PARIS — Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, who marked his first 100 days in office last week, has wrought major changes in Taiwan's relations with both China and the United States, mending relations damaged by his predecessor, the pro-independence Chen Shui-bian, who insisted on pushing the envelope at every turn.
Ma's first presidential trip abroad this month illustrates the change in both style and substance. He went to Paraguay and the Dominican Republic to attend the inauguration of the presidents of those countries, which have diplomatic relations with Taiwan.
Like Chen, he transited the U.S. on his way to and from South and Central America. However, unlike his predecessor, Ma did not attempt to politicize those transit stops in the U.S. and make them more important than the ostensible destinations.