As a foreigner, a fervent supporter of Taiwanese democracy and student of East Asian politics, perhaps I have the luxury of appraising Taiwan’s political predicament from a more fair vantage point than most.

What might be considered the most serious charge against him is that he has sold out the island’s interests by allowing KMT Party Chairman Wu Po-hsiung to visit China and coordinate with CCP officials on cross-strait flights and greater official exchanges. Apparently, the DPP forgot that they lost the election because of just that, Ma’s desire to make peace with the mainland, instead of inviting its wrath.

Moreover, their indictment that he has not handled the economy displays a clear level of ignorance towards the present global-economic downturn and its effects on Taiwan’s economy. The opposition’s refusal to even recognize this leads me to question whether their current leadership is responsible and knowledgeable enough to hold any semblance of power.

Lastly, the claim that he has been weak against corruption seems questionable at best; especially since corruption cases take months and in some cases years to prosecute, and second because the chief prosecutor’s office and not the Office of the President is responsible for these cases.

All of the DPP’s charges are serious at first glance, but like most things of a fraudulent nature hold little depth.

They are designed purely for demagogic purposes, and as a supporter of Taiwan’s earlier democratic movement, I am saddened.

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