九從一出生，他的父親便對這個兒子寄予厚望 ，決定將他栽培成國家元首。從小，馬英九就在父親威逼之下，每天放學後不但要背誦中國古籍，還要勤練書法；馬父並且要求兒子每天慢跑，以革怠惰之弊。

儘管馬英九再怎麼心不甘情不願，父親的嚴厲管教畢竟造就了他守紀律的習性，使他在獲得紐約大學法學碩士之後，更上層樓獲得哈佛大學法學博士，並且在學成後回國任教。就在37 歲那年，馬英九成了大獨裁者蔣經國眼前的紅人。這兩人有著相同的信仰：就是中國與台灣在民主的大旗下完成統一大業。

馬英九深知，要達成這項目標，首要任務在於讓雙方再度友好。他利用自己的法律專長，起草了一部充分展現外交辭令之含混藝術的經典代表作，也就是所謂的「九二共識」，其核心精神，便是「一中各表」。這項詮釋空間超大的協議，終於開啟了兩岸的對話，並促進兩岸間的經貿往來。這項成果讓馬英九獲得了長袖善舞的美名，再佐以他俊秀的外表，讓他在1998年一舉贏得台北市長選舉。一項針對台灣女性所作的民調，問及受訪者最希望和哪些男性公眾人物生下孩子，馬英九遙遙領先群雄。

然而，修補兩岸關係並非易事。台灣自從1987年解嚴以來，政治上的反對力量一直不容小覷。畢竟，民主化之後的台灣，已經是開放多元，並且篤信言論自由與人權的民主社會；而反觀中國，儘管有著驚人的經濟成長，卻處處可見統治者對人權的迫害，從香港到西藏，中國染指之處無一倖免於難。

公元2000年，台灣人民選出了一位獨派的總統陳水扁，兩岸關係因此急轉直下，雙方開始不停地互相挑釁，並且在金融往來上互相設限。兩岸原本的嫌隙，在2005 中國提議送給台灣一對貓熊，團團和圓圓（中文裡意味統一）作為親善禮物，卻遭到台灣方面拒絕之後，擴大到荒謬的境界。隨著兩岸經貿往來降低，台灣的經濟成長也開始緩慢停滯。此刻，台美關係也陷入緊張狀態，因為美國並不希望被捲進台灣與中國的糾紛。

 回歸祖國，爽啦！

 2008年3月22日，以「一中市場」作為競選政見主軸的馬英九，在大選中獲得壓倒性勝利，獲選為台灣總統。這個「一中市場」的想法借用歐盟的概念，旨在開放兩岸貨物與資金的自由流通，並鼓勵兩岸觀光。在總統就職演說上，馬英九對「一個中國」這個模稜兩可，定義含糊到令人不可思議的概念，重申其堅定不移的信仰，兩岸關係也幾乎立刻回溫。接下來，馬英九與中國簽下了一系列促進兩岸經貿與投資的協定，讓台灣最核心的服務業與製造業，對中國門戶洞開。馬英九甚至通過立法促成直航。2008年7月4日，一架客機帶著一批中國觀光客，近六十年來首度從中國直飛到台灣。每天有將近3,000名中國旅客入侵台灣的商店街。而且，當中國再度提議將團團和圓圓送給台灣時，馬英九二話不說立刻欣然接受。

海峽兩岸的友好，也間接改善了台美關係。既然中國與台灣已經不再是敵對狀態，西方投資者也就再度將台灣視為安全的投資天堂了。不幸的是，馬英九就任總統之際，也正是台灣受到全球金融風暴猛烈衝擊之時。2009年度第一季，台灣的經濟成長足足比前一年縮水了10.2％，創下歷史紀錄。然而許多經濟學家仍然相信，只要白花花的銀子從美國和中國灌進來，台灣的經濟就會往復甦之路挺進。馬英九的這個夢會實現嗎？中國和台灣有可能在民主的旗幟下完成統一大業嗎？許多國際事務專家會告訴馬英九，繼續做你的春秋大夢吧。只是世事難料，也不過才25年前，這兩個國家還水火不容，今天，他們竟在互送（頌）團圓。大太陽底下，還真沒有不可能的事啊！

Mental Floss 原文：The Importance of Tact -- Ma Ying-Jeou, President of Taiwan

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美雜誌 馬總統列全球五大最具膽識領袖

（中央社記者李佳霏台北6日電）發行全美雜誌「mental_floss」最新一期報導，將總統馬英九列為全球五大最具膽識領袖；台灣面對全球金融海嘯衝擊，因馬總統的機智及改善兩岸關係，使經濟前景變好。

與馬總統並列為五大全球最具膽識領袖的還有德國總理梅克爾（Angela Merkel）、烏干達總統穆塞維尼（Yoweri_Museveni）、巴西總統魯拉（Luis InacioLula da Silva）與智利總統巴舍萊（MichelleBachelet）。

報導以「機智的重要－台灣總統馬英九」為標題，以兩頁篇幅介紹馬總統。導言強調，近年全球經濟不景氣，對台灣衝擊甚深，「連太陽都被遮蔽了」，但台灣最近幾個月來經濟前景變好，最大的因素就在於馬總統。

報導用有趣的方式比喻兩岸關係，認為兩岸關係就像夫妻一樣，這對夫妻不願和解卻無法離婚，台灣和中國沒有人願意低頭接受對方的和解條件，而離婚的結果卻會導致戰爭；報導形容馬總統上任後大幅改善兩岸關係，就像是「全球最佳的婚姻顧問」。

報導簡要敘述馬總統的成長歷程，包括馬總統父親教誨嚴格，從小飽讀中國古籍、勤練書法，並擁有美國紐約大學法律碩士、美國哈佛大學法律博士學位，學成歸國便成為故總統蔣經國的秘書。

報導說，2000年至2008年民進黨執政時期，兩岸關係惡化，台美關係也變差，但馬總統上任後，兩岸關係幾乎是「馬上變好」，相關例證包括兩岸復談及簽署多項協議、開放中資來台、實現兩岸直航與全面開放大陸觀光客來台等措施。

報導並指出，台灣要在短時間中與對岸彌補關係，不是這麼簡單，但憑藉馬總統的機智，兩岸不僅成功降低敵意，也重建台美互信，外資更認為台灣投資環境趨向安全，因此，儘管馬總統上台後不久就遇到全球經濟衰退，但因為兩岸關係的發展，台灣現在走向經濟復甦道路。

「mental_floss」雜誌是雙月刊，屬於綜合性雜誌，善於用簡單的表述方式讓讀者掌握政治、財經、健康等各領域的全球性議題。