ANDThis would be the first meeting between the two since the historic meeting in Singapore in 2015.
According to Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, the former Taiwanese leader (2008-2016) does not exclude the possibility of meeting his “old friend” from the continent, referring to the meeting in Singapore, which It marked the first occasion on which the leaders of China and Taiwan met since the end of the Chinese civil war in 1949.
“Ma has been out of power for eight years and does not hold any position in the party [Kuomintang, atualmente na oposição] or in public service. He is an ordinary citizen. However, as we built this important story together in 2015, of course we would like to see our old friend,” said Hsiao.
Regarding the content of this possible meeting, which will depend on the availability of the Chinese side to host the trip, Hsiao said that Ma, regardless of the person he meets, will convey the “desires” of Taiwanese society to embrace peace and avoid an armed conflict with the People’s Republic of China.
The 73-year-old former Taiwanese president will accompany a group of students to China between April 1st and 11th, a trip that includes stops in the provinces of Guangdong (south) and Shaanxi (northwest), as well as in the city of Beijing, which has fueled rumors of a possible meeting with Xi.
Ma, who became the first former Taiwanese president to visit the People’s Republic in March last year, called during his previous visit for more exchanges between Chinese and Taiwanese students because they “share the same culture and ethnic identity.”
Taiwanese Prime Minister Chen Chien-jen of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) said today that the Taiwanese government “respects” Ma’s trip to China, advising him to be cautious in his interactions with Chinese officials.
“I hope he will take into account and live up to the expectations of the Taiwanese people in matters of sovereignty, democracy, rule of law and other values during his visit,” Chen said, adding that the Taiwanese government will provide necessary assistance to the former leader .
Ma’s visit to China comes just a month and a half before the inauguration of the island’s elected president and current vice president, William Lai (Lai Ching-te), who is considered an “independentist” by Beijing.
Since the DPP took office in 2016, dialogue channels between China and Taiwan have been suspended and tensions in the Taiwan Strait have increased, with increasingly frequent incursions by Chinese planes and warships near the island.
Read Also: Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou travels to China in early April
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