Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou was elected the new chief of the Kuomintang (KMT) on Saturday in the party's first two-way direct chairmanship elections.

He won 72.4 per cent of the votes, and turnout was more than 50 per cent of the party's 1 million members, suggesting the 55-year-old leader is very popular.

But the new chairman will undoubtedly face a number of challenges after taking the helm of the KMT, which lost its 51-year rule of Taiwan to the "pro-independence" Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) in 2000. Among them is how best to reform the party, remain unified and integrate the pan-blue camp formed by the opposition KMT, People First Party (PFP) and New Party. All of these matters are crucial if the KMT is to retake power in the 2008 "presidential" polls.

Meanwhile, Ma, as the new leader of the island's largest opposition party, also shoulders responsibility for formulating a correct cross-Straits policy for the KMT and playing a major role in improving cross-Straits relations. This mission concerns not only the KMT's power base but also cross-Straits peace and stability as well as the welfare of 23 million people on the island.

Of course the KMT once felt at a loss when trying to maintain its long-standing policy of promoting cross-Straits reunification out of fear of being labelled "pro-mainland" by secessionist forces. That led to a compromise reached by some key KMT members that claimed the option of an "independent" Taiwan could not be ruled out ahead of the 2004 "presidential" elections.

Such a tactic, however, has proven to be a failure because it put the KMT's mainland policy on the wrong track and undermined support among pan-blue voters.

Only after the incumbent KMT Chairman Lien Chan made a historic visit to the mainland between late April and early May did the party begin to vocalize its opposition to "Taiwan independence" and support for closer cross-Straits ties.

Through his ground-breaking "journey of peace," Lien became the first KMT leader to set foot on the mainland since 1949 and opened the first top-level exchange with the Communist Party of China (CPC) in 60 years.

At the same time as they ended their decades-old hostility, the CPC and KMT also vowed to work for cross-Straits reconciliation and to strongly oppose "Taiwan independence."

Lien's landmark trip has not only been a huge boost for his political career but also helped recapture unprecedented support for the KMT among the Taiwanese public.

That sent a clear message that the KMT's efforts to push forward cross-Straits ties and fight secessionist activities are in line with the common aspirations of the majority of Taiwanese people, who hope for peace, stability and development across the Straits.

Given widespread support from both party members and voters, there is surely no reason for the new KMT leader to change the party's current mainland policy. In fact, Ma has already pledged to follow Lien's path in the run-up to the elections. As a strong advocate of the KMT's policy of eventual reunification across the Straits, Ma has always insisted an "independent" Taiwan is not an option.

The new KMT chief, who once served as vice-chairman of the island's "mainland affairs council," has abundant experience of dealing with cross-Straits relations.

He is therefore capable of charting the right course for the KMT in its efforts to shape cross-Straits relations. We hope under the leadership of Ma, the KMT will make greater contributions to developing cross-Straits relations for the benefit of people on both sides of the Straits as well as for the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

(China Daily July 18, 2005)