Taiwan ex-President Ma attends forum in China
China held the annual Straits Forum in Xiamen, Fujian Province, on Sunday. Xiamen is located west of Taiwan.
China's state-run media and other outlets reported that more than 7,000 people were invited from Taiwan, along with Ma, who belongs to Taiwan's largest opposition Kuomintang party.
Wang Huning, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's Politburo Standing Committee and the party's No.4 official, called for firmly opposing Taiwan's independence and external interference and protecting the peace and stability of the Taiwan Strait.
This comment apparently referred to Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which Beijing regards as pro-independence.
Ma said deepening cooperation under a common foundation against Taiwan's independence will help create a phase of peace and mutual benefit.
Beijing apparently wants to give a warning to Taiwan's ruling party under President Lai Ching-te by stressing interactions through Ma.
Taiwanese authorities said the forum is a united front platform by the Chinese Communist Party targeting Taiwan.
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