After 70 years, the former president of Taiwan visits China
Today, the former president of Taiwan will be the first current or former leader of this island to visit the mainland China in over seventy years.
Ma Ying-jeou says that his trip is planned to reduce tensions and he intends to promote student exchanges and pay respect to his ancestors.
While no meetings with the Chinese government have been announced, Beijing has welcomed this visit. However, he has faced criticism domestically, and Taiwan’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party has said that it is unacceptable for a retired head of state to become a pawn in Beijing’s unification agenda. China sees Taiwan as a separate province, but Taiwan sees itself as distinct from mainland China with its own constitution and democratically elected leaders.