Editing Ma Ying-jeou

{{Short description|President of Taiwan from 2008 to 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Family name hatnote|[[Ma (surname)|Ma]] ({{Noitalic|{{lang|zh-hant|馬}}}})|lang=Chinese}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Ma Ying-jeou
| native_name         = {{nobold|馬英九}}
| native_name_lang    = zh-Hant-TW
| image               = 中華民國第12、13任總統馬英九先生官方肖像照.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2008
| order1              = 6th
| office1             = President of the Republic of China
| premier1            = {{collapsible list|title=''See list''|[[Liu Chao-shiuan]]<br />[[Wu Den-yih]]<br />[[Sean Chen (politician)|Sean Chen]]<br />[[Jiang Yi-huah]]<br />[[Mao Chi-kuo]]<br />[[Chang San-cheng]]}}
| vicepresident1      = [[Vincent Siew]]<br />[[Wu Den-yih]]
| term_start1         = 20 May 2008
| term_end1           = 20 May 2016
| predecessor1        = [[Chen Shui-bian]]
| successor1          = [[Tsai Ing-wen]]
| order2              = 4th & 6th
| office2             = Chairman of the Kuomintang
| term_start2         = 17 October 2009
| term_end2           = 3 December 2014
| predecessor2        = [[Wu Po-hsiung]]
| successor2          = [[Wu Den-yih]] (acting)
| term_start3         = 27 July 2005
| term_end3           = 13 February 2007
| predecessor3        = [[Lien Chan]]
| successor3          = [[Wu Po-hsiung]] (interim)
| order4              = 11th
| office4             = Mayor of Taipei
| term_start4         = 25 December 1998
| term_end4           = 25 December 2006
| deputy4             = [[King Pu-tsung]]
| predecessor4        = [[Chen Shui-bian]]
| successor4          = [[Hau Lung-pin]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin
| last               = Yes
| Ministerial offices
| titlestyle         = border:1px dashed lightgrey;}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| embed              = Yes
| office5             = [[Ministry of Justice (Taiwan)|Minister of Justice]]
| premier5            = Lien Chan
| term_start5         = 27 February 1993
| term_end5           = 10 June 1996
| predecessor5        = [[Lu Yu-wen]]
| successor5          = [[Liao Cheng-hao]]
| office6             = [[Research, Development and Evaluation Commission|Minister of Research, Development and Evaluation]]
| premier6            = [[Yu Kuo-hwa]]<br />[[Lee Huan]]<br />[[Hau Pei-tsun]]
| deputy6             = [[Sun Te-hsiung]]
| term_start6         = 27 July 1988
| term_end6           = 27 June 1991
| predecessor6        = [[Wei Yung]]
| successor6          = Sun Te-hsiung
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|1950|7|13|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Kowloon]], [[British Hong Kong|Hong Kong]]
| party               = [[Kuomintang]]
| spouse              = {{Marriage|[[Christine Chow Ma|Christine Chow]]|1977}}
| branch              = 
| education           = [[National Taiwan University]] ([[Bachelor of Law|LLB]])<br />[[New York University]] ([[Master of Laws|LLM]])<br />[[Harvard University]] ([[Doctor of Juridical Science|SJD]])
| module              = {{ infobox scientist
| child = yes
  | field             = [[International law]]
  | thesis_title      = Legal Problems of Seabed Boundaries and Foreign Investment in the East China Sea
  | thesis_url        = https://web.archive.org/web/20150325013829/http://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=mscas
  | thesis_year       = 1981
  | doctoral_advisor  = [[Louis B. Sohn]]<br />[[Detlev F. Vagts]]
}}
| module2             = {{ infobox military person
| embed = yes
 | allegiance = {{flag|Republic of China}}
 | serviceyears = 1972–1974
 | branch = {{Tree list}}
*{{flagicon image|Naval Jack of the Republic of China.svg}} [[Republic of China Navy|ROC Navy]]
**{{flagicon image|Flag of the Republic of China Marine Corps.svg}} [[Republic of China Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]
{{tree list/end}}
  | rank      = [[File:Taiwan-Marine-OF-1b (cropped horizontally2).svg|20px]] [[Lieutenant]]
}}
| module3             = {{Infobox Chinese
| embed = yes
| child = yes
| t = {{linktext|馬|英|九}}
| s = {{linktext|马|英|九}}
| p = Mǎ Yīngjiǔ
| tp = Mǎ Ying-jiǒu
| w = {{tone superscript|Ma3 Ying1-chiu3}}
| bpmf = ㄇㄚˇ ㄧㄥ ㄐㄧㄡˇ
| gr = Maa Ingjeou
| poj = Má Eng-kiú
| h = Mâ Yîn-kiú
| j = maa5 jing1 gau2
| wuu = {{tone superscript|Mo2 In1cieu2}}
| mi = {{IPAc-cmn|m|a|3|-|ying|1|.|j|iu|3}}
| ci = {{IPAc-yue|m|aa|5|-|j|ing|1|-|g|au|2}}
}}
| relations           = [[Ma Chao]] (ancestor)<br />[[Gene Yu]] (nephew)
}}

'''Ma Ying-jeou''' ({{lang-zh|t=馬英九}}; [[pinyin]]: ''Mǎ Yīngjiǔ''; {{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Ma Ying-Jeou from Taiwan pronunciation (Voice of America).ogg}} {{respell|Ma|ING|gee-oh}};<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Bradsher |first=Keith |author-link=Keith Bradsher |date=2008-03-24 |title=Discipline First for Taiwan’s New Leader |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/world/asia/24taiwan.html |access-date=2025-01-18 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> born 13 July 1950) <!-- FN: {{refn|Pronounced {{IPAc-en|audio=En-us-Ma Ying-Jeou from Taiwan pronunciation (Voice of America).ogg}} {{respell|Ma|ING|gee-oh}}<ref name=":1"/>|group=lower-alpha}} --> is a Taiwanese politician, lawyer, and legal scholar who served as the sixth [[president of the Republic of China]] from 2008 to 2016. A member of the [[Kuomintang]] (KMT), he was previously the [[mayor of Taipei]] from 1998 to 2006 and the [[chairman of the Kuomintang]] for two terms (2005–2007; 2009–2014).

Ma was born in [[British Hong Kong]] to a prominent ''[[waishengren]]'' family that moved to Taiwan in 1952. After graduating from [[National Taiwan University]], Ma joined the [[Republic of China Marine Corps]] and attained the rank of lieutenant. He then studied law in the United States, where he earned a master's degree from [[New York University]] in 1976 and his doctorate from [[Harvard University]] in 1981. Ma returned to Taiwan afterwards and began working for President [[Chiang Ching-kuo]] as a bureau director and English translator at the [[Presidential Office Building, Taipei|Presidential Office Building]] in [[Taipei]]. 

From 1988 to 1996, Ma held office first as chair of the [[Research, Development and Evaluation Commission]], becoming the youngest cabinet member in the ROC at age 38, and then as head of the [[Ministry of Justice (Taiwan)|Ministry of Justice]], where he launched anti-corruption and anti-drug campaigns. In the [[1998 Taipei mayoral election]], he successfully ran against incumbent [[Chen Shui-bian]] of the [[Democratic Progressive Party]] (DPP). During his mayoralty, he was elected as KMT chairman in 2005 and left the position in 2007 to announce his candidacy in the [[2008 Taiwanese presidential election]], eventually defeating DPP nominee [[Frank Hsieh]] in a [[Landslide victory|landslide majority]] of 58.45 percent.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Ling |first=L.H.M. |last2=Hwang |first2=Ching-Chane |last3=Chen |first3=Boyu |date=2010-01-01 |title=Subaltern straits: ‘exit’, ‘voice’, and ‘loyalty’ in the United States–China–Taiwan relations |url=https://academic.oup.com/irap/article/10/1/33/727790 |journal=[[International Relations of the Asia-Pacific]] |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |volume=10 |issue=1 |pages=33–59 |doi=10.1093/irap/lcp013 |issn=1470-482X}}</ref>

Ma's presidency was defined by closer [[cross-strait relations]] with [[mainland China]]. He initiated [[Cross-strait high-level talks|a series of cross-strait summits]] (2008–2015) with the mainland, was elected again as party chairman in 2009, and signed  the [[Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement]] with the [[People's Republic of China]] (PRC) in 2010. After defeating [[Tsai Ing-wen]] and being re-elected in the [[2012 Taiwanese presidential election|2012 presidential election]], Ma's second term saw the [[September 2013 power struggle]] and the [[Sunflower Student Movement]] protests damage party reputation in the [[2014 Taiwanese local elections|2014 elections]], leading to his resignation as KMT chair. Subsequently, he held the 2015 [[Ma–Xi meeting]] in [[Singapore]], marking the first meeting between the leaders of the PRC and ROC since the [[Chinese Civil War]]. After leaving the presidency in 2016, Ma became a law professor at [[Soochow University (Taipei)|Soochow University]] and has remained active in KMT politics.

==Early life and education==

=== Youth and baptism ===
[[File:Ma Ying-jeou in one year old.gif|thumbnail|left|Ma as an infant|179x179px]]Ma was born in [[Kwong Wah Hospital]]<ref name="Liberty Times 2008-12-12">{{cite news |last=Zeng |first=Weizhen |last2=Xianjun |first2=Peng |last3=Su |first3=Yongyao |date=12 December 2008 |title= |script-title=zh:雙重國籍爭議／綠質疑 藍為保馬 包庇李慶安 |url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/dec/12/today-fo3.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215055146/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/dec/12/today-fo3.htm |archive-date=15 February 2009 |access-date=12 December 2008 |work=[[Liberty Times]] |language=zh-tw}}</ref> in [[Yau Ma Tei]] in [[Kowloon]] (then part of [[British Hong Kong]]) on 13 July 1950.<ref>{{Harvnb|Brown|2015|p=356}}; {{Harvnb|Copper|2024|p=134–135}}.</ref>{{Refn|Ma's birthplace later became a topic of political contention during his presidency. He claimed that he "was conceived in Taiwan and grew up in Taiwan." A controversy alleging that Ma was born in [[Shenzhen]] and thus was a member of the People's Republic of China was dismissed when he publicly presented his birth records.{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=135}}|group=lower-alpha}} In a family of five children, Ma was the fourth child and the only son.<ref>{{Citation |last=Schubert |first=Gunter |title=Ma Ying-Jeou |date=2022 |work=Encyclopedia of Taiwan Studies Online |editor-last=Hsiao |editor-first=Hsin-Huang Michael |url=https://referenceworks.brill.com/display/entries/ETSO/COM-018309.xml |access-date=2025-01-26 |publisher=[[Brill Publishers]] |language=en}}</ref> They were a upper-class, prominent political family in Taiwan.{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=133, 200}} Their [[Ancestral home (Chinese)|ancestral home]] was in [[Fufeng County|Fufeng]], [[Shaanxi Province]], and Ma's ancestors had migrated from Shaanxi to [[Jiangxi]] and then finally to [[Hunan]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Ogasawara|2015|p=70}}; {{Harvnb|Copper|2024|p=135}}.</ref> His early ancestor was the famous Chinese general [[Ma Chao]] (176–222) who rose to fame in the [[Three Kingdoms]] period and was immortalized in the ''[[Romance of the Three Kingdoms]].''{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=135}}

Ma's mother was {{ill|Chin Hou-hsiu|zh|秦厚修}},<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 May 2014 |title=President Ma joined by family for funeral of his mother |url=https://en.rti.org.tw/news/view/id/3606 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website= |publisher=[[Radio Taiwan International]] |language=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-05-03 |title=President Ma’s mother dies of organ failure, aged 93 |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/05/03/2003589466 |access-date=2025-01-24 |website=[[Taipei Times]]}}</ref> a well-known civil servant.{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=200, 133}} His father, [[Ma Ho-ling]], was born in [[Xiangtan]] and had joined the Kuomintang and its youth army in 1941.{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=70}} Ho-ling moved to Taiwan during the 1949 [[Retreat of the government of the Republic of China to Taiwan|Kuomintang retreat]] but briefly returned to mainland China, where he eventually moved from [[Chongqing]] to Hong Kong.{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=70}} In October 1951, Ho-ling once again moved his family to Taiwan, where he worked as a mid-rank Kuomintang official.{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=70–71}}

Ma is of [[Hakka people|Hakka]] ancestry and speaks [[Hakka Chinese]].{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=134–135}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mo |first=Yan-chih |date=2012-01-25 |title=Ma visits Ma Village, stresses Hakka roots |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/01/25/2003523976 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=[[The Taipei Times]]}}</ref> He was a one year old infant when the family moved to Taiwan.{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=66}} Since the family was [[Catholic]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-03-18 |title=Ma to attend Pope Francis’ first Mass |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/03/18/2003557348 |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=[[Taipei Times]]}}</ref> he was raised in the Catholic faith.<ref name="SE">{{cite web |date=2012 |title=Taiwan's Catholic president leaves the way open for better Church relations |url=http://sundayex.catholic.org.hk/node/374 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803213348/http://sundayex.catholic.org.hk/node/374 |archive-date=3 August 2020 |access-date=8 November 2015 |website=[[Sunday Examiner]]}}</ref> While growing up in Taiwan in the 1950s, Ma attended Catholic services and went with his grandmother every Sunday to [[Catholic mass]] and [[Catholic confession|confession]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Tian |first=Wei |date=March 19, 2013 |title=Ma Ying-Jeou was Baptized at 8 Years Old, Claims Taiwan President's Friend |url=https://www.gospelherald.com/news/ma-ying-jeou-was-baptized-at-8-years-old-claims-taiwan-presidents-friend |access-date=2025-01-18 |website=[[Gospel Herald]] |language=en}}</ref> At age eight, he was reportedly [[Baptism|baptised]] a Catholic at a Catholic Church in Hong Kong.<ref name=":2" /> He also received a baptism at Resurrection church on Dali Street in Taipei near the [[Huaxi Street Night Market]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Lazzarotti |first=Marco |title=God Jesus and the Ancestors. An Ethnography of the Ancestors' Rites in the Taiwanese Catholic Church |date=August 2023 |publisher=[[Heidelberg University]]  |isbn=978-3-948791-64-3 |page=63 |chapter=The Taiwanese Catholic Ancestors' Rites |doi=10.11588/hasp.1210 |chapter-url=https://hasp.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/catalog/view/1210/2158/104927}}</ref> Ma is the only Taiwanese president to be a member of the Catholic Church.{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=134}}

Because he was the family's only son, Ma was pressured to succeed academically by his father, who insisted that he study the [[Chinese classics]], master [[Chinese calligraphy]], and practice [[track and field]].<ref name=":1" /> In 1966, while a high school student, Ma decided to study law in college after being advised by his father to pursue a career similar to that of diplomat [[Wellington Koo]].{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=2}} After graduating from [[Taipei Municipal Chien Kuo High School]], he joined the KMT in June 1968 and became a young activist for the party.{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=70–71}} He passed with high marks on the [[General Scholastic Ability Test]] and entered [[National Taiwan University]] (NTU) in September 1968 to study law.{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=71}}{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=1–3}}

=== College and law school ===
[[File:馬英九 NTU Graduation photo.jpg|left|thumb|Ma's 1972 National Taiwan University graduation photo|254x254px]]
As an undergraduate student at NTU, Ma was the leader of a small KMT student group, became [[secretary-general]] of the university's [[student council]], and encountered the [[Baodiao movement|''baodiao'' movement]].{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=71–72}} In his third year at the university, he was selected by the [[United States Department of State]] to travel to the U.S. as a student leader for its International Visitors Program and stayed in the country for 70 days from January 1971 to March 1971.{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=71}} Ma traveled to [[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], and resided with an American family in [[San Francisco]] for three weeks. He visited 20 universities, including the [[University of Chicago]], [[Harvard University]], [[Georgetown University]], and the [[University of Texas at Austin]].{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=1–3}} Upon returning to Taiwan, he led student groups at NTU to march to the [[American Institute in Taiwan]] and the [[Japan–Taiwan Exchange Association]] in Taipei in protest of Japanese involvement in the [[Senkaku Islands dispute]].{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=71}}

Ma excelled academically and is considered to have received the most outstanding education of any Taiwanese president.{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=134}} In 1972, he graduated with a [[Bachelor of Laws]] (LL.B.) degree from National Taiwan University.<ref name="bio">{{cite web |title=Biography of President Ma Ying-jeou |url=http://english.president.gov.tw/Default.aspx?tabid=454 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110915034110/https://english.president.gov.tw/Default.aspx?tabid=454 |archive-date=15 September 2011 |access-date=2 February 2011 |publisher=Office of the President, Republic of China (Taiwan)}}</ref> After graduation, he was [[Conscription in Taiwan|conscripted]] into the [[Republic of China Marine Corps]]{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=3}} of the [[ROC Navy]] and was stationed at the Naval Logistics Command in [[Zuoying District]].{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=71}} After serving two years in the navy, Ma was awarded the KMT's Sun Yat-sen Scholarship{{Refn|The Kuomintang Sun Yat-sen Scholarship was established in 1960 to "send outstanding young party members abroad for advanced studies." Other than Ma, other recipients of the scholarship include [[King Pu-tsung]] and [[Chiang Pin-kung]]. When the program was discontinued by the KMT, Ma reinstated it in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mo |first=Yan-chih |date=2012-12-05 |title=Ma defends KMT’s scholarship program as serving Taiwan |url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2012/12/05/2003549410 |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=[[Taipei Times]]}}</ref>|group=lower-alpha}} in 1974 to complete graduate studies in the United States, which he used at [[New York University]] (NYU) and then at [[Harvard University]].{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=71}} In 1976, he earned his [[Master of Laws]] (LL.M.) degree specializing in [[international law]] from the [[New York University School of Law]],{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=71–72}} where he studied [[public international law]] under professor [[Thomas M. Franck]] and [[aviation law]] under professor Andreas Lowenfeld.{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=3–4}} George Zeitlin, the associate dean at NYU, recognized Ma at graduation for an "outstanding academic record and performance".{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=3}}[[File:Langdell Hall, Harvard Law School.jpg|thumb|Ma studied at [[Harvard Law School]] (pictured in 2024), earning his doctorate in law in 1981 under professors [[Louis Sohn]] and [[Detlev F. Vagts|Detlev Vagts]].<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |last=Seo |first=Hee kwon |last2= |first2= |date=2008-05-22 |title=HLS Grad Sworn in as Taiwan's Leader: Ying-jeou Ma joins a string of Law School alums |url=https://api.thecrimson.com/article/2008/5/22/hls-grad-sworn-in-as-taiwans/?utm_source=thecrimson&utm_medium=web_primary&utm_campaign=recommend_sidebar |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=[[The Harvard Crimson]] |language=en}}</ref>|251x251px]]Upon completing his master's degree at NYU, Ma enrolled in [[Harvard Law School]] as a doctoral student studying under professors [[Louis B. Sohn]], [[Jerome A. Cohen]], and [[Harold J. Berman]].{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=4}} He also did research under Judge [[Richard Reeve Baxter]] of the [[International Court of Justice]].<ref name=":4" /> While at Harvard, he was classmates with Taiwanese vice-president [[Annette Lu]] in 1978, diplomat [[Stephen Orlins]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orlins |first=Stephen A. |author-link=Stephen Orlins |date=October 18, 2023 |title=Ma Ying-jeou Reflects on Cross-Strait and U.S.-China Relations |url=https://www.ncuscr.org/podcast/ma-ying-jeou/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |website= |publisher=[[National Committee on United States–China Relations]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and legal scholar [[William P. Alford|William Alford]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Newburger |first=Emily |date=23 July 2006 |title=The Rivals |url=https://hls.harvard.edu/today/the-rivals/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Harvard Law Bulletin |publisher=[[Harvard Law School]] |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Birbrair |first=Lana |date=27 August 2015 |title=President Ma of Taiwan visits HLS |url=https://hls.harvard.edu/today/president-of-taiwan-visits-hls/ |access-date=2025-01-26 |website=Harvard Law Today |publisher=[[Harvard Law School]] |language=en-us}}</ref> Although Lu and Ma were not on speaking terms, Cohen, who was Ma's teacher and Lu's advisor, recalled in 2006 that Ma "was a brilliant student" and that both he and Lu were "entitled to be there".<ref name=":3" />
In 1981, Ma received his [[Doctor of Juridical Science]] (S.J.D.), Harvard's most advanced law degree,{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=135}} in [[Law of the sea|ocean law]] and [[international economic law]] from Harvard Law School.<ref name="bio" /> As he completed his doctorate, Ma attended [[congressional hearings]] at the [[U.S. Congress]] and served as the [[editor-in-chief]] of ''Free Chinese Monthly'', an anti-communist Chinese magazine published in [[Boston]].{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=72–73}} He also was an editor of the [[Harvard Environmental Law Review|''Harvard Environmental Law Review'']].<ref name=":7" /> His [[doctoral thesis]], completed in December 1980, was titled "Trouble over Oily Waters: Legal Problems of Seabed Boundaries and Foreign Investment in the East China Sea" and was supervised by Sohn and [[Detlev F. Vagts]].{{Refn|Ma's dissertation was later published in 1984 by the [[University of Maryland Law School]] with a foreword by [[Louis B. Sohn]] and a Chinese version was published in 1986 titled "The Diaoyutai Islands and the Seabed Delimitation in the East China Sea under the new law of the sea" (Chinese: 從新海
洋法論釣魚台列嶼與東海劃界問題).{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=4}}|group=lower-alpha}}<ref name=":4">{{Cite journal |last=Ma |first=Ying-jeou |last2=Sohn |first2=Louis B. |author-link2=Louis B. Sohn |date=1984 |title=Legal Problems of Seabed Boundary Delimitation in the South China Sea |url=https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=mscas |journal=Contemporary Asian Studies |series=Maryland Studies in East Asian Law and Politics |publisher=[[University of Maryland School of Law]] |volume=62 |issue=3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150325013829/http://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=mscas |archive-date=25 March 2015}}</ref> The dissertation analyzed the Sino-Japanese sovereignty conflicts over the [[Senkaku Islands]].{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015|p=74–75}}

== Early career and rise in politics (1981–1996) ==
After earning his doctorate, Ma worked as an [[associate attorney]] for the [[Wall Street]] law firm of Cole and Deitz, a legal consultant for the [[First National Bank of Boston]], and as a researcher at the [[University of Maryland Law School]], all from 1980 to 1981.<ref name=":5">{{cite web |date=27 May 2004 |title=Dr. Ying-jeou Ma |url=http://english.taipei.gov.tw/TCG/index.jsp?categid=89&recordid=225 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050418215129/http://english.taipei.gov.tw/TCG/index.jsp?categid=89&recordid=225 |archive-date=18 April 2005 |publisher=Taipei City Government}}</ref> As a researcher at the [[University of Maryland, College Park]] under Taiwanese law professor [[Hungdah Chiu]],<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bogen |first=David S. |date=May 22, 2012 |title=Memories of Professor Chiu |url=https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1576&context=mjil |journal=Maryland Journal of International Law |publisher=[[University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law]] |volume=27 |issue=1 |pages=3–6}}</ref> Ma published some academic papers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 11, 2012 |title=President Ma meets University of Maryland President Wallace Loh |url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/3930 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201013031048/https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/3930 |archive-date=13 October 2020 |access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref> Articles he wrote in Taiwanese newspapers on communism and [[Taiwan–United States relations]] attracted the attention of President [[Chiang Ching-kuo]].{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=136}} In September 1981,{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=4}} Ma returned to Taiwan and was introduced by [[Fredrick Chien]] to President Chiang Ching-kuo, who appointed Ma as his personal English secretary and interpreter.{{Sfn|Li|2019|p=199}} That same year, he became an adjunct [[associate professor]] of law at [[National Chengchi University]], a role he remained in until 1998.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chen |first=Chun-i |last2=Hsieh |first2=Pasha L. |date=December 2019 |title=The Chinese (Taiwan) Yearbook of International Law and Affairs: Contributing to the Grotian moment in Asia |url=https://ink.library.smu.edu.sg/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=5168&context=sol_research |journal=Netherlands Yearbook of International Law |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media|Springer]] |volume=50 |page=99 |pages= |via=[[Singapore Management University]]}}</ref> Ma concurrently served as Deputy Director of the First Bureau of the Presidential Office.<ref name=":5" /> In 1982, he was named the senior secretary of the Office of the President at the [[Presidential Office Building, Taipei|Presidential Office Building]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Who's Who in the ROC |url=http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/Upload/WebArchive/4695/Who's%20Who%20in%20the%20ROC.pdf |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020105104/http://www.ey.gov.tw/en/Upload/WebArchive/4695/Who%27s%20Who%20in%20the%20ROC.pdf |archivedate=20 October 2016 |accessdate=5 May 2016 |pages= |agency=Executive Yuan}}</ref>

At age 38, Ma was named the chairman of the [[Research, Development and Evaluation Commission]] under the [[Executive Yuan]]—the cabinet's youngest-ever appointee.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2006 |title=Profile: Ying-jeou Ma, Mayor of Taipei City, Taiwan |url=https://globalforum.items-int.com/gf/gf-content/uploads/2014/04/Speaker_Profile_GF_2006.pdf |access-date=30 March 2025 |publisher=[[World Economic Forum]]}}</ref> He would go on to serve as deputy head of the [[Mainland Affairs Council]] (MAC), a cabinet office responsible for managing Taiwan's relationship with mainland China.{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=136}} For his administrative experience and close ties with Chiang, Ma was appointed to multiple KMT party positions after 1984: director of the Mainland Tasks Committee (1988), deputy secretary general of the KMT Central Committee (1990), deputy director of the KMT National Unification Committee (1991), and KMT representative to the National Assembly.{{Sfn|Li|2019|p=199–200}} In 1987, Chiang tasked Ma to produce a memorandum regarding allowing Taiwanese citizens family visits to China; once completed, the report was received favorably by high-ranking KMT officials and implemented. At the time of Chiang's death in 1988, Ma was leading reform efforts regarding [[censorship in Taiwan]].{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=136}}

In 1993, Ma received national attention when President [[Lee Teng-hui]] and Premier [[Lien Chan]] appointed him as [[Ministry of Justice (Taiwan)|Minister of Justice]].<ref name=":6">{{Harvnb|Li|2019|p=200}}; {{Harvnb|Copper|2024|p=136}}.</ref> At age 43, he was considered a handsome new official whose "dynamism and good looks quickly made him the darling of public opinion".{{Sfn|Kempf|1997|p=47}} He initiated hardline policies of prosecuting corruption, power abuse, and political scandals, drawing criticism from KMT party officials that were involved in and reliant on local corruption.{{Sfn|Li|2019|p=199–200}} Among the anti-corruption programs instituted was the "Taking the Knife to Corruption" plan centered on a doctrine of "incorruptibility and ability" in government.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Li |first=Laura |last2=Bernard |first2=Jonathan |date=September 1993 |title="Taking the Knife to Corruption": A Race Against Time |url=https://www.taiwan-panorama.com/en/Articles/Details?Guid=ee1d82e1-0769-418f-8aed-f05b45b6e451&CatId=11&postname=%22Taking%20the%20Knife%20to%20Corruption.%22%20a%20Race%20Against%20TimeAn%20Interview%20with%20Minister%20of%20Justice%20Ma%20Ying-jeou&srsltid=AfmBOorkkzLspbU0ag71tWHFLG6KOXHnuZb2hGrzNS9ybf5arO87iy-7 |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=[[Taiwan Panorama]] |language=}}</ref> KMT officials complained that he "shook the foundations of the party" as 341 of 883 elected councilmen in 1994 were indicted for buying votes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Göbel |first=Christian |date=May 2015 |title=Anticorruption in Taiwan: Process Tracing Report |url=https://www.againstcorruption.eu/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Anticorruption-in-Taiwan-Process-Tracing-Report.pdf |access-date=April 18, 2025 |website=European Research Centre for Anti-corruption and State-building |publisher=[[Hertie School]] |page=15}}</ref>  His campaigns against [[vote buying]] while in office earned him the nickname "Mr. Clean".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Waring |first=Nancy |date=April 25, 2000 |title=Taipei's High-Profile Mayor |url=https://hls.harvard.edu/today/taipeis-high-profile-mayor/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=Harvard Law Bulletin |publisher=[[Harvard Law School]] |language=en-us}}</ref> In addition, he began an anti-drug campaign and organized the ministry to restrict [[narcotics]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hsieh |first=Ming-ling |date=September 11, 2008 |title=Taiwan Reaps a Whirlwind |url=https://english.cw.com.tw/article/article.action?id=1296 |access-date=April 18, 2025 |work=[[CommonWealth Magazine (Taiwan)|CommonWealth Magazine]] |volume=405}}</ref> 

Ma built a reputation for honesty as head of the Ministry of Justice due to "frequently jailing politicians, including candidates for elective office, for vote-buying and other corrupt practices".{{Sfn|Copper|2008|p=55}} As a result of his [[tough on crime]] approach, Ma lost party support and was relieved of the position in 1996, becoming a [[minister without portfolio]].<ref name=":6" /> He decided to return to academia afterwards and accepted another teaching position at [[National Chengchi University]].<ref>{{Harvnb|Li|2019|p=200}}.</ref> When he left office, Ma was one of the most popular politicians in Taiwan (alongside his ministerial successor, [[Liao Cheng-hao]]) and, according to one poll, 76.5% of respondents saw him "playing a major political role within the next two years".{{Sfn|Kempf|1997|p=45}} 

==Mayoralty (1998–2006)==
[[File:2006INGTaipeiMarathon-078.jpg|thumb|Mayor Ma at the 2006 [[Taipei Marathon]]]]
In 1998, the KMT fielded Ma to challenge the then-incumbent Taipei mayor [[Chen Shui-bian]] of the opposition [[Democratic Progressive Party]] (DPP), who was seeking re-election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Nationalists Oust Taipei Mayor in Vote Watched by China|author=Erik Eckholm|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9900E7DF163AF935A35751C1A96E958260|newspaper=The New York Times|date=6 December 1998|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233551/https://www.nytimes.com/1998/12/06/world/nationalists-oust-taipei-mayor-in-vote-watched-by-china.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite Chen's public approval rating of around 70%,<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Moore|first1=Jonathan|last2=Roberts|first2=Dexter|title=Taipei's mayor: The man China fears|url=http://www.businessweek.com/1998/46/b3604055.htm|access-date=30 September 2014|magazine=Bloomberg Businessweek|date=16 November 1998|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121170446/http://www.businessweek.com/1998/46/b3604055.htm|archive-date=21 January 2011}}</ref> he was defeated.

In the [[2000 Taiwanese presidential election|2000 presidential election]], Ma remained loyal to the KMT and supported its candidate, [[Lien Chan]], over [[James Soong]], who had bolted from the party and was running as an independent.<ref>{{cite news|title=Big names support Lien's flagging campaign|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/03/18/0000028238|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=18 March 2000|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233544/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/03/18/0000028238|url-status=live}}</ref> The competition between Lien and Soong split the [[Pan-Blue Coalition|Pan-Blue]] vote and allowed his former rival Chen to win the presidential election with less than 50% of the popular vote.<ref>{{cite news|title=39% – A-bian wins – just|author=Stephanie Low|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/elect/archives/2000/03/19/0000028457|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=19 March 2000|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001757/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/elect/archives/2000/03/19/0000028457|url-status=live}}</ref> The election result, combined with other factors, incited a great deal of anger against Ma when he tried to dissuade discontented Lien and Soong supporters from protesting by appealing to them in his dual capacities as Taipei City mayor and a high-ranking KMT member.<ref>{{cite news|title=Angry Soong supporters besiege KMT headquarters|author=Yu Sen-lun|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/03/20/0000028484|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=20 March 2000|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001810/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/03/20/0000028484|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Protesters say Lien was misused|author=William Ide|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/03/21/0000028621|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=21 March 2000|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001845/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/local/archives/2000/03/21/0000028621|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ma was able to repair the political damage and, in December 2002, became the leading figure in the KMT by easily winning reelection as mayor of Taipei with the support of 64% of Taipei voters while DPP challenger [[Lee Ying-yuan]] received 36%.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma wins Taipei; Hsieh holds Kaohsiung|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2002/12/08/32964/Ma-wins.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=8 December 2002|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928214508/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2002/12/08/32964/Ma-wins.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> His solid victory, especially in light of opposition from both President Chen and former President and KMT chairman [[Lee Teng-hui]], led many to speculate about his chances as the KMT candidate for the [[2004 Taiwanese presidential election|2004 presidential election]], although nothing came of it.<ref>{{cite news|title=President looks for cooperative mayor|author=Sandy Huang|author2=Ko Shu-Ling|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/11/11/0000179112|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=11 November 2002|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001945/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/11/11/0000179112|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Lee urges voters to avoid 'good-looking' candidates|author=Lin Mei-Chun|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/12/05/0000185954|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=5 December 2002|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001953/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2002/12/05/0000185954|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mayoral elections give few clues about presidential race|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2002/12/08/32967/Mayoral-elections.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=8 December 2002|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928214743/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2002/12/08/32967/Mayoral-elections.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Ma again dissuaded angry Pan-Blue supporters from protesting, following the very close re-election victory of President Chen in 2004 after the [[March 19 shooting incident|3–19 shooting incident]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma finally tells protesters they should go home|author=Jewel Huang|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/22/2003107257|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=22 March 2004|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233544/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/03/22/2003107257|url-status=live}}</ref> At one point, he sent riot police to control the demonstrations of Pan-Blue supporters.<ref>{{cite news|title=Riot police clean up Ketagalan Blvd|author=Jewel Huang|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/29/2003108167|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=29 March 2004|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233550/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2004/03/29/2003108167|url-status=live}}</ref> Ma chose not to join in calls to challenge or contest the election.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma: Jump ship while the lifeboat is in reach|author=Andy Morton|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2004/03/27/2003107967|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=27 March 2004|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009002148/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2004/03/27/2003107967|url-status=live}}</ref> Ma also avoided associating himself with claims that the assassination was staged. Ma's prestige increased after the election, as he is widely seen as the successor of [[Lien Chan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Forget Lien Chan: the KMT's future is Ma Ying-jeou versus Wang Jin-pyng|author=Jewel Huang|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/04/13/2003136466|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=13 April 2004|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233550/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/04/13/2003136466|url-status=live}}</ref>

During his time as Taipei's mayor, Ma had many conflicts with the central government over matters such as health insurance rates and control of the water supply during the drought.<ref>{{cite news|title=Row between Taipei City and BHNI over premiums heats up|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2004/06/16/49807/Row-between.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=16 June 2006|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=29 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929091539/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2004/06/16/49807/Row-between.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ma stands firm on plan to cut county's water|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2002/06/17/27572/Ma-stands.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=17 June 2002|access-date=8 February 2011}}</ref> His initiatives in administering the city of Taipei include changing the transliterations of street names and the line and stations of the [[Taipei Metro]] to [[Hanyu Pinyin]], as opposed to [[Tongyong Pinyin]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma expresses doubts on new Pinyin system|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2002/07/12/28377/Ma-expresses.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=12 July 2002|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=29 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929091610/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2002/07/12/28377/Ma-expresses.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Ma has expressed mild support for [[Chinese unification]] and opposition to the [[Taiwan independence movement]].<ref>{{cite news|title='Conditions Aren't Ripe'|author=Jonathan Adams|url=http://www.newsweek.com/2005/12/25/conditions-aren-t-ripe.html|newspaper=Newsweek|date=26 December 2005|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=2 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101202183713/http://www.newsweek.com/2005/12/25/conditions-aren-t-ripe.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He opposed the [[2004 Taiwanese cross-Strait relations referendum]], which had been widely criticized by the U.S. and PRC.<ref>{{cite news|title=Cabinet approves referendum despite Ma's objection|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2004/02/05/45647/Cabinet-approves.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=5 February 2004|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=29 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929091626/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2004/02/05/45647/Cabinet-approves.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Nevertheless, his opposition to the [[Anti-Secession Law|Anti-Secession Law of the People's Republic of China]], while other leaders of his party remained silent on the issue, led to him being banned from visiting [[Hong Kong]] to make a public speaking tour in 2005.<ref>{{cite news|title=Groups told me to lie about visa, says Ma|author=Teddy Ng|author2=Michael Ng|url=http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GA08Ak01.html|newspaper=The Standard|date=8 January 2005|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121100246/http://www.thestandard.com.hk/stdn/std/Metro/GA08Ak01.html|archive-date=21 January 2008}}</ref> He also criticized the PRC for the [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre|Tiananmen crackdown]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma Ying-jeou hopes truth will out|author=Jewel Huang|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/06/05/2003173813|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=5 June 2004|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009002544/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2004/06/05/2003173813|url-status=live}}</ref>

===First KMT chairmanship===
[[File:Ma Ying-jeou (5945).JPG|thumb|Ma Ying-jeou during his visit to the United States in March 2006]]
[[File:VOA專訪馬英九200603.webm|thumb|Ma was interviewed by [[Voice of America]] during his 2006 visit to the U.S.]]
In 2005, Ma and [[Wang Jin-pyng]] were candidates in the [[2005 Kuomintang chairmanship election|first competitive election for KMT chairmanship]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Wang to run for KMT chairmanship|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/03/18/59799/Wang-to.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=18 March 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928213831/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/03/18/59799/Wang-to.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> On 5 April 2005, in an exclusive interview with [[China Television|CTV]] talk show host [[Sisy Chen]], Ma said he wished to lead the opposition Kuomintang with Wang, if he were elected its chairman, as their support bases are complementary.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma seeks joint leadership of Kuomintang with Wang|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/04/06/60673/Ma-seeks.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=6 April 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928213846/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/04/06/60673/Ma-seeks.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 16 July 2005, Ma defeated Wang by a 72% to 28% margin, a margin larger than anticipated by either camp or news sources, despite Wang receiving a last-minute endorsement by the [[People First Party (Taiwan)|People First Party]] (PFP) chairman [[James Soong]], who had retained significant following within the KMT.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wang should lead the KMT: Soong|author=Caroline Hong|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/07/16/2003263720|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=16 July 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001553/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/07/16/2003263720|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Mayor Ma elected as KMT chairman in landslide victory|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/07/17/65456/Mayor-Ma.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=17 July 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928213909/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/07/17/65456/Mayor-Ma.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Some, particularly the supporters of [[Wang Jin-pyng]], accuse Ma of unfairly implying that Wang is involved in "[[Black gold (politics)|black gold]]" and criticized Ma's aides for being rude to Wang during the campaign.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wang supporters mad at corruption allegations in ad|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/07/01/2003261729|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=1 July 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001617/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/07/01/2003261729|url-status=live}}</ref> After the election, Ma had stated repeatedly that he wishes Wang to remain as first-ranked deputy chairman. Wang, however, has so far rebuffed the gesture, instead stating that he wishes to serve as a "permanent [[Volunteering|volunteer]]."<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma Ying-jeou set to meet with Wang before convention|author=Jewel Huang|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/08/15/2003267809|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=15 August 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001634/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/08/15/2003267809|url-status=live}}</ref> Wang has, indeed, accepted a party post that is incompatible with vice chairmanship, effectively ending the possibility that he would be vice chairman, although after meeting with Wang, Ma had stated that he would "leave the position open" for Wang.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma, Wang hold first post-election meeting|author=Ko Shu-Ling|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/08/16/2003267924|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=16 August 2005|access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref> Ma has also repeatedly stated that he had no plans to resign from the Taipei mayorship, even after he formally took over the chairmanship from incumbent Lien Chan during the 17th Party Congress of the KMT in August 2005.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lien Chan bids farewell to KMT chairmanship as Ma takes over|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/08/20/67226/Lien-Chan.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=20 August 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928214233/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/08/20/67226/Lien-Chan.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Despite calls, Ma won't quit as mayor of Taipei|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2006/11/05/94457/Despite-calls.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=5 November 2006|access-date=4 February 2011}}</ref>

Led by Ma Ying-jeou, the Kuomintang made a resounding win in the [[2005–06 Taiwanese local elections|three-in-one election]] held on 3 December 2005.<ref>{{cite news|title=KMT crushes DPP in landslide victory|author=Ko Shu-ling|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/12/04/2003282889|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=4 December 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=26 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726212211/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/12/04/2003282889|url-status=live}}</ref> The KMT gained six more seats in the mayoral/magistratical race, from eight seats in the last election, to a total of fourteen seats. Before the election, Ma swore that he would quit the chairmanship if his party could not win over half of the seats, which was a first for a KMT chairman.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma pledges to resign if KMT 'fails'|author=Mo Yan-chih|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/12/02/2003282580|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=2 December 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009001715/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2005/12/02/2003282580|url-status=live}}</ref> It was a decisive win for Ma Ying-jeou as well, since he took over the party chairmanship only 110 days before. In the election, the KMT won back the counties of Taipei and Yilan, and the city of Chiayi, which had been the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP)'s strongholds for over twenty years.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma wins his last-minute gamble|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/12/04/73024/Ma-wins.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=4 December 2005|access-date=4 February 2011|archive-date=28 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120928214324/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2005/12/04/73024/Ma-wins.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> It was the first time in many years that the KMT regained popularity as far south as [[Zhuoshui River]].

===Mayoral controversies===
While often nicknamed as the "Teflon pot" for his extreme preservation of his personal image,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2001/10/07/0000106095|title=Reaction to Nari sullies Mayor Ma's Teflon shell|work=Taipei Times|date=7 October 2001|access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2004/09/04/2003201584|title=Editorial: Mayor Ma's Teflon government|work=Taipei Times|date=4 September 2004|access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref> Ma was nonetheless caught in some political controversies. A series of incidents during Ma's tenure as the mayor of Taipei impaired his reputation. [[Typhoon Nari (2001)|Typhoon Nari]] caused numerous casualties and widespread flooding.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ntpu.edu.tw/pa/Paper/3601.pdf|script-title=zh:台北市政府防災組織與功能研究：納莉風災的省思|language=zh|author=丘昌泰|author2=楊永年、趙家民等|publisher=[[National Taipei University]]|access-date=15 November 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409120815/http://www.ntpu.edu.tw/pa/Paper/3601.pdf|archive-date=9 April 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref> Persistent flooding further led to public questioning of his leadership and caused Ma's approval rating to slide.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma defies critics, to keep rapid transit chief|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2004/09/15/52432/Ma-defies.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=15 September 2004|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=29 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929091511/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2004/09/15/52432/Ma-defies.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Ma was strongly criticized by the DPP for not allowing the ROC national flag to be flown along with a PRC flag during the [[2001 AFC Women's Championship|Asian Women's Football Championship]] held in Taipei.<ref>{{cite news|title=Taipei councilors take Mayor Ma to task over flag ban|author=Sandy Huang|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2001/12/25/0000117202|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=25 December 2001|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=9 October 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121009002534/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2001/12/25/0000117202|url-status=live}}</ref> Ma responded that he was merely following Olympic protocol, which only officially recognizes the [[Chinese Taipei Olympic flag]] and forbids ROC national flags from being shown in an Olympic Game Stadium.

Ma faced political backlash following the shutdown of Hoping Hospital during the [[2002–2004 SARS outbreak|SARS outbreak]] and was criticized for failing to promptly mobilize the Taipei city government, as well as for retaining Chiu Shu-ti, the public health director, who had previously been criticized for her lack of concern during the outbreak.<ref>{{cite news|title=Health-bureau head under fire|author=Debby Wu|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/17/0000210906|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=17 May 2003|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233545/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2003/05/17/0000210906|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taipei.gov.tw/taipei_news/9206b/images/197/SARS.doc|title=台北市立和平醫院處理嚴重急性呼吸道症候群（SARS）事件調查報告|author=臺北市政府專案調查小組|date=12 June 2003|access-date=15 November 2007|format=[[DOC (computing)|DOC]]|publisher=台北市政府网站|language=zh|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507003745/http://www.taipei.gov.tw/taipei_news/9206b/images/197/SARS.doc|archive-date=7 May 2005}}</ref> Ma was also implicated in a scandal of [[Taipei Bank]] stock releases in 2003.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma denies irregularities in sale of city's TaipeiBank to Fubon|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2003/10/04/41871/Ma-denies.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=4 October 2003|access-date=8 February 2011|archive-date=29 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929091603/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2003/10/04/41871/Ma-denies.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the case was dismissed after an investigation by the Taipei prosecutor. In 2004, a fire suppression system at an [[Taipei Metro|MRT]] power plant released toxic gas,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/08/18/2003268171|title=TRTC attacks gas report|work=Taipei Times|date=18 August 2005|access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref> and several MRT passengers were injured in an escalator accident on New Year's Eve.<ref>{{cite new|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/01/09/2003218630|title=MRT Corp chief apologizes for New Year's Eve injuries|work=Taipei Times|date=9 January 2005|access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref> Another case involving a severely abused girl who was denied treatment at multiple hospitals in Taipei also drew public attention.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2005/01/23/2003220577|title=Abused girl at center of scandal 'brain dead'|work=Taipei Times|date=23 January 2005|access-date=1 May 2025}}</ref>

One of Ma's most satisfactory mayoral constructions was the [[Maokong Gondola]]. However, the frequent breakdown of the gondola earned the residents' distrust of the new transportation system. One poll showed only 14% of the Taipei City residents were satisfied with it,<ref>{{cite news|script-title=zh:"貓纜變懶貓 滿意度僅14％"|author=林恕暉|url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/aug/1/today-life9-2.htm|newspaper=[[Liberty Times]]|date=8 January 2007|language=zh|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929134452/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/aug/1/today-life9-2.htm|archive-date=29 September 2007}}</ref> and it even led to protests.<ref>{{cite web|url-status=dead|url=http://www.jour.nccu.edu.tw/students/wenshan_people/protest/1|title=誰的貓空？誰的纜車？—地方居民抗爭全紀錄|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080121095352/http://www.jour.nccu.edu.tw/students/wenshan_people/protest/1|archive-date=21 January 2008|publisher=Chengchi University}}</ref> The Taiwan Environmental Information Center stated that the choice to use a [[gondola lift]] intended for [[temperate zone]]s in a [[tropical zone]] showed the failure of the Taipei City government led by Ma.<ref name="Environment">Lee Yu-chin [http://e-info.org.tw/node/24137 貓纜通車首日故障 爆出市府公共政策問題] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071116080627/http://e-info.org.tw/node/24137 |date=16 November 2007 }}'', Taiwan Environmental Information Center, 5 July 2007''</ref>

==Corruption allegations and presidential campaign (2006–2008)==
On 14 November 2006, Ma was questioned by prosecutors over his alleged misuse of a special expenses account as Taipei mayor.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/102294|title=馬：一路走來 依法行政|work=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=15 November 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> This occurred after [[Chen Shui-Bian]] was being investigated for corruption, and many KMT supporters believed that this prosecution was politically motivated.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/politics/paper/102049|title=查黑中心辦馬特別費 比照國務費|work=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=14 November 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>

At the same time, rumors surfaced that former party chairman [[Lien Chan]] would run in the presidential election of 2008. The incident may have affected the clean image of Ma and his political future. The next day, Ma admitted one of his aides forged receipts to claim Ma's expenses as Taipei mayor, and apologized for the latest political scandal.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mo Yan-chih|title=Ma sorry for 'administrative defects'|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/11/16/2003336530|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=16 November 2006|access-date=23 February 2007|archive-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929125002/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/11/16/2003336530|url-status=live}}</ref> However, Ma argued that he, like most other government officials, regarded the special expense account as supplemental salary for personal expenses undertaken in the course of official duties and that his use of this account was legal.

On 13 February 2007, Ma was indicted by the Taiwan High Prosecutors Office on charges of allegedly embezzling approximately NT$11 million (US$339,000), regarding the issue of "special expenses" while he was mayor of Taipei.<ref>{{cite news|author=Peter Enav|title=Taiwanese opposition leader indicted|url=http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2007/02/13/taiwanese_opposition_leader_indicted/|work=The Boston Globe|date=13 February 2007|access-date=22 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514152818/http://www.boston.com/news/world/asia/articles/2007/02/13/taiwanese_opposition_leader_indicted/|archive-date=14 May 2008}}</ref> The prosecutor's office said that Ma had allegedly used government funds for personal use, such as paying for one of his daughter's living expenses while studying abroad and paying for his household utilities. Before that, Ma had admitted personal usage and claims that the special funds were simply a part of his salary<ref>{{cite news|author=Jewel Huang|author2=Mo Yan-chih|title=Ma accused of embezzlement|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/08/03/2003321598|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=3 August 2006|access-date=23 February 2007|archive-date=7 February 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070207225255/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2006/08/03/2003321598|url-status=live}}</ref> but had used all funds for public use or public benefit ([[Charitable cause|charity]] donations).<ref>{{cite news|author=Mo Yan-chih|title=Ma questioned over donation records|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/11/24/2003337629|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=24 November 2006|access-date=23 February 2007|archive-date=29 September 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929133631/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/11/24/2003337629|url-status=live}}</ref>

Shortly after the indictment, he submitted his resignation as chairman of the Kuomintang in accordance with party rules which prohibit an indicted person from serving as KMT chairman<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6356775.stm|publisher=BBC News|title=Taiwan opposition leader resigns|date=13 February 2007|access-date=5 April 2010|archive-date=30 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090930023224/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6356775.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> The resignation was initially rejected but then accepted by the party's Central Standing Committee before amending a clause that barred members from running for office if charged with a crime.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071228/wl_nm/taiwan_ma_dc_1] {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Shortly after the resignation, however, Ma announced his intention to run in the [[2008 Taiwanese presidential election|2008 presidential election]].

[[File:馬總統在士林夜市 - panoramio.jpg|thumb|Ma campaigning in 2007 at [[Shilin Night Market]]]]
[[File:080321 - 馬英九 (2348700429).jpg|thumb|Ma Ying-jeou campaigning for the [[2008 Taiwanese presidential election|2008 presidential election]].]]

In May 2007, Ma was nominated as the KMT candidate in the 2008 presidential election.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6616189.stm|title=Taiwan opposition picks candidate|work=BBC|date=2 May 2007|access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref> He visited [[India]] and [[Singapore]] in June 2007 to increase bilateral exchanges as well as to gain legitimacy and experience for his 2008 presidential bid. Ma's vice-presidential running mate was announced as former Premier [[Vincent Siew]], who had also served as Lien Chan's running mate in the [[2000 Taiwanese presidential election|2000 presidential election]].<ref>{{cite news|date=23 June 2007|title=Ma said to pick Siew for 2008 race|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/113108.htm|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930024243/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/news/113108.htm|archive-date=30 September 2007|access-date=23 June 2007|newspaper=China Post}}</ref>

On 14 August 2007, the Taipei District Court found Ma not guilty of corruption.<ref>{{cite news|title=Taiwan court clears presidential candidate Ma of corruption|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/293848/1/.html%20Channelnewsasia.com|agency=Agence France-Presse|date=14 August 2007|access-date=2 February 2011|archive-date=6 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111106010905/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific/view/293848/1/.html%20Channelnewsasia.com|url-status=dead}}</ref> Ma's defense is that he viewed "Special Expenses" as essentially "Special Allowance", originally designed to compensate for mayor's "social spending" without actually raising salary.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://issue.udn.com/960814.txt|script-title=zh:臺灣臺北地方法院刑事判決 96年度矚重訴字第1號|date=14 August 2007|publisher=Taiwan Taipei District Court|language=zh|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080126203354/http://issue.udn.com/960814.txt|archive-date=26 January 2008}}</ref> On 28 December 2007, the Taiwan High Court found Ma again not guilty of graft charges.

During a campaigning event in an [[Taiwanese indigenous peoples|aboriginal]] community, Ma made a controversial remark. Responding to a question from an aboriginal woman, Ma said, "If you come into the city, you are a Taipei citizen... Aborigines should adjust their mentality – if you come into the city you have to play by its rules."<ref>{{cite news|author=Ko Shu-ling|date=27 December 2007|title=Ma humiliated Aborigines: Hsieh|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/12/27/2003394300|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080620084532/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2007/12/27/2003394300|archive-date=20 June 2008|access-date=17 August 2008|newspaper=Taipei Times}}</ref> This statement was thought to be extremely inappropriate.<ref>{{cite news|date=27 December 2007|script-title=zh:「把原民當人看」馬發言挨批|url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/dec/27/today-p3.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071227161810/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2007/new/dec/27/today-p3.htm|archive-date=27 December 2007|access-date=17 August 2008|newspaper=[[Liberty Times]]|language=zh}}</ref> However, the KMT still achieved a landslide victory in the [[2008 Taiwanese legislative election]], winning 81 out of 113 seats.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/13/2003396903|title=Legislative elections and referendums: KMT vows not to abuse power|work=Taipei Times|date=13 January 2008|access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref>

[[Democratic Progressive Party]] candidate [[Frank Hsieh]] questioned Ma for his possession of a [[Green card|US green card]]. Ma denied having one and publicly expressed that no members of his family had one.<ref name="greencard">{{cite news|author=Shih Hsiu-chuan|date=29 January 2008|title=Hsieh's promptings force Ma onto back foot over green card|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/29/2003399315|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080201172709/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/29/2003399315|archive-date=1 February 2008|access-date=2 March 2008|newspaper=Taipei Times}}</ref> However, the fact that Ma and his wife had applied for green cards and that his sisters and his elder daughter Lesley Weichung Ma are [[Citizenship of the United States|United States citizens]] caused controversy, as the DPP continued to question Ma's loyalty to the country.<ref name="GC">[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/31/2003399604 "DPP continues attack on Ma Ying-jeou"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306023503/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/01/31/2003399604|date=6 March 2008}}'', Taipei Times, 31 January 2008''</ref> In response to the DPP attack on the US citizenship of his sisters and daughter, Ma commented that having a US passport or green card did not necessarily mean that someone was not loyal to Taiwan.<ref name="GC" />

A week before the presidential election, incumbent President [[Chen Shui-bian]] vowed to quit if Ma could provide legal documents of the invalidation of his green card. Frank Hsieh also said that he was willing to withdraw from the race if Ma could prove, using official documents, that his green card was invalidated twenty years ago.<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/03/16/2003405765 Presidential election 2008: 6 days to go: Chen vows to quit if Ma proves he has no green card] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209114817/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/03/16/2003405765|date=9 February 2022}}, Taipei Times, 16 March 2008</ref> Ma responded the next day to the president that he should work on improving Taiwan's economy instead of caring about the election so much; earlier, Ma also provided copies of US non-immigrant visas issued to him during the 1980s and 1990s, claiming the card was invalid, as such visas are not issued to green card holders.

Ma Ying-jeou ultimately won the presidential election on 22 March 2008, with 58% of the vote.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/03/23/2003406711|title=Decisive victory for Ma Ying-jeou|work=Taipei Times|date=23 March 2008|access-date=30 April 2025}}</ref> On 24 April 2008, the [[Supreme Court of the Republic of China|Supreme Court]] cleared Ma of corruption charges, delivering a final ruling in this matter before his inauguration on 20 May 2008. The island's highest court said Ma had neither collected illegal income nor tried to break the law.<ref>{{cite news|title=Court clears Ma of graft charges|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/04/25/153499/Court-clears.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=25 April 2008|access-date=6 May 2008|archive-date=14 May 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514002818/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/2008/04/25/153499/Court-clears.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Ma's secretary, however, was found guilty and faced a year in prison for his own failures in administrative duties.<ref>{{cite news|script-title=zh:特別費案 最高院認定是公款 仍判馬無罪|url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/apr/25/today-fo1.htm|newspaper=Liberty Times|date=25 April 2008|language=zh|access-date=30 November 2008|archive-date=4 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204102213/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/apr/25/today-fo1.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Presidency (2008–2016)==
{{Main|Presidency of Ma Ying-jeou}}
[[File:Ma Ying-jeou and Christopher Loeak at National Theater 20130327.jpg|thumb|[[Marshall Islands]]' President [[Christopher Loeak]] visits Ma at the [[Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall]]]]
Ma officially won on 22 March 2008 with 58% of the vote, ending eight years of [[Democratic Progressive Party|DPP]] rule and becoming officially recognized as the sixth president of the Republic of China.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma Ying-jeou sworn in as Taiwan's president|url=http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=659323&lang=eng_news&cate_img=&cate_rss=news_Politics_TAIWAN|agency=[[Central News Agency (Republic of China)|Central News Agency]]|date=20 May 2008|access-date=17 February 2010|archive-date=25 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725202429/http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=659323&lang=eng_news&cate_img=&cate_rss=news_Politics_TAIWAN|url-status=live}}</ref> He won with 7,659,014 votes against [[Frank Hsieh|Hsieh's]] 5,444,949 votes. The overwhelming victory in the presidential election gave him political mandate to make changes in Taiwan.<ref>[http://news.chinatimes.com/2007Cti/2007Cti-Rtn/2007Cti-Rtn-Content/0,4526,110110+112008032201075,00.html 中時電子報]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080324140606/http://news.chinatimes.com/2007Cti/2007Cti-Rtn/2007Cti-Rtn-Content/0%2C4526%2C110110%2B112008032201075%2C00.html |date=24 March 2008 }}</ref> Ma took office on 20 May 2008.<ref>Ralph Jennings, [http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/05/20/asia/OUKWD-UK-TAIWAN-PRESIDENT.php "Taiwan new leader takes office on China pledges"] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121216085411/http://www.iht.com/articles/reuters/2008/05/20/asia/OUKWD-UK-TAIWAN-PRESIDENT.php |date=16 December 2012 }}, Reuters (''International Herald Tribune''), 20 May 2008.</ref> He was named among the 2008 [[Time 100|''Time'' 100]] in its "Leaders & Revolutionaries" section, described as "one of those rare politicians who have an opportunity to shape the destiny not only of their own nation but also of an entire region".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1733757_1735546,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080504170700/http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1733748_1733757_1735546,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 May 2008|magazine=Time|title=The 2008 Time 100|date=30 April 2009|access-date=5 April 2010}}</ref>

Ma proposed a policy of "Flexible Diplomacy" in foreign affairs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/2653|title=President Ma's Remarks at Ministry of Foreign Affairs: The Concept and Strategy of the "Flexible Diplomacy"|website=Office of the President|date=5 August 2008|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> Instead of confronting the PRC in every international encounter, Ma aimed to build a certain degree of mutual trust across the Taiwan Strait, which could later be extended to the international stage. In August 2008, Ma undertook his first foreign trip as president, focusing on strengthening relations with Taiwan's Latin American allies.<ref>[https://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080812/wl_asia_afp/taiwandiplomacyuslatam_080812141054 "Taiwan president heads to Latin America, via US"]. AFP. Retrieved 14 August 2008.</ref><ref>[http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/225061,taiwans-president-ma-departs-for-three-country-latin-america-tour.html "Taiwan's President Ma departs for three-country Latin America tour"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022061256/http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/225061,taiwans-president-ma-departs-for-three-country-latin-america-tour.html |date=22 October 2012 }}. Earth Times. Retrieved 14 August 2008.</ref> In 2009, Taiwan received an invitation from the [[World Health Organization]] (WHO) to attend the annual [[World Health Assembly]] (WHA) meeting as an observer under the name "[[Chinese Taipei]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/04/30/2003442391|title=WHO invites 'Chinese Taipei' to WHA|work=Taipei Times|date=30 April 2009|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>

Ma Ying-jeou registered as the sole candidate for the [[2009 Kuomintang chairmanship election|election of the KMT chairman]] and won the election with 93.87% of the vote in July 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/07/27/2003449691|title=No surprises as Ma elected next KMT chairman|work=Taipei Times|date=27 July 2009|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> Just a few days later, [[Typhoon Morakot]], the worst typhoon to strike Taiwan in fifty years, hit Taiwan on 8 August 2009. In the storm's aftermath, President Ma was criticized for his handling of the disaster by both sides of Taiwan's political spectrum. Many news outlets likened Typhoon Morakot to being Ma's "[[Hurricane Katrina]]."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052970204683204574355691015919658?msockid=39b714b5e26f69bf2f62017ee31268c3|title=Ma Ying-jeou's Katrina Moment|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=17 August 2009|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0818/p06s01-woap.html|title=Taiwan president under fire over typhoon response|last=Jonathan Adam|date=18 August 2009|newspaper=The Christian Science Monitor|access-date=25 August 2009|archive-date=22 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090822151259/http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0818/p06s01-woap.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Multiple opinion polls in Taiwan showed a sharp double-digit drop in Ma's approval rating, with figures falling to between 16% and 29%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/328672|title=引用民調 法新社：馬滿意度跌至16％|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=20 August 2009|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/328942|title=遠見民調／馬聲望新低 估流失133萬選票|work=The Liberty Times|language=zh|date=21 August 2009|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref>

[[File:Vice President Vincent Siew, President Ma Ying-jeou, and Premier Wu Den-yih at the press conference to mark second anniversary of inauguration 20100524.jpg|thumb|President Ma with Vice President [[Vincent Siew]] (left) and Premier [[Wu Den-yih]] (right)]] 
Following pressure from the opposition, Ma took steps to publicly apologize for his government's failure to respond swiftly with rescue and recovery efforts. Ma canceled the 2009 National Day celebrations and his state visit to the [[Solomon Islands]] for the Third Taiwan-South Pacific summit.<ref>{{cite news|title=President Ma apologizes|author=David Young|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/08/19/221035/President-Ma.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=19 August 2009|access-date=26 August 2009|archive-date=20 August 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820174552/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/08/19/221035/President-Ma.htm}}</ref> Premier [[Liu Chao-shiuan]], Defense Minister [[Chen Chao-min]], and Vice Foreign Minister [[Andrew Hsia]] all tendered their resignations.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/08/taiwan.premier/|title=Taiwan premier quits over typhoon response|date=8 September 2009|publisher=CNN|access-date=20 October 2015|archive-date=19 June 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619211955/http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/09/08/taiwan.premier/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/world/asia/20taiwan.html|title=Two Taiwan Ministers Offer to Quit Over Typhoon Response|date=8 September 2009|work=The New York Times|first1=Mark|last1=McDonald|access-date=20 October 2015|archive-date=20 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160720055904/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/world/asia/20taiwan.html|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Wu Den-yih]] was appointed as the new premier, and the cabinet underwent a reshuffle.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/09/10/2003453220|title=Wu Den-yih announces Cabinet line-up|work=Taipei Times|date=10 September 2009|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref>

Ma inaugurated as the chairman of the KMT on 17 October 2009,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/10/18/2003456257|title=President Ma returns as chairman of KMT|work=Taipei Times|date=18 October 2009|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> and under his leadership, the party maintained its majority in local elections held between [[2009 Taiwanese local elections|2009]] and [[2010 Taiwanese local elections|2010]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/12/06/2003460291|title=KMT loses Yilan and Hualien|work=Taipei Times|date=6 December 2009|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2010/11/28/2003489613|title=2010 ELECTIONS: Voters confirm 'status quo'|work=Taipei Times|date=28 November 2010|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> Eligible for a second term, Ma ran for re-election as president. After incumbent Vice President Vincent Siew announced his retirement and decision not to seek a second term, Premier [[Wu Den-yih]] was chosen to replace Siew on the KMT's [[2012 Taiwanese presidential election|2012 ticket]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/3662|title=Vice President Siew not to run for re-election|website=Office of the President|date=31 May 2011|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2011/06/20/2003506217|title=Wu announced as Ma's running mate|work=Taipei Times|date=20 June 2011|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> Ma was re-elected president with 51.6% of the vote, defeating [[Democratic Progressive Party]] chairwoman [[Tsai Ing-wen]].<ref>{{cite news|date=14 January 2012|title=Incumbent Ma Re-Elected as Taiwan's President|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/world/asia/taiwan-presidential-election.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220209084007/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/world/asia/taiwan-presidential-election.html|archive-date=9 February 2022|access-date=10 February 2017|newspaper=The New York Times|last1=Jacobs|first1=Andrew}}</ref> The ruling party also retained its majority in the [[2012 Taiwanese legislative election|legislative elections]] held on the same day.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/01/15/2003523250|title=2012 ELECTIONS: KMT maintains majority|work=Taipei Times|date=15 January 2012|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref>

In September 2013, President Ma accused Speaker [[Wang Jin-pyng]] of influence peddling, resulting in a [[September 2013 power struggle|power struggle]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-24050840|title=Taiwan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng expelled by governing party|work=BBC|date=11 September 2013|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> Following the KMT's unprecedented loss in the [[2014 Taiwanese local elections|2014 local elections]], Ma resigned as KMT chairman.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/12/04/2003605930|title=Ma resigns as chairman of KMT|work=Taipei Times|date=4 December 2014|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> The KMT lost its majority in the [[Legislative Yuan]] during the final period of Ma's presidency, and Ma eventually handed over power to opposition leader Tsai Ing-wen in 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/01/16/asia/taiwan-election/index.html|title=Taiwan elects its first female president; China warns of 'grave challenges'|work=CNN|date=17 January 2016|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref>

===Cross-strait relations===
{{See also|Cross-strait relations#Resumption of high level contact (2008–2016)}}
After his success in the presidential election, Ma Ying-jeou said he had no immediate plans to visit [[mainland China]] and would work to fulfill his campaign pledge to improve relations with mainland China.<ref>{{cite news|date=23 March 2008|title=Taiwan's Ma: No plans to visit China|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/23/taiwan.ma.ap/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325140758/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/03/23/taiwan.ma.ap/index.html|archive-date=25 March 2008|access-date=23 March 2008|publisher=CNN}}</ref> Ma, in his inaugural address, laid out his promise in dealing with cross-strait relations that there would be "no reunification, no independence, and no use of force" during his tenure as president.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/45|title=President Ma's Inaugural Address|website=Office of the President|date=20 May 2008|access-date=3 May 2025}}</ref> Based on the [[1992 Consensus]], [[cross-strait high-level talks|semi-official cross-strait talks]] between the [[Straits Exchange Foundation]] (SEF) and its Chinese counterpart, the [[Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Straits]] (ARATS), resumed in June 2008.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lin|first=Cheng-yi|date=21 January 2010|url=https://jamestown.org/program/managing-the-chiang-chen-talks-in-cross-strait-relations|title=Managing the Chiang-Chen Talks in Cross-Strait Relations|website=The Jamestown Foundation|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> Ma launched direct weekend [[cross-strait charter]] flights, opened Taiwan to mainland Chinese tourists, eased restrictions on Taiwanese investment in mainland China and approved measures allowing mainland Chinese investors to buy Taiwan stocks.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1831748,00.html?xid=rss-topstories|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090917183803/http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1831748,00.html?xid=rss-topstories|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 September 2009|title=Talking to Taiwan's New President|magazine=Time|date=11 August 2008|access-date=12 March 2011}}</ref> The ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine noted that in less than three months, "relations between Taiwan and China have arguably seen the most rapid advancement in the six-decade standoff between the two governments."

After the [[second Chen–Chiang summit]], Taiwan and the Chinese mainland resumed direct sea, air, and mail links on 15 December 2008, ending an almost six-decade-long ban between the two sides on such trips.<ref>Sun, Yu-huay; Tang, Eugene (15 December 2008). [https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aFvZyon6si.Q Taiwan, China Start Direct Links as Relations Improve] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233553/https://www.bloomberg.com/tosv2.html?vid=&uuid=7276e924-49bd-11ed-a463-4d5559666b43&url=L2FwcHMvbmV3cz9waWQ9MjA2MDEwODAmc2lkPWFGdlp5b242c2kuUQ== |date=11 October 2022 }}. [[Bloomberg L.P.]]</ref><ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/14/china.taiwan/index.html?section=cnn_latest China, Taiwan reopen regular links] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090424120322/http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/12/14/china.taiwan/index.html?section=cnn_latest |date=24 April 2009 }}. [[CNN]]. 14 December 2008.</ref> As many as 108 flights per week as well as 60 cargo flights per month were scheduled, evenly divided between Taiwanese and mainland Chinese airlines.<ref>[http://english.vietnamnet.vn/international/2008/12/818715/ Chinese mainland, Taiwan start direct transport, mail services] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219060938/http://english.vietnamnet.vn/international/2008/12/818715/ |date=19 December 2008 }}. VietNamNet. 15 December 2008.</ref><ref>McDonald, Mark (15 December 2008). [https://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/news/15iht-15TAIWAN.18675854.html Direct flights between China and Taiwan begin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170301154717/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/15/news/15iht-15TAIWAN.18675854.html |date=1 March 2017 }}. ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref><ref>Sui, Cindy (15 December 2008). [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7782946.stm Daily China-Taiwan flights begin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216072845/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7782946.stm |date=16 December 2008 }}. [[BBC News]].</ref> Shipping companies, due to shorter voyages and time savings, are able to save up to US$120 million (TWD $4 billion) each year. The two sides also agreed that neither the ROC nor the PRC flag will be displayed when a ship enters port.<ref>[http://news.alibaba.com/article/detail/china/100031200-1-update%253A-taiwan-president-hails-china.html UPDATE: Taiwan President Hails China Transport Links] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707111559/http://news.alibaba.com/article/detail/china/100031200-1-update:-taiwan-president-hails-china.html |date=7 July 2011 }}. Alibaba.com. 17 December 2008.</ref> In July 2009, Ma rejected the proposal to open the airspace of the Taiwan Strait to accommodate higher passenger traffic, citing that the Taiwan Strait airspace is important to Taiwanese security.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2009/07/06/215150/Defense-ministry.htm Defense ministry opposed to flights across Taiwan Strait middle line] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090708021926/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2009/07/06/215150/Defense%2Dministry.htm |date=8 July 2009 }}. ''[[China Post]]''. 6 July 2009.</ref>

A free trade agreement with China was signed in 2010 called the [[Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement]] (ECFA), which was accompanied by a [[ECFA Debate|debate]] and protests. Ma attempted to pass the [[Cross-Strait Service Trade Agreement]] in his second term, building on the ECFA. This sparked the [[Sunflower Student Movement]], initiated by a coalition of students and civic groups in the [[Legislative Yuan]] and later also the [[Executive Yuan]].<ref name="NYT-Ramsey">{{cite news|author=Ramzy, Austin|date=22 March 2014|title=As Numbers Swell, Students Pledge to Continue Occupying Taiwan's Legislature|url=http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/22/as-numbers-swell-students-pledge-to-continue-occupying-taiwans-legislature/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140322150138/http://sinosphere.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/03/22/as-numbers-swell-students-pledge-to-continue-occupying-taiwans-legislature/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0|archive-date=22 March 2014|access-date=22 March 2014|newspaper=The New York Times}}</ref>

[[File:2015 Ma–Xi Meeting 08.jpg|thumb|Ma Ying-jeou met with Mainland [[Paramount leader|top leader]] [[Xi Jinping]] in November 2015 in their capacity as the leader of Taiwan and Mainland China respectively.]]
On 7 November 2015, Ma [[First Ma–Xi meeting|met and shook hands]] with the [[General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party|Chinese Communist Party General Secretary]] [[Xi Jinping]] in [[Singapore]] within their capacity as Leader of Taiwan and [[Paramount leader|Leader of Mainland China]] respectively.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Cary|title=Xi's a mister, so is Ma: China and Taiwan have an unusual solution for an old problem|url=http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1875810/xis-mister-so-ma-china-and-taiwan-have-unusual-solution|access-date=25 April 2025|work=South China Morning Post|date=5 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107023811/http://www.scmp.com/news/china/policies-politics/article/1875810/xis-mister-so-ma-china-and-taiwan-have-unusual-solution|archive-date=7 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2015/11/07/450352/Cross-strait-leaders.htm|title=Cross-strait leaders meet after 66 years of separation|last=Chiao|first=Yuan-Ming|date=7 November 2015|work=China Post|access-date=25 April 2025|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110044804/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2015/11/07/450352/Cross-strait-leaders.htm|archive-date=10 November 2015}}</ref> The meeting marked the first ever meeting between leaders of both sides since the end of Chinese Civil War in 1949. Both leaders addressed each other using the honorific ''[[Sensei|xiānshēng]]'' (Chinese: {{zh|labels=no|t=|c=先生}}, "Mister").

===Economic issues===
One of Ma's promises as presidential candidate was called the "633 Plan", which promised [[Economic growth|economic growth rate]] of 6%, [[unemployment rate]] of less than 3%, and [[per capita income]] of more than [[United States dollar|US$]]30,000. However, the [[Great Recession]] around the world caused about 2,000 companies in Taiwan to go bankrupt in the six months following Ma's inauguration, according to a governmental commercial office in Taipei.<ref>{{cite news|title=民眾痛苦指數飆高|url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/aug/30/today-taipei4-2.htm|newspaper=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=30 August 2008|access-date=6 September 2008|archive-date=9 March 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309152349/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/aug/30/today-taipei4-2.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time, the high unemployment rate (~4.06% in July) and consumer price index<ref>{{cite news|script-title=zh:經濟成長率差一截 失業率、物價攀高// 馬633政見 嚴重跳票|url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/aug/23/today-t1.htm|newspaper=Liberty Times|date=23 August 2008|language=zh|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908010309/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/aug/23/today-t1.htm|archive-date=8 September 2008}}</ref> three months after Ma's inauguration were unprecedented, having not been seen in 28 years.<ref>{{cite news|script-title=zh:百日成績 政院發文宣 綠營再撻伐|url=http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/aug/29/today-p6-2.htm|newspaper=Liberty Times|date=29 August 2008|language=zh|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080901011542/http://www.libertytimes.com.tw/2008/new/aug/29/today-p6-2.htm|archive-date=1 September 2008}}</ref> The [[Taiwan Stock Exchange]] also fell to two-year lows in September 2008.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080903%5cACQRTT200809032005RTTRADERUSEQUITY_1090.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Taiwan%20Market%20Starts%20At%20Two-Year%20Low|title=http|publisher=NASDAQ|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110611045605/http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20080903%5cACQRTT200809032005RTTRADERUSEQUITY_1090.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=Taiwan%20Market%20Starts%20At%20Two-Year%20Low|archive-date=11 June 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Financial Times]] describes Taiwan's economic downturn as results from "downward pressure driven by global factors". Analysts also point out that, "during its first 100 days in office, the government has made a series of bold steps to deregulate economic cross-strait ties. But as these policies coincided with the global downturn and foreign investors had already bought Taiwan stocks heavily before the election, betting on the reforms, the island's market has seen a sell-off worse than the regional average."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/dbad0822-8029-11dd-99a9-000077b07658.html|title=/ Asia-Pacific – Taiwan stock market slides|work=Financial Times|location=London|date=11 September 2008|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233551/https://www.ft.com/content/dbad0822-8029-11dd-99a9-000077b07658|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 11 September 2008, Ma's cabinet unveiled a $5.6-billion USD ($180-billion TWD) economic stimulus package. Among the items of the package were infrastructure projects, economic incentives to small businesses, and other tax cuts. Stock transaction taxes were also halved for the next six months.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ong|first=Janet|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601080&sid=aAMp3a3FzKms|title=Taiwan to Spend NT$181 Billion on Economy, Stocks (Update3)|publisher=Bloomberg News|date=11 September 2008|access-date=12 March 2011}}</ref> Taiwan's government reported that the economy shrank by 1% in the third quarter and further contracted 8.36% in the last quarter of 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/02/18/taiwan.economy.2008.q4/index.html|publisher=CNN|access-date=5 April 2010|title=Taiwanese economy slumps into recession|date=18 February 2009|archive-date=27 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090427082936/http://www.cnn.com/2009/BUSINESS/02/18/taiwan.economy.2008.q4/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Although growth resumed in the fourth quarter of 2009, the economy still shrank by 1.87% for the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.gov.tw/public/Attachment/062811514671.PDF|title=Annual Report 2009|website=Central Bank of the Republic of China (Taiwan)|date=June 2010|access-date=6 May 2025}}</ref> In 2010, Taiwan's economy rebounded strongly, expanding by 10%.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/taiwan-economy-gdp/update-2-taiwan-trims-2012-gdp-forecast-after-q4-shrinkage-idUSL4E8CV2FX20120131|title=UPDATE 2-Taiwan trims 2012 GDP forecast after Q4 shrinkage|agency=[[Reuters]]|date=31 January 2012|access-date=29 March 2020|archive-date=29 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329055322/https://www.reuters.com/article/taiwan-economy-gdp/update-2-taiwan-trims-2012-gdp-forecast-after-q4-shrinkage-idUSL4E8CV2FX20120131|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Post-presidency==
[[File:Cory Gardner and Ma Ying-jeou March 2017.jpg|thumb|Ma met with U.S. Senator [[Cory Gardner]] during his 2017 visit to the United States]]
[[File:Ma Ying-jeou at Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum-20230328.png|thumb|Ma paying respects at the [[Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum]] in Nanjing, March 2023]]
On 1 June 2016, it was announced that Ma planned to visit [[Hong Kong]] on 15 June to attend the 2016 Award for Editorial Excellence dinner at the [[Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre]] and would deliver a speech on [[cross-strait relations]] and East Asia.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Hsieh|first1=Chia-chen|last2=Cheung|first2=Stanley|last3=Wu|first3=Lilian|title=Former president Ma to visit Hong Kong|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201606010017.aspx|access-date=7 August 2016|agency=Central News Agency|date=1 June 2016|archive-date=4 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604133852/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201606010017.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> The Tsai Ing-wen administration blocked Ma from traveling to Hong Kong,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Ramzy|first1=Austin|title=Taiwan Bars Ex-President From Visiting Hong Kong|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/world/asia/taiwan-hong-kong-ma-ying-jeou.html|access-date=7 August 2016|work=The New York Times|date=14 June 2016|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233552/https://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/15/world/asia/taiwan-hong-kong-ma-ying-jeou.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and he gave prepared remarks via teleconference instead.<ref>{{cite news|title=Full text of former President Ma Ying-jeou's video speech at SOPA|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201606160001.aspx|access-date=7 August 2016|agency=Central News Agency|archive-date=24 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724082320/http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201606160001.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2016, [[Soochow University (Taipei)|Soochow University]] confirmed that Ma had rejoined the faculty as a lecturer.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Shih|first1=Hsiao-kuang|last2=Tseng|first2=Wei-chen|last3=Hetherington|first3=William|title=Ma to accept position as advanced law lecturer at Soochow University|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/08/08/2003652699|access-date=8 August 2016|work=Taipei Times|date=8 August 2016|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233552/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/08/08/2003652699|url-status=live}}</ref> On 26 September 2016, Ma gave his first lecture which was about the [[history of Taiwan]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2016/09/27/479512/Ma-begins.htm|title=Ma begins lecture series at Soochow University|work=The China Post|access-date=27 September 2016|archive-date=27 September 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160927133340/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/local/taipei/2016/09/27/479512/Ma-begins.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Yet, as a chair professor of law, Ma was protested by students at Soochow University to ask for his resignation since he has repeatedly issued controversial legal opinions.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Yu-zhe|title=Ma should resign Soochow post|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2020/01/04/2003728679/1|access-date=4 January 2020|work=Taipei Times|date=4 January 2020|archive-date=6 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200106202025/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2020/01/04/2003728679/1|url-status=live}}</ref>

In November 2016, Ma attended the World Chinese Economic Summit in [[Malacca]], [[Malaysia]], where he also served as one of the speakers. It was his first overseas visit since leaving office.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/10/12/2003656996|title=Ma office says invitation to Malaysia event accepted|work=Taipei Times|date=12 October 2016|access-date=12 October 2016|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233552/https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/10/12/2003656996|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/11/16/2003659367|title=Ma in Malaysia on first trip as former president|work=Taipei Times|date=16 November 2016|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> Since 2016, Ma has made multiple visits to the United States, during which he delivered speeches at academic institutions and policy forums.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://asia.nd.edu/news/ma-ying-jeou-former-president-of-taiwan-speaks-at-notre-dames-asia-leadership-forum/|title=Ma Ying-jeou, former president of Taiwan, speaks at Notre Dame's Asia Leadership Forum|website=University of Notre Dame|date=22 November 2016|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/02/27/2003665796|title=Ex-president Ma in US for 12-day visit with leaders|work=Taipei Times|date=27 February 2017|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>

In 2023, Ma became the first ROC leader to visit mainland China since the civil war of 1949, with a trip slated for 27&nbsp;March to 7&nbsp;April, pledging peace between the two countries.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-03-27|title='I have waited 36 years': Taiwanese ex-president Ma on historic cross-strait trip|url=https://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy/article/3215013/former-taiwanese-president-ma-ying-jeou-historic-mainland-china-trip-hopes-peace-can-come-taiwan|access-date=2023-03-27|website=South China Morning Post}}</ref> The trip comes amidst rising tension between mainland China and Taiwan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/20/former-taiwan-president-to-visit-china-in-unprecedented-trip|title=Former Taiwan president to visit China in unprecedented trip|website=The Guardian|date=20 March 2023|access-date=20 March 2023}}</ref> He served as a witness during the negotiations between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the [[Taiwan People's Party]] (TPP) to form a joint presidential ticket for the [[2024 Taiwanese presidential election|2024 election]];<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2023/11/15/2003809219|title=KMT, TPP agree on election coalition|work=Taipei Times|date=15 November 2023|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> however, the talks ultimately collapsed without an agreement.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://thediplomat.com/2023/11/how-the-taiwan-opposition-alliance-talks-fell-apart/|title=How the Taiwan Opposition Alliance Talks Fell Apart|website=The Diplomat|last=Hioe|first=Brian|date=28 November 2023|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref> Ma made his second visit to China in 2024, which included a [[Second Ma–Xi meeting|meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2024/04/10/china/china-xi-meets-ma-taiwan-former-president-intl-hnk/index.html|title=China's Xi hosts former Taiwan president in Beijing, in rare meeting echoing bygone era of warmer ties|work=CNN|date=10 April 2024|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>

==Political positions==
===View on Chinese unification===
In a December 2005 ''[[Newsweek|Newsweek International]]'' interview, when asked about unification, Ma stated that "for our party, the eventual goal is reunification, but we don't have a timetable."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10511672/site/newsweek/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051229041141/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10511672/site/newsweek/|url-status=dead|title='Conditions Aren't Ripe'|publisher=Newsweek International|date=26 December 2005|website=msnbc.com|archive-date=29 December 2005}}</ref>

In February 2006, Ma published an op-ed in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' titled ''Taiwan's 'Pragmatic Path'''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ma|first=Ying-jeou|date=7 February 2006|title=Taiwan's 'Pragmatic Path'|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB113926633134866511|website=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref> In the article, Ma stated that neither unification nor independence was likely for Taiwan in the foreseeable future and that the status quo should be maintained. He emphasized that the island's future should be determined by its people, rather than the government. During the same month, while visiting Europe, the KMT ran an advertisement in the ''[[Liberty Times]]'' with the same title, asserting that Taiwan's future could take many possible directions—be it unification, independence, or maintaining the status quo—and that such decisions must be made by the people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yzzk.com/article/details/%E7%89%B9%E7%A8%BF/2006-09/1367551076853/%E5%9C%8B%E6%B0%91%E9%BB%A8%E5%8F%B0%E7%8D%A8%E5%BB%A3%E5%91%8A%E4%B8%80%E6%B1%A0%E6%98%A5%E6%B0%B4|title=國民黨台獨廣告一池春水|language=zh|date=27 February 2006|website=Yazhou Zhoukan|access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref> The advertisement, which stated that independence is an option for the people of Taiwan, sparked criticism within the party and raised concerns in the PRC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merit-times.com.tw/NewsPage.aspx?unid=9487|title=社論--統一與獨立的終極選項|language=zh|website=The Merit Times|date=17 February 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> [[Wang Jin-pyng]] felt gratified for the policy shift, since Wang himself made a similar statement during the 2004 election, but [[James Soong]] said he was "shocked" and [[Lien Chan]] said he was never consulted.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/57926|title=馬：台獨非國民黨選項 但尊重言論自由|work=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=16 February 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.voachinese.com/a/a-21-w2006-02-15-voa38-58207047/1069531.html|title=国民党广告风波马英九称解读有误|work=VOA|language=zh|date=15 February 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> Ma clarified later that the KMT policy of retaining the status quo has not changed and has reiterated this position several times;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/58575|title=馬重申 台獨非國民黨選項|work=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=20 February 2006|access-date=26 April 2006}}</ref> further, he has also reiterated his party's support of the one-China policy.<ref name="taipeitimes2006">{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/04/04/2003300822|title=Chen and Ma fail to reach consensus|work=Taipei Times|date=4 April 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>

Ma supported autonomy for [[Tibet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/news/3313|title=President Ma Ying-jeou's interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour|website=Office of the President|date=30 April 2010|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> On 17 March 2008, Ma threatened to boycott the [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Olympics]] if elected, should the [[2008 Tibetan unrest|Tibetan unrest]] spiral out of control.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/193045,taiwan-presidential-candidate-threatens-to-boycott-beijing-olympics.html|title=Taiwan presidential candidate threatens to boycott Beijing Olympics: Sports|publisher=earthtimes.org|access-date=19 March 2008|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233558/https://earthtimes.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> After he was elected president, he refused to let the [[14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]] visit Taiwan, citing the timing as inappropriate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/12/04/2003430223|title=Dalai Lama not welcome to visit: Ma|work=Taipei Times|date=4 December 2008|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> He later approved a visit by the Dalai Lama to lead prayers for [[Typhoon Morakot]] victims in August 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20090827-president-ma-ying-jeou-approves-dalai-lama-visit-|title=President Ma Ying-jeou approves Dalai Lama visit|work=France 24|date=27 August 2009|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>

[[File:104年4月2日 馬英九總統出席中華民國104年中樞遙祭黃帝陵典禮 - 17059997442.jpg|thumb|President Ma Ying-jeou paid homage to the [[Yellow Emperor]] in 2015]]
In April 2009, President Ma became the first ROC president to pay homage in person to the [[Yellow Emperor]] who is believed to have founded China as a nation more than 5,000 years ago. Accompanied by all his government leaders, the president sang the ROC's national anthem as the starter.<ref name="chinapost.com.tw">{{cite news|title=President Ma pays homage in person to the Yellow Emperor|author=Joe Hung|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/joe-hung/2009/04/04/202967/President-Ma.htmPresident|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910131529/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/joe-hung/2009/04/04/202967/President-Ma.htmPresident|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2012|newspaper=China Post|date=4 April 2009}}</ref><ref name="Thomson_2024-04-04">{{Cite news|last=Thomson|first=Jono|date=4 April 2024|title=Most Taiwanese have strong belief in Chinese national identity: Former Taiwan president|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5136818|work=Taiwan News}}</ref> Ma's spokesman said the president wanted to pay his respects to the Yellow Emperor on [[Qingming Festival|National Tomb-Sweeping Day]] in person to stress the importance of the Chinese ancestor-worshipping tradition. However, others saw the precedent-making ceremonies at the [[National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine|Martyrs' Shrine]] as meant to be a show by President Ma of his unprofessed commitment to maintain a close relationship between Taiwan and mainland China.<ref name="chinapost.com.tw" /> During his time at the tomb of the Yellow Emperor, Ma said that most Taiwanese people have a strong belief in Chinese culture and national identity.<ref name="Thomson_2024-04-04"/>

===Cross-strait relations===
[[File:台灣總統馬英九出席回顧兩岸交流的活動 01.jpg|thumb|Ma Ying-jeou insists on the existence of the [[1992 Consensus]]]]
Ma Ying-jeou has emphasized the "[[1992 Consensus]]" as the existing basis for constructive dialogue and exchange between mainland China and Taiwan. On 2 September 2008, Ma declared that the relations between Taiwan and mainland China were a "[[Mutual non-recognition of sovereignty and mutual non-denial of authority to govern|special relationship not between two nations]]", but one that can be handled invoking the 1992 Consensus between the two sides.<ref>{{cite news|title=Taiwan and China in 'special relations': Ma|newspaper=China Post|date=4 September 2008|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan%20relations/2008/09/04/173082/Taiwan-and.htm|access-date=26 October 2008|archive-date=6 September 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080906092524/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan%20relations/2008/09/04/173082/Taiwan-and.htm}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Ma refers to China as ROC territory in magazine interview|newspaper=Taipei Times|date=8 October 2008|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/10/08/2003425320|access-date=26 October 2008|archive-date=3 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603213128/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/10/08/2003425320|url-status=live}}</ref> While the governing authorities on mainland China and Taiwan cannot recognise each other as a legitimate government due to legal and constitutional reasons, Ma seeks that they would refrain from denying the other side being the ''de facto'' governing authority of one area of the state.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma clarifies 'two areas,' reaffirms non-denial|newspaper=China Post|date=25 October 2008|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2008/10/25/180363/Ma-clarifies.htm|access-date=26 October 2008|archive-date=28 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081028235018/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2008/10/25/180363/Ma-clarifies.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2006, Ma Ying-jeou proposed the "Five Noes" to maintain the status quo, which largely reiterated the content of [[Chen Shui-bian]]'s "[[Four Noes and One Without]]."<ref name="taipeitimes2006"/> During a visit to the United States in March 2006, Ma further articulated a proactive strategy for cross-strait relations, termed the "Five Do's."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2006/03/26/2003299326|title=Ma, the voice of Taiwan or China?|work=Taipei Times|date=26 March 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> These initiatives included: resuming cross-strait dialogue based on the 1992 Consensus; signing a peace agreement and establishing a mechanism for mutual military trust; creating a joint cross-strait market; enhancing Taiwan's participation in the international community; and strengthening cultural and educational exchanges.

Ma consistently expressed concern over the [[1989 Tiananmen Square protests and massacre]] and supported democratization in China.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/2947|title=President Ma Expresses Thoughts on 19th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Crackdown|website=Office of the President|date=4 June 2008|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/3179|title=President Ma's Observations on the 20th Anniversary of the June 4th Incident|website=Office of the President|date=4 June 2009|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> However, prior to the 20th anniversary, he postponed and eventually canceled a scheduled meeting with [[Wang Dan (dissident)|Wang Dan]], a former student leader of the 1989 protests.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/306080|title=過去…力挺六四 如今…馬避見王丹|work=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=25 May 2009|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> Ma also received criticism from the opposition Democratic Progressive Party for allegedly praising the PRC on human rights during the anniversary commemorations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200906040049dowjonesdjonline000015&title=taiwan-leader-draws-fire-for-praising-china-on-human-rights|title=Taiwan Leader Draws Fire For Praising China On Human Rights|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918092517/http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=200906040049dowjonesdjonline000015&title=taiwan-leader-draws-fire-for-praising-china-on-human-rights|archive-date=18 September 2009|website=[[NASDAQ]]|date=4 June 2009}}</ref>

Ma voiced support for the acceptance of [[simplified Chinese characters|simplified Chinese]] for written text and the continued use of [[traditional Chinese characters|traditional Chinese]] for printed text.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=972259&lang=eng_news&cate_img=49.jpg&cate_rss=news_Society_TAIWAN|title=Taiwan president Ma wants to allow writing in simplified characters|date=10 June 2009|access-date=10 June 2009|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604101813/http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=972259&lang=eng_news&cate_img=49.jpg&cate_rss=news_Society_TAIWAN|url-status=live}}</ref> Ma had to clarify his remarks regarding simplified characters at a 15-minute speech before the sixth International Conference on Internet Chinese Education on 19 June 2009. Ma reiterated his policy of urging the Chinese to learn the traditional system; his previous call was for the ability of Taiwan's population to recognize simplified characters and not for simplified characters to supplant the traditional system in Taiwan.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ma dispels misunderstanding over views on traditional Chinese script|author=David Young|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/06/20/212940/Ma-dispels.htm|newspaper=China Post|date=20 June 2009|access-date=22 June 2009|archive-date=23 June 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623064158/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/national-news/2009/06/20/212940/Ma-dispels.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=981257&lang=eng_news&cate_img=83.jpg&cate_rss=news_Politics_TAIWAN|title=Taiwan President clarifies his view on Chinese character – Taiwan News Online|publisher=Etaiwannews.com|date=19 June 2009|access-date=12 March 2011|archive-date=4 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604115812/http://www.etaiwannews.com/etn/news_content.php?id=981257&lang=eng_news&cate_img=83.jpg&cate_rss=news_Politics_TAIWAN|url-status=live}}</ref> In a 2004 speech hosted by Microsoft Taiwan, he had proposed for traditional characters ({{zh|labels=no |t=繁體字}}; literally: complicated characters) to be instead called 'orthodox characters' ({{zh|labels=no |t=正體字}}) (then the translation 'traditional Chinese characters' would be more appropriate as well).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taipei.gov.tw/fp.asp?fpage=cp&xItem=40710&CtNode=5444&mp=100032|script-title=zh:正體字 是臺灣的寶貴資產，「繁體字」應正名為「 正體字 」|author=Ministry of Education|date=7 April 2009|access-date=21 November 2013|archive-date=4 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104212927/http://www.taipei.gov.tw/fp.asp?fpage=cp&xItem=40710&CtNode=5444&mp=100032|url-status=live}}</ref> Ma advocated the use of [[pinyin|Hanyu Pinyin]], developed in the PRC, and made it the official romanization system in Taiwan in 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2002/07/12/0000147920|title=Ma throws a spanner in Pinyin works|work=Taipei Times|date=12 July 2002|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2008/09/18/2003423528|title=Hanyu Pinyin to be standard system in 2009|work=Taipei Times|date=18 September 2008|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>

===East China Sea and South China Sea===
Ma Ying-jeou supports the Republic of China's sovereignty over the [[Senkaku Islands]] and opposes their inclusion under the [[Treaty of Mutual Cooperation and Security between the United States and Japan|U.S.-Japan Security Treaty]].{{Sfn|Ogasawara|2015}}<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cna.com.tw/news/aipl/202104100049.aspx?utm_source=chatgpt.com|title=釣魚台納美日安保 馬英九：有損主權不該贊成|work=Central News Agency|date=10 April 2021|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref> In 2012, he proposed the "[[East China Sea Peace Initiative]]," urging all parties to exercise restraint, resolve disputes peacefully, and jointly develop resources in the region.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2012/08/06/2003539558|title=Ma proposes East China Sea initiative|work=Taipei Times|date=6 August 2012|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.mofa.gov.tw/News_Content.aspx?n=195&sms=99&s=78856|title=East China Sea　Peace Initiative Implementation Guidelines|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of China (Taiwan)|date=7 September 2012|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref> In 2014, Ma received the Eisenhower Medallion from [[People to People International]] for his efforts in the initiative.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Huang|first1=Kelven|last2=Lee|first2=James|title=President Ma awarded Eisenhower Medallion for peace initiative|url=http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201409160020.aspx|access-date=18 September 2014|agency=Central News Agency|date=16 September 2014|archive-date=5 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150405031228/http://focustaiwan.tw/search/201409160020.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2015, Ma introduced the "South China Sea Peace Initiative," advocating for the peaceful resolution of disputes and the joint development of resources in the [[South China Sea]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Ma|first=Ying-jeou|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-plan-for-peace-in-the-south-china-sea-1434040267?msockid=39b714b5e26f69bf2f62017ee31268c3|title=A Plan for Peace in the South China Sea|work=The Wall Street Journal|date=11 June 2015|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref> The following year, he visited [[Taiping Island]] to reaffirm the ROC's sovereignty over the territory and its status as an island.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2016/01/29/2003638307|title=Ma touts peace on Taiping Island visit|work=Taipei Times|date=29 January 2016|access-date=27 April 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
[[File:President and Mrs. Ma attend welcoming banquet organized by overseas compatriots and academics in San Francisco Bay Area. 20090629.jpg|thumb|President Ma and his wife, [[Christine Chow Ma|Chow Mei-ching]], during an overseas visit in 2009]]
Ma married [[Christine Chow Ma|Christine Mei-ching Chow]], a classmate of his sister at New York University,{{Sfn|Copper|2024|p=136}} in 1977.{{Sfn|Ma|2023|p=3–4}} The couple has two daughters: Lesley and Yuan-chung.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Won Pat |first=Judith T. |last2=Respicio |first2=Rory J. |date=2012 |title=Recognizing and congratulating President Ma Ying-jeou on his re-election as President of the Republic of China (Taiwan) |url=https://www.guamlegislature.com/COR_Res_31st/Adopted/Res.%20No.%20R404-31%20(LS).pdf |access-date=8 January 2025 |agency=[[Guam Legislature]]}}</ref> Lesley (Ma Wei-chung, Chinese: {{zh|labels=no|t=馬唯中}}) was born in 1981 in [[New York City]] while Ma was attending Harvard. She completed her undergraduate studies in life sciences at [[Harvard University]] and then her graduate studies at New York University.<ref name="daughters1">[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/presidential%20election/2008/03/24/148533/Next-first.htm Next first lady may keep her Mega job] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170629081833/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/national/presidential%20election/2008/03/24/148533/next-first.htm|date=29 June 2017}}. ''[[China Post]]''. 24 March 2008.</ref><ref name="greencard" /> Ma's youngest daughter, Ma Yuan-chung, was born in Taiwan and completed her master's degree at the [[London School of Economics]] and earned a doctorate from [[Nanyang Technological University]].<ref name="daughters1" /><ref>{{cite web|date=22 March 2008|script-title=zh:馬唯中 & 馬元中: A Look at the First Daughters (Pictures)|url=http://www.digitalalchemy.tv/2008/03/taiwan-election-look-at-first-daughters.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090501083711/http://www.digitalalchemy.tv/2008/03/taiwan-election-look-at-first-daughters.html|archive-date=1 May 2009|access-date=24 March 2008|website=digitalalchemy.tv}}</ref>

Ma and his wife sponsor children of [[Economy of El Salvador|low-income families]] in [[El Salvador]] through [[World Vision International]]. On an official trip to Central America in June 2009, Mrs. Ma was able to meet with one of her sponsored children, an 11-year-old boy in [[San Salvador]].<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-affairs/2009/06/02/210466/First-lady.htm First lady meets with sponsored boy in El Salvador] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603190322/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/foreign-affairs/2009/06/02/210466/First%2Dlady.htm|date=3 June 2009}}. ''[[China Post]]''. 2 June 2009.</ref>

Ma is the uncle of [[Gene Yu]], an American, former [[United States Army Special Forces]] captain and the author of the ''Yellow Green Beret: Stories of an Asian-American Stumbling Around U.S. Army Special Forces'' series of books.<ref>{{Cite web|date=23 December 2013|title=Former soldier silent on his role in hostage drama|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/12/23/2003579632|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027153700/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/12/23/2003579632|archive-date=27 October 2018|access-date=7 June 2014|work=Taipei Times}}</ref> Yu was instrumental in negotiating, locating and working to free Taiwanese citizen Chang An-wei from [[Abu Sayyaf]] militants with Filipino special forces and private security contractors in 2013.<ref name="Snatched Tourist Faces Torment in Jungle">{{cite news|last=Lewis|first=Leo|date=5 April 2014|title=Snatched Tourist Faces Torment in Jungle|newspaper=[[The Times]]|location=London|url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/snatched-tourist-faces-torment-in-jungle-jqnq0bx0zb5|url-status=live|access-date=7 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170102173833/http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/world/asia/article4054851.ece|archive-date=2 January 2017}}</ref>

Ma speaks [[Taiwanese Hokkien]], [[Xiang Chinese|Hunanese]] (his ancestral native dialect),<ref>{{cite news|last=Liu 刘|first=Shuangshuang 双双|script-title=zh:湖南表兄称马英九祖籍湖南湘潭 祖坟保存完好|language=zh-hans|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/taiwan/2005-07/20/content_3243341.htm|agency=[[Xinhua News Agency]]|access-date=18 April 2020|date=20 July 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050722001817/http://news.xinhuanet.com/taiwan/2005-07/20/content_3243341.htm|archive-date=22 July 2005|quote={{lang|zh-hans|十五年前曾在台湾与表弟短暂相聚的刘肇礼说，在父亲的言传身教下，英九能说一口流利的湖南话，}}}}</ref> [[Taiwanese Mandarin|Mandarin]] (national language) as well as [[English language|English]] fluently.

==Honours==
*{{Flag|Belize}}:
**[[File:Order of Belize - ribbon bar.png|70px]] [[Order of Belize]] 
*{{flag|Burkina Faso}}: 
** [[File:Burkina Faso Ordre national GC ribbon.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of the {{ill|Ordre de l'Étalon|fr|Ordre de l'Étalon}}, formerly National Order of Burkina Faso (2012)
*{{flag|Dominican Republic}}:
**[[File:DOM Order of Merit of Duarte, Sanchez and Mella ribbon.svg|70px]] Grand Cross with Gold Breast Star of the [[Order of Merit of Duarte, Sánchez and Mella]] (2015)<ref>{{Cite web|title=President Ma's morning activities on his second day in the Dominican Republic|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/NEWS/4682|access-date=2024-01-25|website=Office of the President}}</ref>
*{{flag|El Salvador}}:
**[[File:National Order of José Matias Delgado (El Salvador) - ribbon bar.gif|70px]] Grand Cross with Gold Star of the [[Order of José Matías Delgado|National Order of Doctor José Matías Delgado]] (2014)
*{{flag|Eswatini}}:
**[[File:Royal Order of the Crown (Swaziland).gif|70px]] Collar of the [[Royal Order of the Crown]] (2012)
*{{flag|Gambia}}:
**[[File:GAM Order of the Republic of the Gambia ribbon.svg|70px]] Honorary Grand Commander of the [[Order of the Republic (Gambia)|Order of the Republic of The Gambia]] (2012)<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20120503075722/https://allafrica.com/stories/201204121039.html {{Bare URL inline|date=August 2024}}</ref>
*{{flag|Guatemala}}:
**[[File:Order of the Quetzal - Grand Cross (Guatemala) - ribbon bar.png|70px]] Grand Collar of the [[Order of the Quetzal]]
*{{flag|Haiti}}:
**[[File:Orden Nacional de Honor y Mérito, Gran Cruz.svg|alt=Grand Cross of the National Order of Honour and Merit|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[National Order of Honour and Merit]] (2014)
*{{flag|Marshall Islands}}:
**Traditional Paramount Leader Medal (2013)
*{{flag|Saint Kitts and Nevis}}:
**[[File:Order of St Christopher and Nevis (Saint Kitts and Nevis).png|70px]] Collar of the [[Order of St Christopher and Nevis]] (2011)<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-03-10|title=St. Kitts and Nevis bestows "Order of St. Christopher and Nevis on Taiwan President|url=https://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/17090|access-date=2024-01-25|website=SKNVibes|archive-date=25 January 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240125143706/https://www.sknvibes.com/news/newsdetails.cfm/17090|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flag|SMOM}}:
**[[File:OPMM-co.svg|70px]] Collar [[Order pro merito Melitensi|''pro Merito Melitensi'']] (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.orderofmalta.int/news/first-visit-of-a-grand-master-to-the-republic-of-china-taiwan/|title=First visit of a Grand Master to the Republic of China (Taiwan)|access-date=31 January 2023}}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Taiwan|Politics|Biography}}
*[[Politics of the Republic of China]]

== Notes ==
<references group="lower-alpha" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

=== Additional sources ===

*{{Cite journal |last=Ogasawara |first=Yoshiyuki |date=January 2015 |title=Ma Ying-jeou's Doctoral Thesis and Its Impact on the Japan-Taiwan Fisheries Negotiations |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/24761028.2015.11869085 |journal=Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies |language=en |publisher=[[Waseda University]] |volume=4 |issue=2 |pages=67–92 |doi=10.1080/24761028.2015.11869085 |issn=2476-1028}}
*{{Cite book |last=Ma |first=Ying-jeou |url=https://brill.com/display/title/69414?language=en |title=Chinese (Taiwan) Yearbook of International Law and Affairs |publisher=[[Brill (publisher)|Brill]] |year=2023 |isbn=978-90-04-68764-6 |volume=40 |pages=1–9 |chapter=Reflections on Why I Studied International Law and How I Used It to Help my Country and People |doi=10.1163/9789004687639_002 |chapter-url=https://brill.com/downloadpdf/display/book/9789004687639/BP000009.pdf}}
*{{Cite book |last=Beckershoff |first=André |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Assessing_the_Presidency_of_Ma_Ying_jiu/MkZbDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=Biography+of+Ma+Ying-jeou&printsec=frontcover |title=Assessing the Presidency of Ma Ying-jiu in Taiwan: Hopeful Beginning, Hopeless End? |last2=Schubert |first2=Gunter |date=2018-05-20 |publisher=[[Routledge]] |isbn=978-1-351-04509-4 |language=en}}
*{{Cite book |last=Copper |first=John F. |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Taiwan_s_Presidents/Z5sUEQAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=Taiwan's Presidents: Profiles of the Majestic Six |date=2024-08-05 |publisher=[[Routledge]] ([[Taylor & Francis]]) |isbn=978-1-040-04292-2 |language=en}}
*{{Cite book |last=Brown |first=Kerry |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Berkshire_Dictionary_of_Chinese_Biograph/GbvBDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=Berkshire Dictionary of Chinese Biography Volume 4 |date=2015-05-01 |publisher=[[Berkshire Publishing Group]] |isbn=978-1-61472-900-6 |language=en}}
*{{Cite book |last=Copper |first=John Franklin |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_KMT_Returns_to_Power/HbBKKy_TEcIC?hl=en&gbpv=0 |title=The KMT Returns to Power: Elections in Taiwan, 2008-2012 |date=2012-11-08 |publisher=Lexington Books |isbn=978-0-7391-7478-4 |language=en}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Tsai |first=Tung-chieh |last2=Liu |first2=Tony Tai-ting |date=2017-04-01 |title=Cross-Strait Relations and Regional Integration: A Review of the Ma                     Ying-jeou Era (2008–2016) |url=https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/186810261704600102 |journal=Journal of Current Chinese Affairs |language=en |volume=46 |issue=1 |pages=11–35 |doi=10.1177/186810261704600102 |issn=1868-1026|doi-access=free }}
*{{Cite journal |last=Wang |first=T. Y. |last2=Cheng |first2=S. F. |date=2015-12-01 |title=Presidential approval in Taiwan: An analysis of survey data in the Ma Ying-jeou presidency |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0261379415001171 |journal=[[Electoral Studies]] |volume=40 |pages=34–44 |doi=10.1016/j.electstud.2015.06.010 |issn=0261-3794}}
*{{Cite book |last=Cabestan |first=Jean-Pierre |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lHUKBAAAQBAJ&printsec=copyright#v=onepage&q&f=false |title=Political Changes in Taiwan Under Ma Ying-jeou: Partisan Conflict, Policy Choices, External Constraints and Security Challenges |last2=deLisle |first2=Jacques |date=2014-07-17 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-317-75509-8 |language=en}}
*{{Cite book |last=Li |first=Xiaobing |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/The_History_of_Taiwan/R43CEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22National+Taiwan+University%22+history&pg=PT261&printsec=frontcover |title=The History of Taiwan |date=2019-10-25 |publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing USA |isbn=979-8-216-09808-9 |language=en}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Copper |first=John F. |date=2008 |title=Taiwan's 2008 Presidential and Vice Presidential Election: Maturing Democracy |url=https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1191&context=mscas |journal=Maryland Series in Contemporary Asian Studies |publisher=[[University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law]] |volume=192 |issue=1 |pages=1–88 |isbn=9781932330229}}
*{{Cite journal |last=Quah |first=Jon S.T. |date=2015 |title=Enhancing the Effectiveness of Taiwan's Anti-Corruption Agencies in Combating Corruption |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/44289101?seq=10 |journal=American Journal of Chinese Studies |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=291–307 |issn=2166-0042}}
*{{Citation |last=Wang |first=Hung-chung |title=Evaluation of Presidential Candidates’ Personal Traits |date=2017 |work=The Taiwan Voter |pages=170–197 |editor-last=Achen |editor-first=Christopher H. |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctvndv9z7.11?searchText=Ma+ying+jeou+%22Minister+of+Justice%22&searchUri=/action/doBasicSearch?Query=Ma+ying+jeou+%2522Minister+of+Justice%2522&so=rel&ab_segments=0/basic_phrase_search/control&refreqid=fastly-default:645a79d84d679f47c0f4da9dbbec4b99&seq=11 |access-date=2025-04-18 |publisher=University of Michigan Press |isbn=978-0-472-07353-5 |last2=Chen |first2=Lu-huei |editor2-last=Wang |editor2-first=T. Y.}}.
*{{Cite journal |last=Kempf |first=David |date=1997 |title=Stamping Out Corruption: a New Issue in Taiwan Politics: More Democracy, More Corruption: the KMT's Dilemma |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/24050581?searchText=ma+ying+jeou+%22minister+of+justice%22&searchUri=/action/doBasicSearch?Query=ma+ying+jeou+%2522minister+of+justice%2522&so=rel&ab_segments=0/basic_phrase_search/control&refreqid=fastly-default:96eae556252dc34ef32dad2f84fe6d69&seq=3 |journal=China Perspectives |issue=9 |pages=45–51 |issn=2070-3449}}
*{{Citation |last=Cabestan |first=Jean-Pierre |title=Changing Identities in Taiwan under Ma Ying-jeou |date=2017 |work=Taiwan and China |pages=42–60 |editor-last=Dittmer |editor-first=Lowell |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/j.ctt1w76wpm.6?seq=1 |access-date=2025-04-20 |series=Fitful Embrace |edition=1 |publisher=University of California Press |doi=10.1525/j.ctt1w76wpm.6?seq=1}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Ma Ying-jeou}}
{{wikiquote|Ma Ying-jeou}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20050404025513/http://www.ma19.net/ Ma Ying-jeou Official Website (Traditional Chinese)]
*[https://digital.lib.hkbu.edu.hk/corpus/ Corpus of Political Speeches] Free access to political speeches by Ma Ying-jeou and other Chinese politicians, developed by Hong Kong Baptist University Library
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20240105193641if_/https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1061&context=mscas Dissertation] available at [[University of Maryland School of Law]]
*[https://digitalcommons.law.umaryland.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1698&context=mjil Signature]

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before= [[Wei Yung]]}}
{{s-ttl|title= [[Research, Development and Evaluation Commission|Minister of Research, Development and Evaluation]]|years=1988–1991}}
{{s-aft||after= [[Sun Te-hsiung]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Lu Yu-wen]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Ministry of Justice (Taiwan)|Minister of Justice]]|years=1993–1996}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Liao Cheng-hao]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Chen Shui-bian]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Mayor of Taipei]]|years=1998–2006}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Hau Lung-pin]]}}
|-
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of the Republic of China]]|years=2008–2016}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tsai Ing-wen]]}}
|-
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Lien Chan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of leaders of the Kuomintang|Chairman of the Kuomintang]]|years=2005–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Wu Po-hsiung]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Lien Chan]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Kuomintang]] nominee for [[President of the Republic of China]]|years=[[2008 Taiwanese presidential election|2008]], [[2012 Taiwanese presidential election|2012]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Eric Chu]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Wu Po-hsiung]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[List of leaders of the Kuomintang|Chairman of the Kuomintang]]|years=2009–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Wu Den-yih]]<br />{{small|Acting}}}}
{{s-end}}

{{Presidents of the Republic of China}}
{{KMTleaders}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ma, Ying-Jeou}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:Taiwanese people from Shaanxi]]
[[Category:Ma Ying-jeou| ]]
[[Category:Chairpersons of the Kuomintang]]
[[Category:Chinese Civil War refugees]]
[[Category:Conservatism in Taiwan]]
[[Category:Harvard Law School alumni]]
[[Category:Hong Kong emigrants to Taiwan]]
[[Category:Taiwanese people from Hunan]]
[[Category:Kuomintang presidential nominees]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Mayors of Taipei]]
[[Category:National Taiwan University alumni]]
[[Category:Taiwanese politicians of Hakka descent]]
[[Category:New York University School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Boston]]
[[Category:Taiwanese people of Hakka descent]]
[[Category:People from Kowloon]]
[[Category:Presidents of the Republic of China on Taiwan]]
[[Category:Ministers of justice of Taiwan]]
[[Category:Taiwanese Roman Catholics]]