Former Taiwanese leader Ma Ying-jeou has vowed to protect the island’s deep-rooted cultural and historical ties with mainland China while accusing the ruling Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) of having a “misguided political agenda” in attempting to sever these links.
“In the past several decades, Taiwan has played a vital role in preserving and promoting Chinese culture. But today, Chinese culture in Taiwan faces an unprecedented crisis,” Ma said at a seminar in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Monday. “The DPP’s political manipulations have steered Taiwan in the wrong direction of de-sinicisation.”
The seminar, held at Chengdu’s renowned Du Fu Thatched Cottage in the southwestern province, was co-hosted by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, the mainland’s Taiwan Affairs Office’s (TAO) Centre for Cross-Strait Research and Sichuan University.
It brought together high-ranking mainland officials, including TAO director Song Tao, academics and participants from both sides of the Taiwan Strait to discuss preserving Chinese cultural heritage.
In his speech, Ma highlighted the linguistic, cultural and historical commonalities shared across the strait, emphasising that people on both sides were descendants of Emperor Yan and the Yellow Emperor.
“Chinese civilisation is the world’s only ancient culture to have endured 5,000 years without interruption,” he said. “This is a testament to the combined efforts across the strait that have ensured Chinese culture not only survives but continues to thrive.”
Ma highlighted the core values of Chinese culture, including reverence for history, gratitude and a deep sense of heritage. These traditions, he argued, had been the cornerstone of Chinese resilience over millennia.
“Most Taiwanese people maintain a strong sense of identity with Chinese culture and the Chinese nation,” Ma asserted. “Any attempts by the DPP to promote de-sinicisation are bound to fail because Chinese culture is deeply rooted in the bloodline of its people.”
He called on his generation to “take responsibility for correcting these missteps” and pledged to mobilise all efforts to “preserve this shared heritage despite today’s unprecedented challenges”.
Song echoed Ma’s sentiments, describing Chinese culture as the “common root and soul” of compatriots on both sides of the strait. He urged adherence to the “1992 consensus”, opposition to separatism and resistance against foreign interference. The consensus, a point of contention spearheaded by the DPP, refers to an agreement that both sides recognise one China but with differing interpretations of its meaning.
Ma is leading students on a nine-day visit to mainland China to promote cross-strait cultural exchanges. They started in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on December 18, and are set to end the trip in Sichuan before returning to Taiwan on Thursday.
It marks his fifth student exchange programme involving three groups from Taiwan and two from the mainland in the past two years.
Ma, who has positioned himself as a staunch defender of the island’s shared heritage with the mainland, has long accused the DPP government of undermining centuries-old cultural ties for political gain.
Before leaving for Harbin on December 18, he emphasised that as a former leader, he is responsible for fostering exchanges and must “build a bridge of peace, transcend political hostilities and reflect the public’s desire for cross-strait engagement”.
However, Ma’s efforts have drawn sharp criticism from Taiwan’s pro-independence camp, which accuses him of aligning with Beijing’s agenda and undermining Taiwan’s sovereignty.
DPP lawmakers and politicians have said that by promoting these exchanges, Ma is playing into Beijing’s hands and diminishing Taiwan’s standing as a self-governed democracy.
