Ma Arrives in China Saying for Peace and to Avoid War 馬英九赴中山陵拜謁 盼兩岸努力避免戰爭

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou left for China to pay respects to his ancestors. The first open public itinerary on March 28 is to visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum.

Ma Ying-jeou, in the capacity of Former KMT Chairperson, paid respects with flowers to Dr. Sun Yat-sen. Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou left for China to pay respects to his ancestors. The first open public itinerary on March 28 is to visit Dr. Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum in Nanjing where he bowed three times.

Thereafter, Ma Ying-jeou entered the interior of the Mausoleum and dashingly waved his brush, writing down these words "peaceful fight to revitalize China," with hopes that the people on two sides of the Strait can strive for peace and avoid war.

Ma Ying-jeou, Former Taiwan President: “I have also incorporated the last words of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, hoping that both sides of the Strait can work together. Striving for peace, avoiding war, and revitalizing China are the inevitable responsibilities of Chinese people from both sides of the Strait. The two sides must aim for peace, or there would be no future for both sides.”

Instead of Ding Xueh-xiang, a Standing Committee Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, the Deputy Director of China's Taiwan Affairs Office Chen Yuan-feng received Ma Ying-jeou at Pudong International Airport on March 27. This arrangement was interpreted as belittling his visit, yet Ma emphasized that he was very satisfied with the reception.

Ma Ying-jeou, Former Taiwan President: “I was very satisfied and it exceeded my expectations. Friends from China are all so compassionate, and the Chinese public has extended a very warm welcome to us. This is a good sign. After we return, we will definitely convey their kindness to the Taiwanese people.”

There was heightened control surrounding Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum. However, some impatient people were challenging the security measures but were taken away by Chinese police afterward. Ma Ying-jeou also visited the Presidential Palace in Nanjing, currently known as the Museum of Modern Chinese History in the afternoon of March 28, Dr. Sun Yat-sen's former residence, and the John-Rabe House. In the evening, he met with government officials and leaders of Jiangsu Province in Nanjing.

以「中國國民黨前主席馬英九」名義向國父孫中山獻花致敬，前總統馬英九訪中祭祖交流，第一個公開行程就是到南京中山陵拜謁，並向國父孫中山靈柩三鞠躬。

隨後馬英九到中山陵內部房間現場揮毫，寫下「和平奮鬥、振興中華」，旨在期盼兩岸共同努力，追求和平、避免戰爭。

前總統馬英九表示：「把中山先生當年的遺言也涵蓋在內，深盼兩岸共同努力，追求和平、避免戰爭，致力振興中華，這是兩岸中國人不可迴避的責任，兩岸一定要追求和平，否則的話雙方都沒有前途。」

不過馬英九27日搭機抵達浦東機場，接機的人是國台辦副主任陳元豐，與原先外界預期的依卸任元首規格，由中共中央政治局常委丁薛祥接機，層級有落差，被外界解讀是矮化，但馬英九強調，非常滿意接待。

前總統馬英九說：「非常滿意、超乎預期，大陸的朋友非常熱情，大陸的民眾也對我們非常歡迎，這是一個好現象，我們回去之後，會把他們的好意，轉達給台灣的人民。」

由於維安問題，中山陵進行管制，場外有民眾不耐煩嗆聲，隨後就被中國公安帶離。而馬英九28日下午將參訪南京總統府、現在改名為中國近代史遺址博物館，以及國父孫中山先生故居、拉貝故居。傍晚預計在南京會面江蘇省當地黨政領導。