As with most elections, security and the economy decided the outcome of Taiwan’s presidential and parliamentary polls over the weekend. What also helped Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou’s reelection by a comfortable margin was his ``clean” image.
On the contrary, President Lee Myung-bak may have to thank the Korean system for not allowing sitting presidents to seek another term.
What has made such a contrasting situation for the two leaders, both of whom had landslide wins with similar platforms of economy-first pragmatism four years ago?
The difference lies in two C-words: (cross-border) cooperation and corruption. Ma put the economy ahead of politics in a cross-strait relationship, seeking to find common interests between Taiwan and China instead of emphasizing differences between them. Lee did the opposite, freezing almost all exchanges between the two Koreas for reasons of political difference.
Thanks to the Taiwanese version of the Sunshine Policy, the island state’s economic growth hovered above the double-digit rate even during the global financial crisis, far exceeding that of Korea’s. Taiwan’s international competitiveness skyrocketed to sixth in the world in 2010, compared with Korea’s 22nd. China and Taiwan signed 15 cross-strait agreements over the years to free trade, transport and mail exchanges.
It suggests much that Ma’s pragmatic policy receives warm support from both China and the United States, a rare coincidence of interest between the G2 powers both of whom do not want to see any more tension in this part of the world always nervous about volatile security situations. His ``3S” policy stressing safety, security and stability comes in stark contrast to Lee’s hard-line North Korea policy, which has caused lots of unsafe, unstable and insecure feelings among Koreans.
Korea and Taiwan ― and the two leaders ― have much in common in their economic performances. Despite relatively robust economic expansion, most people are not feeling happy because of a widening income gap and high joblessness, especially among the younger generation. The big business-friendly, export-oriented policies of the two countries explain why the gap between the ruling and opposition parties sharply narrowed in Taiwan, and why the political power seems likely to change hands in Korea this year.
The biggest difference between Ma and Lee is the corruption level in their administrations. Ma, having seen the result of the political corruption that sent his predecessor to prison, made an anti-corruption campaign as his foremost slogan and succeeded. Lee, even after witnessing the tragic fate of his predecessor who killed himself because of corruption by his aides and relatives, is suspected of far more serious irregularities and improprieties.
Most Koreans would find it humiliating but it may not be too much to say one can see the difference between genuine conservatism and pragmatism and their bogus brands in the difference between Ma and Lee and their administrations.
All this shows why Korea should stop being immersed in megalomania and learn from its smaller neighbor. The 20th anniversary of establishing Korea-China relationship means the same period of diplomatic alienation from Taiwan.