Latest news with #MaYingjeou
South China Morning Post
12 hours ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Taiwan's ruling DPP slams former leader Ma Ying-jeou over Straits Forum comments
Beijing has rolled out the red carpet for Ma Ying-jeou , the first former Taiwanese leader to take part in the Straits Forum, the 17th edition of which opened in Fujian province on Sunday. Advertisement But back home, Ma is facing a fierce backlash from pro-independence politicians and critics, who accuse the former Kuomintang chairman of 'dancing with Beijing' to undermine Taiwan's political standing. The annual cross-strait forum is branded by Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) as a centrepiece of Beijing's ' united front ' operations, which aim to extend the Communist Party's influence and control beyond mainland China. Ma's comments at the latest event have further intensified those accusations. 03:23 Taiwan leader William Lai says Beijing has no authority over island in Double Tenth speech Taiwan leader William Lai says Beijing has no authority over island in Double Tenth speech Addressing the forum's opening ceremony in the southeastern city of Xiamen, Ma reiterated that only by adhering to the '1992 consensus' and opposing Taiwan independence could both sides of the Taiwan Strait achieve a peaceful and positive outcome. The '1992 consensus', a mutual understanding that there is only 'one China', was reached when the KMT was in power in Taipei. Ma's remarks were echoed by Wang Huning – Beijing's No 4 official and a member of the Communist Party's all-powerful Politburo Standing Committee. Advertisement
NHK
a day ago
- Politics
- NHK
Taiwan ex-President Ma attends forum in China
Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has attended a forum in China to expand cross-strait exchanges. 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.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Former Taiwan leader Ma Ying-jeou to return to mainland China despite warnings
Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou is set to lead a delegation to mainland China, despite repeated warnings from Taiwanese authorities. Advertisement On Wednesday, the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation announced that Ma, who is a former chairman of Taiwan's main opposition Kuomintang (KMT), would lead a student visit to mainland China from Saturday. He would conclude his trip on June 27 after attending the Straits Forum in Xiamen, a city that faces Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait, and travelling to the northwestern province of Gansu to attend a ceremony honouring Fuxi, one of the legendary ancestors of the Han Chinese, according to a statement. 04:15 'Foreign interference cannot stop family reunion': President Xi Jinping hosts Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou 'Foreign interference cannot stop family reunion': President Xi Jinping hosts Taiwan's Ma Ying-jeou Beijing describes the annual Straits Forum as the largest platform for 'people-to-people exchanges' between the two sides of the strait. But Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has repeatedly warned that the forum is a ' united front tool ' while banning related events in Taiwan and forbidding its government officials from attending. Last year, the KMT delegation was led by vice-chairman Sean Lien Sheng-wen. Wang Huning , the fourth-ranked member of mainland China's ruling Communist Party and head of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference – the country's highest political advisory body – is expected to deliver a speech at the opening ceremony on Sunday and announce Beijing's latest policy on Taiwan. Advertisement On Wednesday, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council released a statement saying Ma's decision to attend the forum was 'inappropriate and inconsistent with his position, and the government deeply regrets and finds it incomprehensible'. The same day, DPP spokesman Wu Zheng accused Ma of 'playing along with' Beijing's show, adding that his visit would 'put the Taiwanese people in an unjust situation'.
