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The visit to China by Taiwan’s former president, Ma Ying-jeou, showed that "compatriots" on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are Chinese and “of one family”, said the spokesperson for China’s Taiwan Affairs Office.

Speaking at a press conference on Apr. 12, Zhu Fenglian said that Ma’s China visit attracted much attention and was positively received, according to Chinese state media Xinhua News.

His visit, which took place from Mar. 27 to Apr. 7, was noteworthy as it was the first time a former or current Taiwanese leader has visited China since the end of the civil war, The Guardian reported.

Ma is a senior member and former chairman of Taiwan’s main opposition party, Kuomintang (KMT). Despite the party favouring closer ties with China, it has strongly denied being pro-Beijing and still opposes rule by China.

“Positive significance”

Zhu described the visit by Ma as an event of positive significance as it promoted the exchanges between “compatriots on both sides” and peaceful cross-strait relations.

She reiterated that the 1992 Consensus was the “fundamental anchor” for peaceful development for Taiwan-China relations, and hoped that both sides would unitedly uphold the consensus.

The 1992 Consensus, which is rejected by Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), refers to the alleged outcome of a meeting in 1992 in which both sides recognise that there is only “one China” but have different interpretations of it.

DPP’s actions “biggest threat to peace”

Zhu also called out the DPP for their “provocative actions to seek independence”, possibly referring to the recent meeting between Taiwan’s president Tsai Ing-wen with U.S. House Speaker McCarthy, Xinhua later reported.

China condemned the meeting and later kicked off a three-day military exercise around Taiwan.

Zhu also said that the DPP colluded with “external forces” and their actions posed the “biggest threat” to peaceful and stable cross-strait relations.

On the same day, Taiwan's ruling party nominated Vice President William Lai Ching-te as their presidential candidate.

Lai is known to be vocal on Taiwanese independence and has long reiterated that he sees Taiwan as a sovereign nation.

China conducts military drills

The spokesperson also slammed Tsai for bringing "danger" to Taiwan, according to Reuters.

"Tsai Ing-wen almost completely sided (with) the United States, pushing Taiwan into stormy seas," she was quoted as saying.

She said the exercises conducted around Taiwan, which practiced the blockade of the island, served as a “serious warning” against the collusion of Taiwan “separatist forces” and external actors.

On Apr. 10, Taiwan’s Defense Ministry detected a record number of 91 People’s Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft and 12 PLA Navy vessels around Taiwan.

91 PLA aircraft and 12 vessels were detected by 18:00(UTC+8) on April 10th. 54 of the detected aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered our SW & SE ADIZ. #ROCArmedForces have monitored the situation and tasked our assets to respond. pic.twitter.com/iFjSCq9gJX

— 國防部 Ministry of National Defense, R.O.C. 🇹🇼 (@MoNDefense) April 10, 2023

 

Though China’s military drills were said to have ended, Taiwan’s armed forces will continue to hold their positions, said Tsai in a statement.

Chinese forces were still present around Taiwan as of Apr. 11, Reuters reported.

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Top image via Getty Images/VCG