TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Veteran media personality Jaw Shaw-Kong said Monday (April 1) that "former President Ma Ying-jeou's meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping is the highlight" of Ma's trip to China. He believes Ma can serve as a primary bridge for the Kuomintang (KMT) to communicate cross-strait affairs. Ma embarked on his visit to China the same day.
The Democratic Progressive Party has magnified Ma's visit to China ahead of Taiwan's power transition. It is being closely watched by Taiwanese citizens hoping for peace and by the U.S.
Jaw said the lack of communication and face-to-face meetings between the two sides and the absence of substantive opinion exchanges is abnormal and dangerous.
Although Ma has been out of the presidential office for eight years and the KMT is not the ruling party, Jaw believes Ma can express Taiwan's political stance to the mainland during his visit. He emphasized that cross-strait exchanges should not lead to war, and peace is of utmost importance. He hopes Ma's trip can ease cross-strait tensions.
Ma has already set the tone for his trip as a "journey of peace." Jaw wished Ma a fruitful trip, pushing peace and friendship between the two sides forward.