Ma Poll D'oh Fuel -- with bonus ECFA Fun!

Apr 30, 1972 -- Jerome Cohen, law prof, says there is a secret "one China but not now" deal between the Nixon Administration and the Chinese (click on pic to see it larger in Flickr).

The President of Taiwan has coyly repeated over and over again that he doesn't want a Ma-Hu meet up soon, that he didn't become Chairman to facilitate face time with the mass murdering leader of Zion China. Today the pro-KMT rag China Times came out with a poll purporting to support a Ma-Hu lovefest:

The poll found that 47 percent support a meeting between President Ma Ying-jeou and the mainland Chinese leader Hu Jintao. Only 16 percent said there is no need for such an encounter.

Regarding the timing of a possible Ma-Hu meeting, 42 percent said it should be held between 2010 and 2012, with 30 percent indicating that this year would be the most opportune time. A resounding 72 percent believe such an encounter could take place during the president’s first term. Only 14 percent said the meeting should take place after Ma’s mandate expires May 2012.

The survey also showed that 35 percent feel Hong Kong would be the best place to carry out such a summit. Around 30 percent hoped that Hu could come to Taiwan to meet Ma while 5 percent said the encounter should be held on the mainland. A total of 20 percent think the Ma-Hu meeting must be held in a territory separate from Taiwan or the mainland.

Despite the obvious desire of the powers-that-be for a Ma-Hu Lovefest Nobel Prize Tour '09, only 47% of the population in a pro-KMT poll can be found to support it. Of course, the ploy is obvious -- remember when Ma promised he would never run for mayor of Taipei, and Dear Old Dad had to "beg" him? Oh, and then Ma said he would never be President and Chairman at the same time.... the Great Man shows his Greatness by benevolently acceding to the public's request and setting up a date with his ally across the Strait. It's the public pressure, you see.

The rest of the poll is actually more interesting. In a survey from a pro-KMT paper....

Separately, as to the signing of the proposed cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement, 58 percent of those polled said they are aware of the proposed trade pact.

Out of these, 37 percent said they understood its content, while 47 percent stated they were unclear about the agreement. A total of 17 percent said they have no idea about the nature of the pact.

Overall, 48 percent see the inking of the ECFA in a positive light, believing it will assist in Taiwan’s overall development. However, 24 percent fear that it might have a negative impact. Only 5 percent believe it will exert no influence.

The survey also revealed that 52 percent are in favor of inking an ECFA with the mainland. Only 25 percent said there was no need for such agreement, with 23 percent seeing the agreement as having no effect.

...just under half think it will be positive, just over half think it should be agreed to, and 63% are not clear on its content. And that's from a paper that is institutionally committed to the other side.

Ya gotta love a populace in which 63% don't understand it but 52% said they approve anyway. Further, even though no details are out, a psychic 37% slice of the population understands it. And people wonder why expats here drink so much...

Taipei Times had a Taiwan Think Tank poll the other day that had the "don't understand" column at 90%. Taiwan-Born American made many of the same points about that poll.

Today's totally unrelated rant: why are there so many idiot commentators on the Left and Right writing about this crisis implying that China's system "works" while the democracies have failed? For over a century at least, the western democracies have been wealthier, offered their citizens more rights, better quality of life, and greater wealth and freedom than China. One economic crisis and suddenly China has a "system" that kicks butt? What planet are these idiots living on?
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Daily Links

• Project 2049 has its recommendations out on Taiwan Defense: Deter, Defend, Repel, and Partner
• Typhoon/tropical storm due in a couple of days -- here's the track.
• Taiwan is finally Taiwan at an international event.
• Taiwan wipes floor with China in baseball rematch.
• Taiwan Trance goes to Shuilian Cave in Miaoli.
• The Straits Times warns that the KMT may face a revolt from local factions due to Ma.

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