This is the first time that a former Taiwanese president has been welcomed in this way in Beijing since 1949. Ma Ying-jeou was received this Wednesday with full honors by Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square. The event, widely covered by Chinese state media, aims to promote reunification.
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For the occasion, the propaganda brought out the violins and this image of two elderly leaders surrounded by a group of students from the Taiwanese delegation nodding in agreement, contrasts with the tensions of recent months between Taipei and Beijing.
This image of apparent serenity and appeasement was repeated on all media this Wednesday in Chinathe communist authorities here are taking media revenge on the large victory of the Democratic Progressive Party during the Taiwanese presidential election last January.
“ Same family »
“ People on both sides of the Strait of Taiwan are all Chinese. There is no dispute that cannot be resolved, there is no issue that cannot be discussed and no force can separate us “, said Xi Jinping referring to “ a family » opposing the “ external interference “.
“ The differences between the systems cannot change the fact that both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to the same country and the same nation. », continued the Chinese president, preferring to give “ Sir » Ma Ying-jeou to his guest, to avoid mentioning his status as former president – between 2008 and 2016 – knowing that Beijing and Taipei do not officially recognize each other.
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Ma Ying-jeou responded that a new war between the two sides would be an unbearable burden for the Chinese nation, while the ships andchinese planes have increased their visits near the island in recent weeks. China considers Taiwan as one of its provinces to be reunified.
“ Journey for peace »
Excluded from the ill-fated campaign of the Kuomintang (KMT), the opposition Nationalist Party in Taiwan, Ma Ying-jeou, 73, began a visit to mainland China on April 1 that he describes as ” journey for peace “.
The one who already met Xi Jinping in Singapore at the end of his first term in 2015, defends a conciliatory line with Beijing which contrasts with the will of a majority of voters in Taiwan. “ Compatriots on both sides have always been one family, and should visit each other frequently and become closer and more affectionate » the Chinese president further affirmed, while mainland China has still not reopened the possibility of individual travel to Taiwan for mainlanders.
This official visit comes as Joe Biden receives Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida in Washington, and Lai Ching-te of the Taiwanese Democratic Progressive Party will take office as Taiwanese president on May 20.
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