2008 Taiwan presidential election

2008 Taiwan presidential election
Office of the President, Republic of China · CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
Election name	2008 Taiwan presidential election
Country	Taiwan
Type	presidential
Previous election	2004 Taiwan presidential election
Previous year	2004
Next election	2012 Taiwan presidential election
Next year	2012
Election date	22 March 2008
Turnout	76.33%

2008 Taiwan presidential election was held on 22 March 2008 to elect the President and Vice President of the Republic of China. The contest featured major tickets from the Kuomintang (KMT), the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and the People First Party (PFP) alliance, amid debates over cross-strait relations, economic policy, and Taiwanese identity. The election followed constitutional, legislative, and political developments including the 2004 Taiwan presidential election, the 2007-2008 Taiwanese political reforms, and ongoing interactions with the People's Republic of China.

Background

The election occurred after the KMT regained strength following the 2005 merger talks with the People First Party (PFP) and the New Party (Taiwan). The political landscape was shaped by the 2004 razor-thin contest between Chen Shui-bian and the KMT ticket of Lian Cheng in 2004, the controversies stemming from the 3-19 shooting incident, and the presidency of Chen Shui-bian from the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Cross-strait issues were influenced by earlier contacts such as the 1992 consensus debates, diplomatic realignments with states like the Marshall Islands and the Nauru relations, and the economic initiatives including ties with Mainland China through proposals like the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement discussions. Domestic developments included the legislative results of the 2004 Republic of China legislative election and public reactions to judicial and corruption probes, including investigations into the Chen Shui-bian family.

Candidates and campaigns

Leading candidates included the KMT ticket of former Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou with running mate Vincent Siew, the DPP ticket of incumbent Vice President Frank Hsieh with running mate Joseph Wu, and the PFP-endorsed ticket aligning with James Soong and running mate Lu Hsiu-yi. The KMT campaign emphasized themes from Ma's tenure as Taipei City Mayor and his experience as Minister of Justice and Chairman of the Kuomintang. The DPP campaign highlighted Hsieh's record as Kaohsiung County Magistrate and as a former Premier of the Republic of China, while Soong's campaign drew on his tenure as Taiwan Provincial Government head and founder of the People First Party.

Campaign platforms engaged with institutions such as the Central Election Commission (Taiwan), policy debates over relations with the People's Republic of China and ties to the United States, including positions relative to the Taiwan Relations Act and military assurances tied to the United States Department of State. Economic messaging referenced links to the World Trade Organization, the Asian Development Bank, and Taiwan's export sectors interacting with firms in Shanghai and Shenzhen. Social policy and identity issues invoked interactions with civil society groups including the Taiwan Solidarity Union and student movements centered in Taipei and Kaohsiung.

Campaign events featured rallies at venues like the Taipei Arena, town hall meetings in Taichung and Tainan, televised appearances on networks such as China Television Company and Taiwan Television (TTV), and debates moderated by organizations including the Taiwan Association for Human Rights. Media coverage involved newspapers such as the Liberty Times and the United Daily News, with polling and analysis from institutes like the Election Study Center, National Chengchi University.

Opinion polls and debates

Opinion polling from institutions including the National Chengchi University and private agencies tracked voter intentions across demographic groups in New Taipei City, Hualien County, and Penghu County. Polls measured support among constituencies such as the Hakka people and indigenous voters in regions like Yilan County. Debates were held under the supervision of the Central Election Commission (Taiwan) and broadcast through networks like the Public Television Service (PTS), featuring exchanges on cross-strait policy, economic revitalization, and corruption. High-profile televised debates included confrontations over the 1992 Consensus, trade liberalization with Mainland China cities, and assurances related to the Republic of China Armed Forces procurement and defense posture.

Opinion trackers noted momentum shifts after events such as the release of campaign advertisements, the endorsement maneuvers by figures like Lien Chan and Wang Jin-pyng, and intra-party primaries within the Democratic Progressive Party that had earlier favored candidates including Su Tseng-chang and Tsai Ing-wen in consultative processes.

Election results

The Central Election Commission announced that the KMT ticket led by Ma Ying-jeou won with a decisive plurality, securing a majority of votes and a clear mandate. Voter turnout registered approximately 76.33%, one of the highest for presidential contests since the 1990s democratization milestones including the Taiwanese localization movement. Ma's victory reflected strong performances in urban centers like Taipei and Kaohsiung suburbs, while the DPP maintained pockets of support in southern areas such as Tainan and Pingtung County. The PFP and independent candidacies affected vote distribution in constituencies that included overseas Taiwanese voters in regions like Los Angeles and Vancouver.

Parliamentary implications interfaced with the results of the concurrent 2008 Republic of China legislative election where the KMT gained legislative seats, altering balances in the Legislative Yuan and impacting confirmed appointments. The vote totals reshaped party leadership dynamics within the Kuomintang (KMT), Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), and People First Party (PFP).

Aftermath and significance

Ma Ying-jeou's inauguration set the stage for renewed cross-strait engagement, including subsequent negotiations that led toward talks on agreements such as the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) under later administrations and exchanges with the Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS). The election outcome influenced Taiwan's relations with the United States Department of State and visits by envoys from the European Union and neighboring states including Japan and Singapore. Domestically, the result prompted leadership changes within the DPP, with figures like Tsai Ing-wen and Su Tseng-chang playing roles in party reorganization and strategizing for the 2012 Taiwan presidential election.

The 2008 vote marked a pivotal shift in Taiwanese politics by underscoring electorates' preferences on cross-strait economic integration, administrative reform, and stability, while affecting trajectories of parties such as the New Party (Taiwan) and influencing civic debates in forums like the Sunflower Student Movement precursor discussions. International observers from organizations including the National Democratic Institute and the International Republican Institute monitored the election as part of assessments of Taiwan's democratic consolidation since the end of martial law under the Kuomintang (KMT) era.

Category:Presidential elections in Taiwan Category:2008 elections