Ex-President Ma advocates 'peaceful, democratic unification' in China

Taipei, June 27 (CNA) Former President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) on Thursday said he advocates for "peaceful and democratic unification" and stressed the need to "respect the will of the Taiwanese people" during his visit to China, at an event also attended by Beijing's top official in charge of Taiwan affairs.

"My advocacy is that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should pursue peaceful and democratic unification," Ma said during an event held at the Dunhuang Academy in the Chinese province of Gansu on Thursday.

In his remarks, Ma further explained that "peaceful" means not using force or the threat of force, while "democratic" means to "respect the will of the Taiwanese people."

Ma, who served as president of the Republic of China (ROC, Taiwan's official name) from 2008-2016, also said he was "pleased" to have continuously worked over the years to promote cross-strait relations.

The event in Dunhuang was part of Ma's fourth visit to China since leaving office, a trip that began on June 14 and will conclude Friday with his return to Taiwan.

Also attending the event, Song Tao (宋濤), director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said in a speech following Ma's that "Taiwan belongs to all Chinese people on both sides of the Strait," and the future of Taiwan "must be jointly decided by all of China's sons and daughters across the Strait."

Reiterating opposition to Taiwan independence, Song emphasized adherence to the "one China principle" and the "1992 consensus," noting that "the future of cross-strait relations must be firmly held in the hands of the Chinese people on both sides."

The "1992 consensus" is a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between the then Kuomintang (KMT) government of the ROC and the Chinese government. It has been consistently interpreted by the KMT as an acknowledgment by both sides that there is only "one China," with each side free to interpret what "China" means.

The ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has never acknowledged the "1992 consensus," arguing that Beijing allows no room for the interpretation of "China" as the ROC, and that acceptance of the consensus would imply agreement with China's claim over Taiwan.

Asked by CNA for a response to Ma's political advocacy, the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) -- Taiwan's top government agency handling cross-strait affairs -- replied only "no comment."

During the two-week visit to China, Ma has led a group of Taiwanese students to participate in various events, including the Straits Forum, which has drawn criticism from the MAC, which urged him not to serve as a propaganda tool for Beijing's united front efforts targeting Taiwan.