20 Facts About Ma Ying-jeou

Ma Ying-jeou then studied law in the United States, where he earned a master's degree from New York University in 1976 and his doctorate from Harvard University in 1981.

Ma Ying-jeou initiated a series of cross-strait summits with the mainland, was elected again as party chairman in 2009, and signed the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement with the People's Republic of China in 2010.

Ma Ying-jeou's father, Ma Ho-ling, was born in Xiangtan and had joined the Kuomintang and its youth army in 1941.

Ma Ying-jeou was a one year old infant when the family moved to Taiwan.

Ma Ying-jeou received a baptism at Resurrection church on Dali Street in Taipei near the Huaxi Street Night Market.

Ma Ying-jeou passed with high marks on the General Scholastic Ability Test and entered National Taiwan University in September 1968 to study law.

Ma Ying-jeou visited 20 universities, including the University of Chicago, Harvard University, Georgetown University, and the University of Texas at Austin.

Ma Ying-jeou did research under Judge Richard Reeve Baxter of the International Court of Justice.

Ma Ying-jeou was an editor of the Harvard Environmental Law Review.

Ma Ying-jeou would go on to serve as deputy head of the Mainland Affairs Council, a cabinet office responsible for managing Taiwan's relationship with mainland China.

Ma Ying-jeou initiated hardline policies of prosecuting corruption, power abuse, and political scandals, drawing criticism from KMT party officials that were involved in and reliant on local corruption.

Ma Ying-jeou decided to return to academia afterwards and accepted another teaching position at National Chengchi University.

Ma Ying-jeou opposed the 2004 Taiwanese cross-Strait relations referendum, which had been widely criticized by the US and PRC.

Ma Ying-jeou visited India and Singapore in June 2007 to increase bilateral exchanges as well as to gain legitimacy and experience for his 2008 presidential bid.

Ma Ying-jeou won with 7,659,014 votes against Hsieh's 5,444,949 votes.

Ma Ying-jeou served as a witness during the negotiations between the Kuomintang and the Taiwan People's Party to form a joint presidential ticket for the 2024 election; however, the talks ultimately collapsed without an agreement.

Ma Ying-jeou emphasized that the island's future should be determined by its people, rather than the government.

Ma Ying-jeou later approved a visit by the Dalai Lama to lead prayers for Typhoon Morakot victims in August 2009.

Ma Ying-jeou has emphasized the "1992 Consensus" as the existing basis for constructive dialogue and exchange between mainland China and Taiwan.

Ma Ying-jeou completed her undergraduate studies in life sciences at Harvard University and then her graduate studies at New York University.