Ma Ying-jeou

12th and 13th President of Republic of China(Taiwan) · Taiwan · Politicians · Born 1950 · age 76

Ma Ying-jeou is read about 1,253 times a day, in 60 languages.

A typical day, 30 days to 15 October 2026

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He steered Taiwan toward its closest engagement with mainland China in modern history - eight years of trade pacts, summits, and a 2015 handshake in Singapore that no president from either side of the strait had managed since the civil war ended in 1949.

A life in dates

2018“No ruling out the possibility of unification with China, no support for Taiwanese independence and no use of force.”In their words10 November 2018Ma Ying-jeou (2018) cited in: "Ma’s ‘three noes’ hurt Taiwan: Tsai" in Taipei Times, 10 November 2018.Read the whole statement

2016“Anyone who embraces the Republic of China with all of their heart definitely does not support the Taiwan independence movement.”In their words16 January 2016Ma Ying-jeou (2016) cited in: "President urges mainland China not to misjudge flag controversy" in Focus Taiwan, 16 January 2016.Read the whole statement

2014“Traditional Chinese characters carry both cultural significance and artistic values and promoting these characters has nothing to do with any political stance.”In their words2 January 2014Ma Ying-jeou (2014) cited in: "No plans to promote use of simplified characters: Ma" in Taipei Times, 2 January 2014.Read the whole statement

“We must actively engage in regional economic integration, as Taiwan is an island with few natural resources and a relatively small economy.”In their words2 January 2014Ma Ying-jeou (2014) cited in: "President seeks support for liberalization policies" in Taipei Times, 2 January 2014.Read the whole statement

2013“They (opposition) say we are selling out Taiwan and that we lost something, but they never say what exactly we have lost.”In their words26 October 2013Ma Ying-jeou (2013) cited in: "Time not right for political talks with China: Ma" in Taipei Times, 26 October 2013.Read the whole statement

“It is impossible for us to recognize (mainland China) as another nation within our (Republic of China) territory.”In their words23 October 2013Ma Ying-jeou (2013) cited in: "Cross-strait political issues not being shied from: Ma" in Taipei Times, 23 October 2013.Read the whole statement

2009Chairperson of the KuomintangOffice2009-20142008President of the Republic of ChinaOffice2008-20162005Chairperson of the KuomintangOffice2005-20071998Mayor of TaipeiOffice1998-20061993Minister of JusticeOffice1993-19961992Member of the National Assembly of the Republic of ChinaOffice1992-19951950Born13 July 1950

Also in Deutsch

Photos 12

Ma with his parents and sisters, 1955

Ma in 1972, a law student at National Taiwan University

Ma studied at Harvard Law School (pictured in 2024), earning his doctorate in law in 1981 under professors Louis Sohn and Detlev Vagts.[33]

Mayor Ma at the 2006 Taipei Marathon

Ma campaigning in 2007 at Shilin Night Market

Ma campaigning for president in Taipei, March 2008

President Ma with Vice President Vincent Siew (left) and Premier Wu Den-yih (right)

In their own words 10

Ma Ying-jeou

10 statements, newest first

Pragmatically speaking, there exists no possibility of Taiwan independence. The only option (for Taiwan) is whether to reunify (with Mainland China) or not.
Dec 20, 2018, Ma Ying-jeou (2018) cited in: "Taiwan's former President Ma says independence not possible" in Focus Taiwan, 20 December 2018., Own words
No ruling out the possibility of unification with China, no support for Taiwanese independence and no use of force.
Nov 10, 2018, Ma Ying-jeou (2018) cited in: "Ma’s ‘three noes’ hurt Taiwan: Tsai" in Taipei Times, 10 November 2018., Own words
Anyone who embraces the Republic of China with all of their heart definitely does not support the Taiwan independence movement.
Jan 16, 2016, Ma Ying-jeou (2016) cited in: "President urges mainland China not to misjudge flag controversy" in Focus Taiwan, 16 January 2016., Own words

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On YouTube

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Awards

Order of the Quetzal

Order of Francisco Morazán

National Order of Burkina Faso

Order of Belize

Star of the Solomon Islands

Order of Manuel Amador Guerrero

Family

Parents

Ma Ying-jeou

Partners

Spouse Christine Chow Ma

Children

Brothers and sisters

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About this person

Ma Ying-jeou was born in British Hong Kong in 1950 to a waishengren family, studied law at NYU and Harvard, and began his career translating for President Chiang Ching-kuo before rising through cabinet posts in the 1980s and 1990s. He beat Chen Shui-bian for Taipei mayor in 1998, then rode a landslide to the presidency in 2008 on a Kuomintang ticket that promised stability across the strait. His first term brought the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with Beijing in 2010 and a second win over Tsai Ing-wen in 2012, but the Sunflower Student Movement in 2014 - protesters occupying the legislature against a trade deal - broke his party's momentum and forced him out as KMT chairman. He left office in 2016 after the Ma-Xi meeting had already passed into history, and now teaches law at Soochow University while keeping a hand in party affairs.

Country

Taiwan

In common with Ma

Helen ClarkBoth received Star of the Solomon Islands

Politicians from Taiwan 5

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