Ma Ying-jeou facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ma Ying-jeou
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馬英九
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Official portrait, 2008
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| 6th President of the Republic of China | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 20 May 2008 – 20 May 2016 |
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| Premier |
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| Vice President | Vincent Siew Wu Den-yih |
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| Preceded by | Chen Shui-bian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Tsai Ing-wen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4th and 6th Chairman of the Kuomintang | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 17 October 2009 – 3 December 2014 |
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| Preceded by | Wu Po-hsiung | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Wu Den-yih (acting) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 27 July 2005 – 13 February 2007 |
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| Preceded by | Lien Chan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Wu Po-hsiung (interim) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 11th Mayor of Taipei | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 25 December 1998 – 25 December 2006 |
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| Deputy | King Pu-tsung | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Chen Shui-bian | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Hau Lung-pin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 13 July 1950 Kowloon, British Hong Kong |
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| Political party | Kuomintang | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Christine Chow
(m. 1977) |
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| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | National Taiwan University (LLB) New York University (LLM) Harvard University (SJD) |
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| Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Allegiance |  Republic of China |
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| Years of service | 1972–1974 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rank | .svg){kind=small} Lieutenant |
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| Chinese name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Traditional Chinese | 馬英九 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Simplified Chinese | 马英九 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Ma Ying-jeou (Chinese: 馬英九; pinyin: Mǎ Yīngjiǔ; born 13 July 1950) is a Taiwanese politician and lawyer. He served as the 6th president of the Republic of China from 2008 to 2016. He is a member of the Kuomintang (KMT) political party. Before becoming president, he was the mayor of Taipei from 1998 to 2006. He also led the Kuomintang party as its chairman for two periods.
Ma was born in Hong Kong. His family moved to Taiwan in 1952. He studied law at National Taiwan University. After that, he served in the Republic of China Marine Corps. He then went to the United States to study law further. He earned a master's degree from New York University and a doctorate from Harvard University. In 1981, Ma returned to Taiwan. He started working for President Chiang Ching-kuo as an English translator.
From 1988 to 1996, Ma held important government roles. He was the head of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission and then the Minister of Justice. In 1998, he became the mayor of Taipei. He was elected as KMT chairman in 2005. In 2008, he ran for president and won by a large number of votes.
Ma's time as president focused on improving relations with mainland China. He held meetings with mainland Chinese leaders and signed important agreements. He was re-elected president in 2012. After leaving office in 2016, Ma became a law professor. He is still active in politics.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Ma Ying-jeou was born in Kowloon, British Hong Kong, on 13 July 1950. He was the fourth of five children and the only son. His family moved to Taiwan when he was one year old. They were Catholic, and Ma was raised in the Catholic faith. He went to Catholic services every Sunday with his grandmother.
His father wanted him to do well in school. He encouraged Ma to study Chinese classics and practice Chinese calligraphy. In 1966, Ma decided to study law. He joined the KMT party in 1968. He then started studying law at National Taiwan University (NTU).
While at NTU, Ma was a student leader. He was chosen to travel to the U.S. as part of a student program. He visited several universities there. In 1972, he graduated from NTU with a law degree. He then served in the ROC Marine Corps and Navy from 1972 to 1974. He became a lieutenant.
After his military service, Ma continued his law studies in the United States. He earned a master's degree from New York University School of Law in 1976. He then earned a doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1981. After his studies, Ma worked at a law firm in New York City. He also worked as a legal consultant. In 1981, he returned to Taiwan to work for President Chiang Ching-kuo.
Rise in Politics
In the 1980s, Ma Ying-jeou began working for President Chiang Ching-kuo. He was a deputy director and the President's English interpreter. At 38, he became the head of the Research, Development and Evaluation Commission. This made him the youngest cabinet member in the government.
Ma also served as a deputy secretary-general for the KMT party. In 1993, President Lee Teng-hui appointed him as Justice Minister. He left this role in 1996. Many people thought his political career was over at that time.
Becoming Mayor of Taipei
In 1998, the KMT chose Ma to run for mayor of Taipei. He ran against the current mayor, Chen Shui-bian. Even though Chen was very popular, Ma won the election.
In the 2000 presidential election, Ma supported the KMT candidate, Lien Chan. Lien lost the election. Ma worked to calm angry KMT supporters after the election.
In December 2002, Ma was re-elected as mayor of Taipei. He won easily with 64% of the votes. This big win made many people think he might run for president in the future.
During his time as mayor, Ma faced some challenges. There was a SARS epidemic in 2003. He was also criticized for how he handled flooding in Taipei in 2004.
Ma also had disagreements with the central government. These included issues like health insurance and water supply. He was also questioned about some financial matters, but the case was dismissed.
Ma supported changing street names and metro stations in Taipei to Hanyu Pinyin. He also expressed support for Chinese unification and opposed the Taiwan independence movement. He criticized mainland China for the Tiananmen crackdown.
Allegations of Misuse of Funds
In November 2006, Ma was questioned by prosecutors. This was about his use of a special expense account as Taipei mayor. Ma said that he, like other officials, saw this account as extra salary for work-related costs. He believed his use of it was legal.
In February 2007, Ma was charged with misusing about NT$11 million (US$339,000). Prosecutors said he used government money for personal things. Ma said he used the funds for public benefit or charity. He resigned as KMT chairman because of party rules. However, he soon announced he would run for president.
In August 2007, a court found Ma not guilty of corruption. Another court confirmed this in December 2007. Finally, in April 2008, the Supreme Court cleared him of all charges. They said he did not break the law.
Leading the Kuomintang
Ma's standing grew after the 2004 presidential election. He was seen as a future leader of the KMT. In 2005, Ma ran for KMT chairman against Wang Jin-pyng.
On 16 July 2005, Ma won the election by a large margin. He received 72% of the votes. After winning, Ma said he wanted Wang to stay as a top deputy chairman.
Under Ma's leadership, the KMT won many seats in the local elections in December 2005. The party gained six more seats, totaling fourteen. This was a big win for Ma. It showed that the KMT was becoming popular again in many areas.
Presidential Campaigns
2008 Election
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After resigning as KMT chairman, Ma announced he would run for president in 2008. He became the official KMT candidate. His running mate was Vincent Siew, who had run with Lien Chan in 2000.
During his campaign, Ma visited India and Singapore. This was to build international connections and gain experience.
There was some discussion about whether Ma had a U.S. green card. Ma denied having one and said his family members did not either. He showed documents to prove his green card was no longer valid.
2012 Election
Ma was able to run for a second term as president. In June 2011, Vice President Vincent Siew decided not to run again. Premier Wu Den-yih was chosen as Ma's new running mate. Ma was re-elected President with 51.6% of the votes. He defeated Democratic Progressive Party chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen.
Presidency
Taking Office
Ma won the election on 22 March 2008, with 58% of the votes. He officially became the sixth president of the Republic of China on 20 May 2008. The ceremony took place in Taipei.
Time magazine named Ma one of the "Time 100" leaders in 2008. They described him as a politician who could shape the future of his nation and the region.
In August 2008, Ma made his first foreign trip as president. He visited Latin American countries to improve relations. He also made stops in the U.S.
Relations with Mainland China
After winning the election, Ma said he would work to improve relations with mainland China. He promised to start direct flights and allow mainland Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan. He also wanted to ease rules on investing in mainland China.
Ma stated that during his presidency, there would be "no reunification, no independence, and no war." This meant he would keep things as they were.
In 2008, direct weekend flights between mainland China and Taiwan began. This ended a nearly six-decade ban. Taiwan also opened to mainland Chinese tourists. These changes helped improve relations.
In November 2008, a high-level official from Beijing visited Taiwan. This was the first visit of its kind since 1949. The two sides signed agreements to improve air, sea, and postal links. They also agreed on food safety rules.
In 2010, a free trade agreement called the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) was signed with China. This agreement aimed to boost trade.
On 7 November 2015, Ma met with Chinese Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping in Singapore. This was the first meeting between leaders from both sides since 1949. They addressed each other as "Mister."
Direct Links Policy
On 15 December 2008, Taiwan and mainland China started direct sea, air, and mail links. This ended a ban that had lasted almost 60 years. Before this, flights between the two sides had to stop in Hong Kong.
Now, there were many direct flights each week. Shipping companies also saved money because voyages were shorter. The two sides agreed that neither the ROC nor the PRC flag would be shown when a ship entered port.
Economic Issues
One of Ma's promises was the "633 Plan." This plan aimed for 6% economic growth, less than 3% unemployment, and over US$30,000 in income per person.
After Ma took office, Taiwan faced an economic downturn. Many companies went out of business. The stock market also fell.
In September 2008, Ma's government announced an economic plan. It included money for infrastructure projects and tax cuts. Taiwan's economy grew by 10% in 2010.
Typhoon Morakot
Typhoon Morakot hit Taiwan in August 2009. It was the worst typhoon in 50 years. President Ma was criticized for how his government handled the disaster. Many people felt the response was too slow.
Ma apologized for the government's failures. He canceled national celebrations and a foreign visit. An investigation was started to find out why the response was slow. Some officials resigned because of the criticism.
After the Presidency
After leaving office, Ma planned to visit Hong Kong in June 2016. He wanted to give a speech about cross-strait relations. However, the new government did not allow him to travel. He gave his speech by video instead.
In August 2016, Soochow University confirmed that Ma had rejoined its faculty as a lecturer. He gave his first lecture on the history of Taiwan.
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In 2023, Ma became the first former ROC leader to visit mainland China since 1949. He visited from March 27 to April 7. He spoke about peace between the two sides. This trip happened during a time of rising tension between mainland China and Taiwan.
Family Life
Ma's father was Ma Ho-ling and his mother was Chin Hou-hsiu. Some researchers believe Ma is a descendant of Ma Chao, a historical figure.
Ma married Christine Mei-ching in 1977. They have two daughters. Lesley was born in New York City in 1981. She studied at Harvard University and New York University. His younger daughter, Ma Yuan-chung, was born in Taiwan. She studied at the London School of Economics.
Ma and his wife help children from low-income families in El Salvador. They do this through World Vision International. In 2009, Mrs. Ma met one of the children they sponsored during a trip to Central America.
Ma is the uncle of Gene Yu. Gene Yu is an American and a former U.S. Army Special Forces captain. He is also an author.
Ma speaks Taiwanese Hokkien, Hunanese (his family's dialect), Mandarin, and English fluently.
Political Views
View on Independence
In 2006, Ma said that while the KMT favors eventual unification, they respect the opinions of Taiwanese people. He said that independence is a choice for the people of Taiwan. This caused some debate within his party and with mainland China.
Ma later clarified that the KMT's policy is to keep things as they are. He also said his party supports the "one-China policy." He described the current situation as the "Five No's" (no reunification, no independence, no war, no use of force, no denial of the other side).
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In March 2006, he proposed a "proactive" way to handle relations with mainland China. He called this the "Five Do's."
In 2008, Ma said he would boycott the Beijing Olympics if the Tibetan unrest got out of control. After becoming president, he did not allow the Dalai Lama to visit Taiwan at first. He later approved a visit by the Dalai Lama in 2009.
In 2009, President Ma became the first ROC president to pay respects to the Yellow Emperor. This is an important Chinese ancestor. Ma said this showed the importance of Chinese ancestor-worshipping tradition. He also said that most Taiwanese people believe strongly in Chinese culture.
Cross-Strait Relations
Ma Ying-jeou has often talked about the "1992 Consensus." He sees this as a way for mainland China and Taiwan to have talks and exchanges. In 2008, Ma said that relations between Taiwan and mainland China were a "special relationship not between two nations." He hoped that a peace agreement could be reached during his time as president.
Ma received some criticism from the opposition party. This was for his comments on human rights in mainland China. He also postponed a meeting with Wang Dan, a student leader from Tiananmen.
In 2009, Ma spoke about peace with Beijing. He also called for Taiwan to be more involved in international affairs. He said that the Chinese civil war should never happen again. He noted that over 1,000 missiles from Beijing were still aimed at Taiwan. In 2014, Ma received an award for his efforts in promoting peace in the East China Sea.
Honours
Belize:
Order of Belize
Burkina Faso:
Grand Cross of the Ordre de l'Étalon, formerly National Order of Burkina Faso (2012)
Dominican Republic:
Grand Cross with Gold Breast Star of the Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella (2015)
El Salvador:
Grand Cross with Gold Star of the National Order of Doctor José Matías Delgado (2014)
Eswatini:
Collar of the Royal Order of the Crown (2012)
Gambia:
Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of the Republic of The Gambia (2012)
Guatemala:
Grand Collar of the Order of the Quetzal
Haiti:
Grand Cross of the National Order of Honour and Merit (2014)
Marshall Islands:
- Traditional Paramount Leader Medal (2013)
Saint Kitts and Nevis:
Collar of the Order of St Christopher and Nevis (2011)
SMOM:
Collar pro Merito Melitensi (2015)
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See also
In Spanish: Ma Ying-jeou para niños
- Politics of the Republic of China
