TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A delegation of students from China, featuring Olympic gold medalists Ma Long (馬龍) and Yang Qian (楊倩), arrived in Taiwan on Wednesday (Nov. 27). The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation (馬英九基金會) invited the group, drawing a crowd at Taoyuan Airport eager to welcome the visitors.
Ma Long shared his excitement before departure, expressing a long-standing fascination with Taiwan. He expressed excitement in exploring the island, tasting local cuisine, and engaging in ping pong exchanges as a university student.
The student delegation comprises members from seven universities, including Peking University (北京大學), Tsinghua University (清華大學), and Fudan University (復旦大學). The group plans to visit several renowned universities and attractions in Taiwan, with a scheduled departure on Dec. 5.
Addressing media reports about the delegation's political affiliations, Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑), CEO of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, dismissed the claims. He emphasized the differences between the political systems across the Taiwan Strait and questioned the relevance of such affiliations compared to Taiwanese visiting China.
Hsiao highlighted the importance of sports and youth exchanges, noting their role as a common language between the two regions. He expressed gratitude to the Lai administration and the Mainland Affairs Council (MAC, 陸委會) for their support.
The foundation arranged visits to six universities and a baseball experience at Taipei Municipal Zhongshan Girls High School, hoping Ma Long and Yang Qian would share the beauty of Taiwanese baseball with friends and family back home.