Ma Ying-jeou to Visit China Next Week 馬英九3/27赴中祭祖 並率學子兩岸交流

Former President Ma Ying-jeou will visit China from March 27 to April 7. Apart from a trip to his ancestral hometown, Ma and a group of students will be taking part in a series of cross-Strait exchanges. The Presidential Office says it hopes Ma will demonstrate Taiwan's democratic values during the trip.

Former President Ma Ying-jeou will be visiting China from March 27 to April 7. Apart from visiting his ancestral hometown, Ma and a group of students will be taking part in a cross-Strait exchange. Ma will become the first former ROC president to set foot on the mainland in 74 years. Ma's spokesperson says Ma will not be visiting Beijing on his trip.

Hsiao Hsu-tsen, Executive Director, Ma Ying-jeou Foundation: “Beijing is not on the itinerary. He will be addressed as "Mr. Ma" during the trip. China has assured us that he will be received with respect, courtesy and security.”

Asked if Ma would meet with any PRC officials, Hsiao Hsu-tsen said that was up to China. Ma will fly to Shanghai on March 27 and travel to his hotel in Nanjing via high-speed rail. He will visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum on the 28th and attend a student forum at Wuhan University on the 31st. The following day, Ma will travel to Baishi Township in Xiangtan City to pay his respects at his family's ancestral shrine. His student delegation will visit Hengshan during that time. On the 2nd, the group will attend a student forum at Hunan University before traveling to Chongqing to visit the Chongqing War Museum on the 3rd. On the 5th, the group will tour Shanghai's Yangshan Port. The group will attend another forum at Fudan University on the 6th before returning to Taiwan on the 7th.

Eric Chu, KMT Chair: “I know President Ma will assert the ROC's position and respond to the public and the KMT's expectations.”

Cheng Yun-peng, DPP Legislative Caucus Chief: “We hope former President Ma Ying-jeou will cause any misunderstandings about Taiwan and cross-Strait relations and international credibility during his trip.”

DPP spokesperson Chang Chih-hao, meanwhile, claimed Ma lacked respect for public opinion and national interests by going on this trip and said the DPP found this "deeply regretful." In response, Hsiao said Chinese culture values filial piety and Taiwanese people should be able to understand Ma's desire to live up to his duties as a son and grandson by paying his respects to his ancestors. The Taiwan Affairs Office, meanwhile, released a statement saying it welcomes a visit from Ma.

前總統馬英九將於3月27日到4月7日赴中國祭祖，並且會率領青年學子跟對岸學生交流，將是74年來首位踏上中國的中華民國卸任總統，各界關注是否會跟習近平見面，馬英九基金會執行長蕭旭岑表示，沒有安排到北京。

馬英九基金會執行長蕭旭岑表示：「我們沒有規劃到北京，這次大陸方面，也是用馬英九先生來尊稱他，對岸會用尊重、禮遇跟安全的原則來接待。」

是否跟對岸官員會面，蕭旭岑強調客隨主便。馬英九訪中行程，3月27日會搭機飛往上海，再搭高鐵赴南京住宿；28日會拜謁中山陵，31日跟武漢大學學生座談；4/1赴湘潭市湘潭縣白石鎮祭祖，隨團學生則安排參訪衡山；4/2湖南大學學生座談；4/3轉往重慶參訪重慶抗戰遺址博物館；4/5赴上海參觀洋山港港區；4/6跟復旦大學學生座談；4/7上午航班返台。

國民黨主席朱立倫強調：「我相信馬總統一定會堅持中華民國的立場，也能夠對於民眾、對國民黨的期待做出回應。」

民進黨立法院黨團幹事長鄭運鵬則表示：「我們也希望說馬英九前總統，這樣的一個祭祖之旅，不要造成國際對於台灣在這個兩岸關係上面、在國際社會上面的信任上面，出現一些疑慮。」

民主進步黨新聞部主任張志豪表示，馬英九訪中欠缺尊重民意與國家最大利益，民進黨深感遺憾。蕭旭岑則強調，中華文化講究慎終追遠，馬英九到中國祭祖，盡為人子孫的孝道，台灣人應該都可以認同。中國國台辦則回應，歡迎馬英九先生來訪。