Ancestral trip or political ploy? Ma Ying-jeou to visit mainland China

Former Taiwanese leader will be referred to as ‘Mr’ – not ‘former president’ – when he goes to the mainland next week

Pro-independence critics on the island call timing and purpose of trip an ‘unthinkable’ sell-out

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Former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou is set to lead a delegation on a 12-day trip to mainland China next week. Photo: CNA

Published: 1:27pm, 25 Mar 2023

A planned trip to mainland China by former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou has stirred controversy over whether he could become a political tool for Beijing as it deploys a “united front” tactic against Taipei.

The debate centres on whether Ma’s visit could help improve spiralling cross-strait relations or merely add window dressing to Beijing’s attempt to annex the self-ruled island, according to observers on the island.

Beijing – which regards Taiwan as its territory and has not renounced the use of force to bring it under control – has stepped up efforts to isolate the island internationally.

The visit will come after the Central American nation of Honduras announced it would establish formal diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China.

On Wednesday Honduran President Xiomara Castro sent the country’s foreign minister to Beijing to “promote” the establishment of diplomatic ties, signalling the end of 82 years of formal relations with Taiwan.

Under Beijing’s one-China principle, Honduras – one of only 14 countries that recognises Taiwan, must sever its ties with the island to establish official relations with China.

Ma will lead a delegation of about 30 students and several of his former aides to Nanjing on Monday for a 12-day visit that will also include stops in Wuhan, Changsha, Chongqing and Shanghai, according to the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation.

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