The United States and China in Power Transition - Strategic Studies ...

ment. The KMT’s landslide victories in the legislative
and presidential elections clearly indicated that the
Taiwanese people were frustrated with the DPP in its
handling of Taiwan’s economy and, more pointedly,
Chen Shui-bian’s confrontational relations with mainland
China and the United States during his two terms
in office (2000-08). Taking these elections as a mandate
for change, President-elect Ma Ying-jeou set his
agenda for a change in the cross-Strait relations. It had
three components: a peace agreement with the PRC, a
revitalization of Taiwan’s economy, and an expansion
of Taiwan’s international space. (See Figure 4-3.)
Unification or Independence? (line chart)
Figure 4-3. Taiwan Public Opinion Poll, 2002-2010.
Shortly after taking office, Ma responded positively
to PRC President Hu Jintao’s call for an end to hostility
and to sign a peace agreement. Ma proposed that
the two sides return to the so-called “1992 consensus,”
in which the two sides agreed on “one China,” but left
open its definition and political content, and start the
process of reconciliation. 80
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