As Taiwan enters the last year of Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) presidency, the nation has much to examine and reflect on. A basic question is how effective Ma’s reign has been. In this matter, an issue that deserves special attention is Ma’s claim that his policy of non-confrontation — or what some might call appeasement and kowtowing to China — has brought peace to the Taiwan Strait. However, has it?




