Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Politics
By Nicoco Chan

'We are all Chinese', former Taiwan president says while visiting China

Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou gestures as he arrives at an airport in Shanghai, China March 27, 2023. Ma Ying-jeou's Office/Handout via REUTERS

People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are ethnically Chinese and share the same ancestor, former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou said on Tuesday at the start of a historic visit to China that Taiwan's ruling party has criticised.

Ma, in office from 2008-2016, is the first former or current Taiwanese president to visit China since the defeated Republic of China government fled to Taiwan in 1949 at the end of a civil war with the Communists.

Former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou writes during his visit the Sun Yat-Sen Mausoleum in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China in this handout picture released on March 28, 2023. Ma Ying-jeou's Office/Handout via REUTERS

He is visiting amid heightened tension as Beijing uses political and military means to try and pressure democratically governed Taiwan into accepting Chinese sovereignty.

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party has questioned why he is visiting just after China took away another Taiwanese diplomatic ally, Honduras, on Sunday, leaving the island with official diplomatic ties with only 13 countries.

In comments in the eastern Chinese city of Nanjing at the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum, where the man celebrated for overthrowing the last Chinese emperor in 1911 and ushering a republic is buried, Ma praised Sun's contributions.

A vehicle that is part of a motorcade believed to be carrying former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou makes its way in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song

"People on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese people, and are both descendants of the Yan and Yellow Emperors," Ma said, in comments provided by his office.

Ma used wording in Chinese meaning people of Chinese ethnicity, rather than referring to their nationality. Descendants of the Yan and Yellow Emperors is an expression referring to a common ancestor for Chinese people.

Most Taiwanese no longer identify as Chinese, according to polls.

Security personnel walk on the day former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou visits the China Modern History Museum, the Presidential Palace that housed the Office of the President of the Republic of China from 1927 until the capital was relocated to Taipei in 1949, in Nanjing, Jiangsu, China, March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song

Sun is officially still considered the father of the Republic of China, which remains Taiwan's official name.

Sun is also lauded by the Communist Party for the overthrow of the Qing dynasty, but the governments in Beijing and Taipei do not recognise each other.

Ma's visit is part of outreach by Taiwan's main opposition party, the Kuomintang (KMT), to China in hopes of reducing tensions. The KMT traditionally favours close relations with China, but strongly denies being pro-Beijing.

A woman wears Taiwan and Kuomintang (KMT) badges during the visit of former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China March 28, 2023. REUTERS/Aly Song

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen has repeatedly offered talks with China, but has been rejected as China considers her a separatist. She says only Taiwan's people can decide their future.

Ma, a senior KMT member, said he hoped for peace.

"We sincerely hope that the two sides will work together to pursue peace, avoid war, and strive to revitalise China," he said, again using an expression that refers to the Chinese people as an ethnicity rather than a nationality. "This is an unavoidable responsibility of Chinese people on both sides of the Strait, and we must work hard."

Ma is not scheduled to meet with any senior Chinese leaders on this trip. He and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Singapore in 2015.

(Reporting by Nicoco Chan; Writing by Ben Blanchard. Editing by Gerry Doyle)

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.