Mr. Ma's signature project is the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, an all-encompassing treaty that would cover tariff reductions, market access and economic cooperation in areas like intellectual-property enforcement.

WSJ: Interview with Ma Ying-jeou: Taiwan's D��tente Gamble

Free trade agreements have proliferated in East Asia over the past several years, but so far Taiwan has been excluded from this greater economic integration largely because of its diplomatic status with the exception of the landmark Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) signed with China in June 2010.

FORBES: Taiwan