Mr Ma's win should be relatively palatable to Beijing because the Nationalists ostensibly favor unification between the sides, which split amid civil war in 1949. -- PHOTO: AFP

Beijing will now expect Mr Ma to move swiftly toward renewing talks on building close transportation and economic links, which have been frozen by Beijing for more than a decade, said Peking University professor Niu Jun.

'It seems to reflect the desire by Taiwan voters to get cross-strait relations back on an even keel, which is something the mainland wants too,' the professor said after it was announced that Mr Ma was to replace Mr Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party, long-reviled by Beijing for his pro-independence views.

Beijing claims self-governing Taiwan as Chinese territory and has threatened to invade the island to block its formal independence.

There was no direct, immediate comment from the Chinese government or ruling Communist Party on the election result.

Mr Niu said he did not expect any new initiatives from Beijing, saying the sides had already reached partial agreements when Nationalist politicians visited China earlier.

'It's not a question of adjusting policy, but rather of consolidating the consensus already reached,' Mr Niu said.

Beijing suspended talks in part due to Taipei's refusal to recognise Beijing's 'one China policy' under which Taiwan is considered a part of China.

China's official Xinhua News Agency reported on Ma's victory in what it called the island's 'leadership election' - reflecting Beijing's refusal to recognise Taiwan's government or any trappings of the island's sovereignty.

Mr Ma's win should be relatively palatable to Beijing because the Nationalists ostensibly favor unification between the sides, which split amid civil war in 1949.

Mr Ma had made improving ties with Beijing a cornerstone of his platform for the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), and that - plus concern over the economy - swept him to a 17-point win over ruling party chief Frank Hsieh.

'With Ma Ying-jeou as president, cross-strait relations will improve at a faster pace,' said Soochow University professor Liu Bih-rong.

'It shows that the Taiwanese people have given the KMT the mandate to open direct links and push for the one common market with China.'

Taiwan split from China in 1949 after a civil war, since when it has ruled itself, but Beijing still regards the island as part of its territory and has threatened to invade if it declares formal independence.

Mr Liu, who specialises in cross-strait relations, said the scale of Mr Ma's win was unexpected and, given that he was born in Hong Kong, also indicated a new maturity in politics.

Mr Chang Wu-yue, from the Tamkang University Institute of China Research, was also surprised by the 17-point victory margin, which meant it was unlikely to be contested.

He predicted an 'immediate reopening' of dialogue between Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation and China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait after Mr Ma formally takes office on May 20.

The two semi-official bodies are the main points of contact between the two nations, which do not have government relations.

However, he was cautious about predicting any early results. 'Whether any consensus of key issues can be achieved remains to be seen,' he said.

Mr Ma has vowed to try to normalise trade and investment relations with China and to sign a peace treaty that would end decades of hostility.

He was certainly more aggressive than his beaten rival, ruling party chief Frank Hsieh, in proposing a radical overhaul of economic ties.

He wants to gain access for Taiwanese companies to the vast mainland market while permitting Chinese investors to pump funds into the economy here.

The approach would focus on opening transport links and enabling Taiwan's financial services industry to gain a foothold in China, as well as obtaining investment guarantees and a double taxation agreement, he told reporters.

Beijing will also likely be happy at the failure of a pair of referendums on Taiwan's application to join the United Nations.

Election Commission figures show that about 5.5 million yes votes were counted Saturday for a measure on joining the UN under the name Taiwan.

It says 4.9 million yes votes were counted for the other measure, which was on joining under the official name of the Republic of China or an undefined alternative.

Approximately 8.5 million votes were necessary for passage.

China has railed against the first measure, calling it a dangerous step toward independence, and has rallied US and other international powers in opposing it.

On Friday, China's Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, warned that the referendum 'seriously threatens peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and Asia Pacific region'.

'The current situation in the Taiwan Strait is highly complex, sensitive,' Yang said in a statement posted on the ministry's Web site, described as a written response to questions posed by Russian media. -- AP, AFP

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