Mainland Affairs Council expresses ‘deep regret’ over Ma’s remarks at cross-strait forum branded by the DPP as a united front operation
But back home, Ma is facing a fierce backlash from pro-independence politicians and critics, who accuse the former Kuomintang chairman of “dancing with Beijing” to undermine Taiwan’s political standing.
Taiwan leader William Lai says Beijing has no authority over island in Double Tenth speech
Addressing the forum’s opening ceremony in the southeastern city of Xiamen, Ma reiterated that only by adhering to the “1992 consensus” and opposing Taiwan independence could both sides of the Taiwan Strait achieve a peaceful and positive outcome.
The 1992 consensus, a mutual understanding that there is only “one China”, was reached when the KMT was in power in Taipei.
