Ma's China Visit Promotes Reunification Message Before Taiwanese Election
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Ma Ying-jeou's recent trip to China was aimed at promoting Beijing's message of seeking peaceful reunification with Taiwan and sending a signal to Taiwan's incoming president.
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The trip gave Ma VIP treatment and allowed him to meet with Xi Jinping, signaling Beijing's appreciation for "old friends" and pro-unification voices.
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The visit highlighted shared cultural and historical connections between Taiwan and the mainland that "cannot be severed by politics."
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Ma called for respecting differences across the strait and warned that recent tensions have "triggered a sense of insecurity" among Taiwanese.
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The trip also included Taiwanese students with the goal of challenging their potential negative stereotypes about mainland China.