In an exclusive interview, Taiwan's new president Ma Ying-jeou talks to Dorinda Elliott about the island's transition from authoritarian rule to freedom—and how it might serve as a model for mainland China

Condé Nast Traveler: Many Chinese say democracy isn't appropriate for Chinese soil. How do you respond?

Ma Ying-jeou: Democracy has three major elements. As President Lincoln said, "of the people," "by the people," and "for the people." In Chinese history and culture, there are "of the people" and "for the people," but not "by the people."

But just because we didn't have something in Chinese history, that doesn't mean we can't have it today. In human society, we learn from each other. Taiwan's ceaseless promotion of democracy is an example for Chinese societies all around the world. If this experiment succeeds, it will give all Chinese people a very important precedent. It doesn't matter what Chinese society it is, it will have a huge impact. This is why when we voted, there were so many Chinese people watching. Hong Kong, Macau, Chinese mainland, Southeast Asia, they all watched the vote counting.

On the People's Daily website, three years ago, a reader wrote, "Why can Taiwan people go next door to the primary school to vote, and we can't? Are we second-class citizens?" You can see how they view us.

CNT: Is democracy a universal value?

Ma: Yes. If Taiwan people can accept it, then in other Chinese regions, this is just a question of time.

In Taiwan we are lucky. We've had several decades of peace, no war affecting our life, we've been able to develop economy and universalize education. Those are democracy's most important foundations. Without economic development, if a country is still too poor, it's not too possible to push it. If there is still not enough education, it's also impossible. In Taiwan, these two factors pushed the development of a middle class. And then the development of democracy just became a matter of course. It developed naturally.

CNT: Does that mean there can't be democracy in China until it develops its economy?

Ma: I think this is gradual. Taiwan's democracy wasn't born in one night. We have had several decades. We have had an authoritarian era. We had our white terror. We had press censorship. We've had all that. But the important thing is that we established a democratic constitution 60 years ago. Even though its articles were frozen during the martial law period, we had a hope. Many people even then said our constitution this or that, this is very important.

CNT: Recently you have extended olive branches to the mainland, allowing mainland tourists to come to Taiwan for the first time and sending the head of your Nationalist Party to Beijing. Why do you think this is good for Taiwan?

Ma: I want to deal with the question of the two sides of the straits from the perspective of history and world development. The two parties have been fighting since they were founded. There's been a heavy price for both sides. I believe we have reached a new era, a time when we can call a halt to these historical hatreds. Why? Young people aren't interested in this. There's no need to continue an animosity that they don't understand. From a global perspective, using peaceful methods to end confrontation, using negotiations to end conflict -- this is a world trend. This is why, when we called for reconciliation and negotiation, the other side gradually has shown us good will.