Taiwan's Ma omits Japan in inaugural speech, despite presence of 71 in Japan delegation

Friday 23rd May, 03:48 PM JST

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9 Comments

some14some at 06:41 PM JST - 23rd May

It is like asking Iraq for a letter of thanks for SDF's inactive role there. It is understood that anybody would like side with strong partner, so obviously China will get the preference. Any comments from Ishihara?
Pukey2 at 08:28 PM JST - 23rd May

Wasn't Ishihara busy getting an award from Chen Shui Bian? I hope he's not expecting any from the new president.
henryo12 at 09:24 PM JST - 23rd May

President Ma already made his intentions known to Japan. It would be a waste of time to keep on rehashing the same things over again in front of them. What do Japanese politicians want? Does he have to kowtow to them like in the old days when the Japanese military was there? No he does not. President Ma is trying to show that he is strong and independent and can stand on his own feet. His focus is on China and he made it specifically and repeatedly clear and if Japan does not like it. Tough. That is international politics for you. They should have been keeping track of the international political environment. There is a lot of Taiwanese that wants to have a good relations with China because they know it is in their interests. It is not like years ago when Japan was an influential factor economically or when the Japanese Imperial Army occupied it during WWII and gave their cronies the good life when they occupied it.
rjd_jr at 11:30 PM JST - 23rd May

What a classless "leader." In international politics it is all about being respectful. Ma darned well knew there was a sizeable Japanese delegate in the audience, and to deliberately omit references to Japan is a slap in the face. Being strong and independent is totally irrelevant to a leader of a nation showing respect in treating its guests. At least mentioning the presence of the delegats, or of continuing to work with Japan, could have taken at least one sentence or two. Is that too much to ask?

Ma showed a total lack of class in this one, those Jp delegates have every right to express anger. If this happened the other way around then people would blast the Japanese for not showing respect. Pure hypocrisy, shame on MA!
usaexpat at 11:32 PM JST - 23rd May

Ma better be "pro japan" unless he's looking for re-unification under PRC rule. Taiwan doesn't have that many freinds and should recognize the one's it has.
Terrikus at 01:31 AM JST - 24th May

Ma better be "pro japan" unless he's looking for re-unification under PRC rule.

Could be that he is shrug I, for one, would be happy to see this rather destabilizing issue settled.
tclh at 05:27 AM JST - 24th May

I agree with" rjd jr",this new Ma as politician is very low class ,lack of character,rude and has no spine.
Mark_McCracken at 05:47 AM JST - 24th May

His speech was Ma-Ma.
reddragonguy at 11:03 AM JST - 27th May

What does that mean a delegation of 71 japanese ?

Is it too miserables for japan to count on these 'so few'? Expecting gratitues was the most childish diplomacy!