s presidential elections. Ma named the former economics minister and premier as his running mate on Saturday. The ruling DPP's candidate Frank Hsieh has yet to decide on his partner. Siew, 68, is well-known internationally and among Beijing's leaders; he met Chinese President Hu Jintao in the "Boao Forum for Asia" on Hainan island in 2004.
Born in Chiayi in southern Taiwan, Siew received his undergraduate and master's degrees in international law and diplomacy from Taipei's National Chengchi University. He was head of Taiwan's board of foreign trade and later chairman of the Cabinet-level Council for Economic Planning and Development.
Siew will help improve relations with the mainland, as he has been promoting cross-strait exchanges for nearly a decade. He'll also help get votes in central and southern Taiwan, as he's from the south. Support for Ma has surged a day after he named Siew as his running mate. A China Times poll showed that support for the KMT's candidate has risen 8 percentage points to 40 percent, from 32 percent in late May. Support for the ruling party's candidate Hsieh remains at about 20 percent.
The China Times called the Ma-Siew ticket a trump card because many people see Siew as the solution to Taiwan's economic woes. Siew, being a Taiwan native can also help Ma, the son of a mainlander, win votes from Taiwan natives.
A poll by the United Daily News (UDN) also showed the Ma-Hsieh gap has widened after Ma announced Siew as his running mate.
Once elected, Ma has pledged to hold talks with China on opening direct air and sea links with the mainland, and will discuss signing a peace pact with Beijing, provided Beijing removes the 900 missiles directed against Taiwan.
