Ma Ying-jeou To Attend Straits Forum in China Despite Criticism From MAC

TaiwanPlus News

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou is set to visit China for the fourth time since leaving office in 2016, leading a group of students on a two-week trip. The trip has been criticized by Taiwan's government as playing into Beijing's united front tactics to influence Taiwan.

Transcript

00:00Another controversial visit to China for former Taiwan President Ma Yingjio,

00:05leading a delegation of Taiwanese students on a two-week trip across the strait in mid-June.

00:10During this time, they'll attend the Straits Forum,

00:13a large event organized annually by the Chinese government,

00:16framed by Beijing as helping to promote cross-strait exchanges,

00:19but criticized by Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party

00:22as being part of China's united front tactics to influence Taiwan.

00:26The trip, organized through Ma's foundation.

00:30This is Ma's fourth trip to China since leaving office in 2016.

00:50The former head of Taiwan's now-opposition,

00:51Ma has always been seen as friendly with China,

00:55promoting closer ties during his presidency and afterwards.

00:59In recent years, through his foundation,

01:01he has led groups of Taiwanese students on three visits to China

01:04and has twice brought delegations of Chinese students to Taiwan,

01:08often framing these exchanges and communications,

01:11especially among young people, as key to cross-strait peace.

01:14China has said they welcome this visit.

01:17But these trips are controversial in Taiwan.

01:45Taiwan's mainland affairs council,

01:47the government body that manages relations with China,

01:49has criticized the trip, calling it inappropriate.

01:53In a statement, the council says that the Straits Forum is part of the Chinese Communist Party's

01:57united front tactics to influence Taiwan and to promote unification.

02:01It accused Ma of cooperating with the CCP's political manipulation,

02:05warning him against becoming a, quote,

02:07model of Beijing's united front work.

02:09Ma's visits, which have in the past included meetings with Chinese government officials

02:13and even Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2024,

02:17come amid heightened cross-strait tensions.

02:20Formal government-to-government communication has been cut off since 2016,

02:24and Beijing has criticized current President Lai Qingde, calling him a separatist.

02:28Lai has stepped up efforts to combat what he calls

02:31growing Chinese infiltration in Taiwan.

02:33For the, again, these youth tours that are run by the Ma Yingzhiou Foundation,

02:38I think they're kind of a reflection of the state of cross-strait relations

02:43with the Chinese government, with the PRC,

02:47seeking ways to try to find, you know, influence through, again,

02:53what they call, you know, people-to-people ties,

02:56with, and again, those that are sort of aligned with the KMT

03:04or the pan-blue side of the political spectrum

03:06while continuing to try to freeze out the, you know, Taiwan's actual government.

03:12Some also think these trips may be a way for Ma to promote a sense of Chinese identity

03:16among young people in Taiwan,

03:18amid growing efforts by the Chinese Communist Party itself

03:21to influence Taiwanese young people.

03:23Apart from the Straits Forum, Ma and the student group

03:26will also take part in cultural activities

03:28and learn about the Silk Road, according to his foundation.

03:31Going ahead, despite ongoing controversy over these trips

03:35and what they could mean for the future of cross-strait relations.

03:39Klein Wang and Keynes Quaranta for Taiwan Plus.

Category

Transcript

Recommended