‘We shouldn’t invade others’: Taiwan’s former president Ma Ying-jeou says Nanking massacre has lessons for both sides of strait
- On third day of trip to mainland China, Ma visits memorial for victims of Japan’s invasion in 1930s
- Former Taiwanese president calls for Beijing and Taipei to discuss avoiding conflict ‘because once war happens nothing can make up for it’
Ma made the remarks at the Memorial Hall of the Victims in Nanking Massacre on the third day of his historic and controversial trip to the mainland, where he paid tribute to Chinese civilians who died during Japan’s 1937 invasion of Nanjing, as Nanking is now called.
After attending the hall and laying flowers for the victims in a memorial ceremony on Wednesday morning, Ma said he was stunned during his visit.
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Former Taiwanese leader Ma begins historic mainland China trip voicing hopes that ‘peace can come’
“I have read some books and photos about the history of the Nanking massacre, but never had such a shock as today,” he said.
The massacre showed “beastlike behaviour” that was rare in human history, making the Chinese “the biggest victims”, Ma said. He wore a black suit and had an appearance of grief while addressing reporters.
“History must never be forgotten,” he wrote in the guest book of the hall.
Both sides of the strait should be self-reliant and strive to become strong so “we will not be bullied and slaughtered by others” and could not be “invaded by foreigners”, he said.