Ma Ying-jeou, who leads opinion polls heading into Saturday’s presidential election in Taiwan, attacked Wen Jiabao, China’s premier, on Tuesday over an appeal to Taiwanese voters to vote down referendums on membership in the United Nations.

Investors hope Mr Ma can introduce détente with China if he wins, but his statement continues a drive to quell voter suspicions that he could be too friendly towards the island’s cross-strait rival. China maintains a threat to attack Taiwan should the self-ruled island formalise its de facto independence.