Gov't Officials Reveal Expectations of Ma's Trip 馬英九將訪中 陳揆盼能維護國家尊嚴主權

Former President Ma Ying-jeou will soon lead a delegation to China, where he will worship his ancestors and engage in exchanges. Premier Chen Chien-jen said he hopes Ma will defend the country's dignity and sovereignty during the trip and not disappoint the Taiwanese people.

“Madam President, what do you think about former President Ma going to China at the same time you're visiting the U.S.?”President Tsai Ing-wen ignored the journalists as they asked questions about former President Ma Ying-jeou's trip to China. He is scheduled to depart on March 27 as the head of a delegation, and will worship his ancestors and engage in exchanges during his time there. Ma will visit five cities over 12 days. He will become the first former head of state to visit China. Tsai is scheduled to visit the U.S. during the same timeframe, and the 2024 elections are less than a year away. Premier Chen Chien-jen said he hopes Ma will uphold the country's dignity and sovereignty and refrain from disappointing the Taiwanese people.

Chen Chien-jen, Premier: “I think (former) President Ma is able to hear the voices of the Taiwanese people. We hope he will uphold our country's dignity and sovereignty during his trip, so that he won't disappoint our Taiwanese people.”

Chiu Tai-san, Mainland Affairs Minister: “China's united front tactics against Taiwan are absolutely crimes. We must remind former President Ma that he is our former president, so we are expecting and also suggesting to him that he needs to pay attention to related behavior and words and actions and make sure they conform to the country's interests and the population's feelings.”

Mainland Affairs Minister Chiu Tai-san said he hopes Ma's words and actions in China won't dwarf Taiwan or sound like united front rhetoric. Meanwhile, a weekly publication reported that Ma met with KMT Chairperson Eric Chu recently and said New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih, who is rumored to be a possible presidential candidate, needs to study up his cross-Strait discourse. Some people have drawn connections to Ma's visit.

Eric Chu, Chairperson, KMT: “The party's cross-Strait discourse is unanimous. Our future presidential candidate and our legislative candidates will uphold these principles so that cross-Strait relations can be more peaceful.”

Chu reiterated that the KMT's position is to defend the Republic of China, uphold democracy and freedom while safeguarding peace and stability across the strait. There are rumors that the security personnel accompanying Ma to China will not be allowed to be armed. Chen said related units have coordinated and they will definitely provide a safe and exhaustive protection.

「總統怎麼看馬前總統赴陸，跟您訪美行程撞期？」面對喊話總統蔡英文沒有回應。前總統馬英九將於27日率團赴中祭祖兼交流，預計在12天的行程內造訪5城市，成為首位訪中的卸任元首；但此行強碰總統蔡英文訪美又逢2024大選將近，引發關注。

行政院長陳建仁表示，希望馬英九能維護國家尊嚴主權，不要讓台灣人民失望。

行政院長陳建仁指出：「我想馬前總統也應該聽見了台灣人民的聲音，希望他此行能夠維護我們國家的尊嚴和主權，這樣子才不會讓我們台灣人民失望。」

陸委會主委邱太三提及：「大陸對台灣的統戰絕對是無所不用其極，所以這也是我們必須要提醒，馬前總統他到底還是我們的前總統，所以我們也期盼，也建議他可能要注意相關的作為跟言行，能夠符合國家的利益跟國民的情感。」

邱太三強調，馬前總統赴陸動見觀瞻，不希望被矮化或是統戰。而據週刊報導日前馬前總統與國民黨主席朱立倫會面時，直言國民黨熱門總統人選、新北市長侯友宜兩岸論述需要補習，也引發聯想，此行訪中是否會協助兩岸論述？

國民黨主席朱立倫表示：「我們的兩岸論述也是全黨一致的，將來我們的總統候選人或者是我們的立委候選人，也都會秉持這樣的原則，讓兩岸能夠更和平。」

朱立倫重申國民黨立場，就是捍衛中華民國，堅守民主自由，希望維護兩岸和平區域安全。至於傳出保護馬英九的隨扈赴中國不能配槍，陳建仁則回應，相關的單位都有做過協調，一定會提供安全周延的保護。