Young Taiwanese urged to ‘remember the roots of the Chinese nation’ by island’s former leader Ma Ying-jeou
- The former president was speaking after a ceremony in the mainland province of Shaanxi to honour the Yellow Emperor, a legendary ancestor of the Chinese people
- Ma, who says he is on a ‘journey of peace’, joined Beijing officials for the ceremony, which comes at a time of heightened cross-strait tensions
Speaking after the ceremony – which took place on Ching Ming, a festival where people traditionally honour their ancestors – Ma said these shows of respect are “both a core value of Chinese culture and one of the virtues of the Taiwanese people”.
He added: “I also hope that through this rare opportunity, young people from Taiwan will remember the roots of Chinese culture and the Chinese nation, as well as the pride of being a descendant of the Yellow Emperor.”
Although Ma did not mention reunification, the official tribute from the Shaanxi authorities said “cross-strait reunification is a historical inevitability”.
The most senior Beijing official to attend the ceremony held in Huangling county was Peng Qinghua, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, China’s top legislature, who laid a basket of flowers. Song Tao, director of Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office, also joined Ma.