President Ma Ying-jeou was previously interviewed by Condé Nast Traveler magazine Deputy Editor for Special Projects Ms. Dorinda Elliott. The interview, which featured remarks by President Ma on his views regarding cross-strait relations and other related policies, was published on the evening of September 18 Taipei time.
In the interview, President Ma said: “I want to be a peace-maker. The Communist and Nationalist parties have been fighting since they were founded, at a heavy cost for both sides. I believe we have reached a new era when we can call a halt to these historic hatreds.” The interview also said that while President Ma has no intention of provoking Mainland China, he will not abandon certain principles. The president remains steadfast on his stance of “no reunification, no independence, and no war.”
Deputy Editor Elliott also asked why President Ma is optimistic on the outlook for democracy in China. In response, the president said that reporting after the earthquake that hit Sichuan Province was relatively uncensored. This reveals that the beginnings of a civil society are starting to take root, he said. The president said it is unclear whether the relatively free reporting was by design or a special situation. However, if Mainland China’s economic and educational development continues, a middle class will continue to emerge, which will gradually foster development of a civil society. Civil society is the foundation of democracy, he said. President Ma added that he is firmly convinced that a civil society will take root in Mainland China.
The report expressed its belief that democracy on Taiwan is a type of political experiment. If proven a success on Taiwan, this will trigger an enormous impact on ethnic Chinese society. The political experiment on Taiwan has been going on now for 20 years and the results are quite good, the magazine opined. Taiwan enjoys absolute freedom and rule of law is in force. In addition, the effect of democracy has also helped to largely rid the government of its reputation of corruption, the article said.
As for the question of the democratization of Taiwan and Hong Kong, President Ma said in the interview: “The big difference is that Taiwan is not Hong Kong. We have a democratic society. We choose our own president. We manage our own affairs. We have our own sense of self-reliance.”
When asked whether Taiwan is interested in promoting democracy on the other side of the Taiwan Strait, President Ma said: “Taiwan has earned praise as a beacon of democracy to Asia and the world. But we don’t need to encourage the mainland. They are getting their own momentum. The best way to move forward is to increase exchanges between the two sides. We have economic exchanges already, and in the future we should expand to include cultural and educational exchanges.” “If young people on both sides make friends, the chances of a war will be much smaller.”
Condé Nast Traveler magazine was founded in 1987. Headquartered in New York City, the magazine has a circulation of about 780,000. It is the most authoritative travel magazine in the United States, and it also prints an edition for the United Kingdom market. Over 70% of its readers are high-ranking professionals.