Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou Declares in Deutsche Welle Interview on January 8: Cross-Strait Relations Must Trust Xi Jinping (Video Screenshot)
People News - A delegation of teachers and students from mainland China, organized by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, visited Taiwan University (NTU) on Tuesday morning (December 3). Upon their arrival, they encountered protests from about a dozen NTU students. The students held banners with messages such as "Vindicate June 4th," "This is not Chinese Taipei," "Liberate Hong Kong, Revolution of Our Times," and "Democracy is a Good Thing." They chanted slogans and called for discussions with the mainland students on topics such as freedom, democracy, the June Fourth Incident, Hong Kong, and human rights in Xinjiang.
According to a report by Radio Free Asia, the delegation, which included Olympic gold medalist Ma Long, arrived at NTU around 10 a.m. When entering the Social Sciences Building, they were greeted by a large number of mainland Chinese students studying in Taiwan and Chinese residents living in Taiwan. At the same time, young Taiwanese activists waved Tibet's Snow Lion flag at Ma Long. Ma reportedly did not react to the flag and continued waving at the welcoming crowd.
Qi, a student from NTU's College of Social Sciences who participated in the protest, stated that this was a spontaneous action organized by students who value democracy, freedom, and human rights. It was not mobilized by any external party. Qi expressed hope that since mainland Chinese students rarely have the opportunity to visit democratic Taiwan, they could engage in meaningful discussions about democracy and introduce values such as human rights to their peers from across the Strait.
In response to the protests during the visit, Hsiao Hsu-tsen, Executive Director of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, stated that he was unaware of the students' demands. He emphasized that Taiwan is a diverse and free society where everyone can express their opinions. When asked why no dialogue was arranged between the mainland Chinese students and the protesting Taiwanese students, Hsiao explained that they could not deviate from the itinerary approved by the Mainland Affairs Council.
Additionally, the delegation had stirred controversy earlier when one of the Chinese students congratulated Taiwan's baseball team on winning a world championship by referring to Taiwan as "Chinese Taipei." Hsiao defended the student, explaining that the terminology differs across the Strait and that the student had no ill intent. He added that fostering an atmosphere of understanding between the two sides is positive, questioning how Taiwan could claim to be a democratic and free society if it cannot tolerate such differences.
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