A rare visit to mainland China by Ma Ying-jeou, the former President of the Republic of China, is currently underway. Ma, who is now in the opposition party, sees this visit as an opportunity for political messaging on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. The main objective of Ma’s “journey of peace” is to calm cross-strait tensions. It is expected that he will meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit.

Clash between DPP’s Rosalia Wu and Ma Ying-jeou

During Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to mainland China, a clash occurred between him and the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) legislative caucus secretary-general, Rosalia Wu. It is unclear what triggered the clash, but it adds another layer of complexity to the political dynamics surrounding Ma’s visit.

Promotion of peace and cultural ties

Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to China is significant as it aims to promote peace between Taiwan and China. This visit serves as an opportunity to build social and cultural ties between the two nations. Ma has emphasized the importance of avoiding war and maintaining stability in the Taiwan Strait. Additionally, he has called for more efforts to strengthen cross-Strait exchanges and youth engagements.

Ma’s meeting with Chinese officials

While the meeting between Ma Ying-jeou and Chinese President Xi Jinping has not been officially confirmed by both parties, it has been widely reported in Taiwanese media. During his visit, Ma had the opportunity to meet with Song Tao, the head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, to discuss Taiwan-China relations and potential future engagements.

Visit to DJI in Shenzhen

As part of his visit, Ma Ying-jeou, along with a delegation of young Taiwanese students, visited the commercial drone maker DJI in Shenzhen. This visit serves to strengthen technology and innovation exchanges between Taiwan and China, particularly in the drone industry.

In summary:

1. Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou is visiting mainland China in a rare trip.
2. He aims to promote peace and calm tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
3. A clash occurred between Ma and DPP’s Rosalia Wu during the visit.
4. Ma’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected, but not officially confirmed.
5. During his visit, Ma emphasized the importance of avoiding war and strengthening cross-Strait exchanges.
6. Ma visited the drone maker DJI in Shenzhen to promote technology exchanges.

Citation: “Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou to Visit China.” The Associated Press. Last Updated Apr 1, 2024.