Taiwan's ex-President Ma Ying-jeou heads to China for forum

Taoyuan, June 14 (CNA) Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Saturday said his latest trip to China, including his first-time attendance at the Straits Forum, can promote "closer people-to-people exchanges" across the Taiwan Strait, as he embarked on his fourth visit to the mainland since leaving office.

"It [the visit] is not only about deepening our understanding of the local history and industrial development of Fujian Province, but also about promoting closer people-to-people exchanges across the Strait through face-to-face interaction," Ma said before entering the immigration area at Taoyuan International Airport at around 9 a.m. Saturday to embark on his trip.

"We hope this exchange will encourage more young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland, and likewise welcome young people from the mainland to visit Taiwan, so they can learn from each other through mutual interaction," said Ma, who served as president of the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's official name) from 2008 to 2016.

"I believe this will definitely be very helpful for the development of cross-strait peace," the 74-year-old said, adding that his first stop will be the Chinese city of Xiamen in Fujian province.

Leading a group of Taiwanese students for a two-week visit to China till June 27, Ma, still a heavyweight in the main opposition party Kuomintang (KMT), is scheduled to attend the 17th Straits Forum in Xiamen, which begins on Sunday.

First held in 2009, the Straits Forum has been organized annually in Xiamen by "relevant organizations across the Strait", with the aim of "promoting broad exchanges across all sectors and enhancing people-to-people cooperation between the two sides," according to an official publication for this year's forum.

While the publication described the forum as a week-long "people-to-people exchange event," it is supported by the Chinese government. On Wednesday, China's Taiwan Affairs Office said that 7,000 participants from Taiwan -- including political party representatives and delegates from a broad range of sectors -- are expected to attend.

Ma's planned attendance at the Straits Forum has drawn criticism from the administration of President Lai Ching-te (賴清德), with the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) urging him in a statement Wednesday not to become a propaganda tool for Beijing's united front efforts targeting Taiwan.

"The Straits Forum is a united front platform used by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) to target Taiwan," the MAC said, noting that during Ma's presidency, regulations were introduced to bar personnel from central government agencies from participating in the forum to prevent infiltration.

"The government finds it [Ma's attendance at the forum] both deeply regrettable and inconceivable, and believes it will not gain the support of the majority of the Taiwanese people," the MAC added.

The council reminded Ma to comply with laws governing cross-strait affairs and urged him "not to cooperate with the CCP's political agenda."

In response, Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑), CEO of Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, said on Friday that the ruling Democratic Progressive Party should stop using the term "united front" to intimidate the public from engaging in cross-strait exchanges, according to a report by the Chinese-language newspaper United Daily News.

Hsiao said he had reviewed all laws in the ROC and found that none include the term "united front," aside from a few administrative directives, arguing that the government should not accuse citizens based on terminology that lacks a legal basis, the report read.

Ma's latest trip marks his fourth visit to China since leaving office, with previous visits taking place once in 2023 and twice in 2024.

After attending the Straits Forum, Ma's delegation will travel to Gansu Province in northwestern China for cultural activities and to learn about the Silk Road, according to Hsiao.