TSR-Party Politics

Polls

Polls on Chiang-Chen Meeting and the Approval Ratings of Ma Ying-jeou and Tsai Ing-wen (UDN, Dec. 25, 2009) 33% of respondents were satisfied with President Ma’s performance; 32% thought the three agreements signed at the Forth Chiang-Chen Meeting were beneficial to Taiwan.

Survey on Taiwanese People’s Trust in the U.S. President, Cross-Strait Leaders and Major Political Parties and Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou’s Approval Rating (GVSRC, Nov. 23, 2009) 52.9 percent of Taiwanese say Obama is friendly toward Taiwan; meanwhile, President Ma’s approval rating this month is 28.3 percent.

TVBS Public Opinion Poll
(TVBS Public Opinion Poll Center, Aug. 6, 2009) A poll conducted by the TVBS Public Opinion Poll Center on the popularity ratings of various political figures in Taiwan, translated by the Kuomingtang News Network.

Three Out of Every 10 People Oppose Ma Being KMT Chair
(China Post, Jun. 13, 2009) Three out of every ten people believe President Ma Ying-jeou shouldn't double as chairman of the Kuomintang, according to an Apple Daily crash poll.

TVBS Poll: President Ma Doubling As the KMT Chairman
(TVBS, Jun. 12, 2009) A poll conducted by TVBS on President Ma’s satisfaction ratings and his doubling as KMT’s Chairman.

KMT Set Back Again
(China Post, Jan. 10, 2010) The ruling Kuomintang suffered another setback as it lost all three seats up for grabs in the legislative by-elections to the main opposition Democratic Progressive Party.

Next Year’s Elections a Watershed: Tsai
(CNA, Dec. 9, 2009) While the local elections last Saturday may have boosted the morale of the opposition DPP, the real watershed for both the DPP and the ruling KMT will be the 2010 municipality elections, said DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.

A ‘Tsai Ing-wen Lin’ Takes Shape in DPP, Scholars Say
(China Post, Dec. 7, 2009) The Democratic Progressive Party's gains in the just-ended local elections have bolstered the leadership of Tsai Ing-wen in what can be called a post-Chen Shui-bian era, party heavyweights and political observers have said.

KMT Suffers Setback
(China Post, Dec. 6, 2009) The ruling Kuomintang suffered a setback in local elections, losing control of one of the most tightly contested counties to the opposition Democratic Progressive Party, which saw a general increase in support.

Taiwan’s Ma Mulls China Policy After Vote: Analysts
(AFP, Dec. 6, 2009) Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou may slow down an aggressive push for improved ties with China after the island's voters showed disquiet with his policies in local elections this weekend, analysts said.

Taiwan’s China-Friendly Party on Test in Local Poll
(Reuters, Dec. 4, 2009) Taiwan voters went to the polls Saturday to elect local officials in the first test of China-friendly President Ma Ying-jeou's popularity since he took power a year-and-a-half ago.

What’s at Stake in Taiwan’s Local Elections
(Reuters, Nov. 30, 2009) If the KMT holds its current majority or gains seats, it strengthens Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou's already firm mandate to govern and adds momentum to his efforts since last year to broker peace with China through landmark trade negotiations.

Campaigns for County, City Elections to Begin
(CNA, Nov. 25, 2009) Campaigning for Taiwan's county magistrate and city mayoral elections will officially kick off.

KMT Calls for Solidarity; DPP Sees Big Gain in Dec. Elections
(China Post, Nov. 23, 2009) The ruling Kuomintang called for solidarity for the local elections on Dec. 5 while the main opposition aims to significantly extend its seats of mayors and magistrates.

Ma Absence from KMT Ads Raises Speculation
(China Post, Nov. 21, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou has not been featured in the ruling Kuomintang's latest TV advertisement, sparking speculation that the party no longer sees the leader as an asset for election campaigns because of his declining popularity.

Ex-President Lee Lashes Out at Ma’s Government
(China Post, Nov. 1, 2009) Lee faulted the Ma administration for showing over-dependence on China in its economic policies and for bowing to U.S. pressure in lifting the beef ban and expected voters to “punish” President Ma in the year-end elections.

President Takes Over as KMT Chair, Says will Punish Mavericks
(China Post, Oct. 18, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou, who took the helm of the ruling Kuomintang, promised to settle disputes over the party's huge assets and to come down hard on mavericks undermining its year-end election campaign.

Ministry Takes Stand for Neutrality
(Taipei Times, Oct. 2, 2009) Minister of Civil Service expressed opposition to the premier and vice premier taking leaves of absence to attend the Chinese Nationalist Party’s weekly Zhongshan meetings, a de facto policy-making body.

Yunlin Defeat a Warning to KMT: Wu Poh-hsiung
(Taipei Times, Sep. 28, 2009) KMT Chairman acknowledged that the defeat in Saturday’s Yunlin legislative by-election was a warning for the party, but said the KMT would continue party reform efforts by presenting candidates with integrity and a clean image.

Opposition Wins By-election
(AFP, Sep. 27, 2009) Taiwan’s main opposition scored a comfortable by-election win over the ruling nationalists at the weekend, in what it said was a clear signal that voters were fed up with the government.

KMT Worried about Losing Control of Five Counties
(China Post, Aug. 2, 2009) Despite President Ma Ying-jeou doubling as party chairman, the ruling Kuomintang is worried that it may lose control of at least five counties in the year-end nationwide local elections.

President Ma Elected KMT Chairman
(China Post, Jul. 27, 2009) Only a little more than half of all card-carrying members of the Kuomintang went to the polls to vote in President Ma Ying-jeou as their chairman for the next four years.

Executive Yuan Approves Merger
(Taipei Times, Jun. 30, 2009) The Executive Yuan approved the merger of Tainan County and Tainan City as a single municipality and endorsed the initial review last Tuesday.

MOI OKs Three Special Municipality Applications
(China Post, Jun. 24, 2009) Interior Minister Liao Liou-yi announced the approval of applications for upgrading to special municipality status from Taipei County, Taichung City/County, and Kaohsiung City/County.

Ma Urges Steps to Separate Party, State
(Taipei Times, Jun. 17, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou instructed the Presidential Office to implement measures to ensure neutrality in administrative and party affairs.

Ma Aims to Tighten Grip on Taiwan’s Ruling Party
(AP, Jun. 10, 2009) Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou said he will contest next month's election for the chairmanship of the ruling Nationalist Party, a position that could give him greater control over the pace of reconciliation with rival China.

Ma Ying-jeou All Set to Double as KMT Chairman
(China Post, Jun. 8, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou, all set to double as chairman of the Kuomintang, will apply for registration of candidacy on June 15, sources close to the ruling party said.

Ex-Premier Hsieh May Form a New Party
(China Post, May 31, 2009) No matter how hard Frank Hsieh may try to split his Democratic Progressive Party, it will remain united at least until the end of this year.

DPP Wraps Up Sit-In Demonstration
(Taipei Times, May 19, 2009) DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen said a social revolution was needed to ensure the public’s voice was heard in cross-strait negotiations.

Taiwan Protest Targets Leader’s Pro-China Policies
(AP, May 17, 2009) Tens of thousands of anti-government demonstrators marched through downtown Taipei on Sunday to protest against President Ma Ying-jeou's policy of greater engagement with rival China.

Tsai Claims Ma Conducting ‘Blue Terror’
(China Post, May 17, 2009) Opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen has coined a new phrase, the “blue terror,” to describe what she claims to be the Ma administration's persecution against her party.

DPP Set for Rally
(China Post, May 16, 2009) The massive anti-government demonstration in Taipei tomorrow will only be the start of a series of actions which may build up to a recall campaign against President Ma Ying-jeou over his undemocratic policies, said opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen.

Premier Voices Support for Ma to Become KMT Chair
(China Post, May 14, 2009) Premier Liu Chao-shiuan said government efficiency would increase if President Ma Ying-jeou also led the ruling Kuomintang.

DPP Taipei Chapter to OK Chen Membership
(China Post, May 5, 2009) The Democratic Progressive Party Taipei chapter is expected to approve applications by former President Chen Shui-bian to restore membership.

DPP Cries Foul on Press Freedom
(Taipei Times, May 4, 2009) Freedom House’s latest report on freedom of the press showed that global press freedom declined last year. Taiwan is now ranked No. 43.

Ma, Wu Shelves KMT Chairmanship Issue for Now
(China Post, Apr. 15, 2009) President Ma Ying-jeou and Chairman Wu Po-hsiung of the ruling Kuomintang reached a consensus that they will not talk about the issue concerning who will be the next party chief before June.

DPP Calls for Cabinet Reshuffle Over Economy
(China Post, Feb. 22, 2009) The leader of the main opposition party yesterday urged President Ma Ying-jeou to reshuffle the Cabinet in order to rescue Taiwan's worsening economy.

DPP to Take Dual-Track Development Strategy: Chair
(China Post, Feb. 8, 2009) Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party said that a consensus has emerged within party members that the DPP will take a dual-track strategy toward its future development, namely social movement and parliament orientation.

DPP Needs to Build on Trust of People: Tsai
(Taipei Times, Dec. 19, 2009) DPP Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen discussed the results of the local government elections on Dec. 5 with the ‘Liberty Times.’

The DPP Still Has a Long Road to Recovery By Hong Chi-chang
(Taipei Times, Dec. 14, 2009) If we add the 7 percent that went to candidates who broke KMT party discipline by standing in the elections, the ratio of votes going to the pan-blue and pan-green camps was still about 55 to 45.

Taiwan Elections a Warning to Ma By Cindy Sui
(Asia Times, Dec. 8, 2009) The weekend's local-level elections were worthy of watching in terms of the consequences not only for local politics, but more importantly, on the capability of the ruling Kuomintang party to hold onto its grip on power and on the island's relations with China.

DPP Performance Must Not Be Overestimated: Experts By Jenny W. Hsu (Taipei Times, Dec. 6, 2009) Lin Chi-wen, a professor of political science at National Chengchi University, was reluctant to use yesterday’s outcome as a gauge for the 2012 presidential election because the local elections involved less than half of the country’s population.

The President, the Cabinet, and the Lawmakers’ Approval Ratings
(GVSRC, Feb. 23, 2009) 34.5% of Taiwanese people approve President Ma’s performance over the past nine months. The approval rate is 33% for Premier Liu.

Taking Up the Peace Challenge By Shih Chih-yu
(Taipei Times, Feb. 13, 2009) The peace that the KMT touts only pertains to the absence of war across the Taiwan Strait. The result is that in Taiwan, peace has nothing to do with real peace and neither the government nor the media care about reporting on international or even regional conflicts.

Analysis: DPP Faces Most Testing Period in Its History By Rich Chang (Taipei Times, Feb. 9, 2009) The Democratic Progressive Party is facing its most difficult period since it was formed 22 years ago and the party fully recognizes that it could become irrelevant if it suffers a heavy defeat in the city and county elections scheduled for the end of this year.

President Ma Ying-jeou’s Approval Rating after Eight Months in Office (GVSRC, Jan. 17, 2009) 28.7% of Taiwanese people approve of President Ma Ying-jeou’s performance after his eight months in office, and 57.3% don’t.

Taiwan’s Party Politics