E-Concussion

*Face-to-Face with President Ma

After winning the Nation’s Top Office, His toughest Race is Just Beginning
From: CNN Interactive English-- Sep. 2008-- p.22
Anjali Rao, TalkAsia
In the colorful yet noisy world of Taiwan politics, new president Ma Ying-jeou is seen not only as a voice of calm, but also this island’s best hope in eight years for a friendly relationship with China. I’m Anjali Rao, this is TalkAsia
President Ma, it’s good to have you back on TalkAsia. When we last met, you were Chairman Ma, now you’re President Ma. Other than the title, what’s changed for you?
Ma Ying-jeou
A lot of things have changed. My election victory signifies a change of course for Taiwan’s policy toward the world, particularly towards the Chinese mainland, and on the personal level, there are changes as well. For instance, my wife, my sister, my brother-in-law have to either resign or retire to avoid potential conflict of interest. We strictly enforce the law; so that we want to make sure that our family will have little to worry about during the course of my administration So this is quite a change for my family and for my family members.
Anjali
And yesterday we caught up with you. It was a Sunday. It was also your birthday, which you had to give up to conduct various official duties. Do you feel like you’ve had to sacrifice a lot to have power?



Ma
Well, we don’t call that sacrifice. We call that…we perceive that as a necessary step to make my discharge of duty successful and efficient. And, for instance, we only have some free time on weekends, so we use that to go outside of Taipei City to meet more people, to hear their problems and to come up with solutions.
Anjali
Is there not such a thing as a day off for you anymore?
Ma
Not in the last almost 10 years.
Anjali
Has the presidency been what you thought that it would be?
Ma
Well, I think it’s one of the…the, I would say, the greatest responsibility that I’ve ever shouldered, and it’s also the greatest honor I’ve ever received. So, I take it very seriously, and I try to do my best, my utmost, to help people and to enforce the policies that I have already promised our people. Believe me, it’s an interesting job, but also it’s very challenging.
A
What have been the most unexpected aspects?
M
Well, the sudden change of the world economy, the skyrocketing oil prices, plus the rising food prices, both have contributed to imported inflation in Taiwan and other stagnation of the economy. And we knew that the future wouldn’t be a very smooth road, but we didn’t expect the change to such an extent, particularly the price of oil. Suddenly you will see that as people’s complaints grow, they also affect your opinion poll rating.
All this happened in the last two months. So, I can’t say that I didn’t expect that, but I know this is something we have to shoulder. I have to take. After all, I’m the president of the country.
CNN Anchor
We’ve got live pictures of a Chinese plane landing in Taiwan. It’s a historic move brokered by Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou, who has promised to strengthen economic ties with China.



A
What did that day mean to you and to Taiwan?
M
The most important thing is that it shows our determination to pursue peace and prosperity across the Taiwan Strait. That’s a very important and strong message to the rest of the world.
You said that it made headlines. Of course it would make headlines. The two sides were enemies for over 60 years. Now suddenly, they talk about tourism. They talk about exchange of students and trade. This is something very important and very historic.
A
Did you, though, feel a sense of personal achievement on the day of that first flight?
M
Yes, but it’s not just my credit only. Many people worked for that, and this is just the beginning. We have a long way to go, but in addition to those economic issues, we do have the issue of international space—for instance, our meaningful participation in the World Health Organization, for instance, and of course, security issues. There are more than 1,000 short-ranged missiles on the mainland coast targeted against Taiwan.
So, what should we do about those when we are developing trade and other relationships? So, all those issues are very complicated and are interconnected with each other. So we have to be very careful to steer a course that would really bring peace and prosperity to people across the Taiwan Strait.
A
Have you any plans to bring up the presence of all those missiles with China’s leadership?
M
Well, we have repeatedly requested that the missiles be removed if we are going to negotiate a peace agreement. The offer was made last November by Mr. Hu Jintao. We actually believe that this is a good move, a positive move, but certainly we don’t want to negotiate a peace agreement under the threat of missile attack.



A
So if Hu Jintao rang you up today and said, “Hey, let’s talk,” you’d still say no?
M
Oh, we are talking, but not by ourselves, by our…what we call “white gloves.” We are already shaking hands, but with white gloves on our hands.

A
That is political speak if ever I heard it.
Granted, your presidency has really only just started, but if you cast your mind forward to the day when Ma Ying-jeou is no longer in power, how do you want people to remember your time at the top?
M
Oh, I hope we will lay the foundation for Taiwan’s future development. We understand that in the last eight to 10 years, there are a lot of things that we should have done, but were not done, and now we have to make up the lost eight years.
But we have also to set the foundations for future peace and prosperity, and so our relationship with part of that. If we can take care of that, I think Taiwan will have a very bright future.
A
President Ma, thank you very much indeed for sparing the time to speak to us today. I look forward to the next time.
M
Thank you so much for the interview.
A[
And that’s gonna do it for this edition of TalkAsia. Thanks for being with me, Anjali Rao, and my guest today, the president of Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou. I’ll see you on the next edition. Bye-bye.


*Quiz

Don’t worry~ you can make it.

1. In the _____________of her duties, Wendy is cheerful and efficient.
a. missile b. discharge c. credit d. title
2. The agent _____________ a contract between the young pitcher and a Major League baseball team.
a. conducted b. granted c. brokered
3. The economy is suffering from _____________ due to inflation and rising energy costs.
a. stagnation b. credit c. edition d.. prosperity

--Fill in one word in one blank to complete the sentence.
The answers are from the vocabulary in the box.




4. ____________ oil prices have helped to slow the global economy.
5. Carey does her _____________to help her friends.
6. The company _____________ a course that took few business risks.
7. The star made _____________ by dating several prominent fashion models.
8. James often _____________ his mind forward to imagine where she will be in 10 years.
9. With subtle acts of kindness, Leo laid the _____________ for his courtship of Joyce.
10. _____________, Peggy is right, but shy may find it hard to persuade others.
11. The director has been in _____________ for several decades.
12. Vince _____________ time each week to join E-concussion Club.
13. Paul _____________ responsibility for the new product.
14. Gab _____________ business on the insurance course.
15. Sharon _____________ her career to spend more time with her family.

Answers: Please check with Joyce or any present e-concussioner.