Presidential candidate John McCain praised peaceful elections held in Taiwan over the weekend that handed victory to nationalist Ma Ying-jeou.

Mr. Ma ousted the current ruling party, running on a platform of forging closer economic ties with China.

"Once again we are witnessing the peaceful transfer of political power from one government to another based on ballots in an election that was free and fair," Mr. McCain said in a statement. "The vigorous campaigning of Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT and the DPP's Frank Hsieh are testimony to the press freedoms, democratic process and the rule of law the Taiwanese people have worked so hard to build. Taiwan's election is a fine example for the region."

— Carrie Sheffield, Web editor, The Washington Times