Ma Ying-jeou calls for both sides of Taiwan Strait to work together and ‘avoid war’

Ex-Taiwanese president makes the remarks at Sun Yat-sen’s former residence on second day of mainland tour

He also visits headquarters of BYD Auto with Beijing official on Tuesday, following stops at DJI Technology and Tencent

Reading Time:3 minutes

Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou (left) arrives in Shenzhen on Monday at the start of an 11-day mainland trip. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:00pm, 2 Apr 2024Updated: 7:55pm, 2 Apr 2024

Former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou has called on the two sides of the strait to work together and “avoid war” on the second day of his mainland China tour.

Ma, a senior member of the Beijing-friendly opposition Kuomintang, made the remarks during a visit to the former residence of Sun Yat-sen, the founder of modern China, in the Guangdong city of Zhongshan on Tuesday.

Citing Sun’s last words – “peace, struggle, save China” – Ma said he hoped “both sides of the Taiwan Strait can work together, avoid war … and jointly create peace and prosperity”, according to a statement from Ma’s office.

Reflecting on Sun’s pursuit of a China with “freedom, unity, equal wealth”, Ma said people on both sides of the strait “belong to the Chinese nation”.

“Many of the founding propositions that Sun Yat-sen had in mind back then have now been realised in Taiwan and the mainland respectively,” he said. “This is crucial to the lives and well-being of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait and future generations.”

Ma is on an 11-day mainland trip that he has called a “journey of peace”. He is expected to meet President Xi Jinping next week.