TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A wave of activism swept through the campus of National Taiwan University (NTU, 國立台灣大學) on Tuesday (Dec. 3) as students staged a protest against a visiting delegation of Chinese students. With banners declaring "This is not Taipei, China" and chants demanding justice for the June 4 incident, the demonstrators voiced their discontent at the visit, orchestrated by the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation (馬英九基金會).
Sung Ssu-yao (宋思瑤), a Chinese student, on Dec. 1 referred to the Chinese Taipei baseball team as "Taipei, China" (中國台北隊) during an interview at Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium (台中洲際棒球場), prompting criticism from Democratic Progressive Party (DPP, 民進黨) Legislator Wu Szu-yao (吳思瑤) and others. The comments raised concerns over perceived unification rhetoric.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen (蕭旭岑), CEO of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, expressed confusion over the protesters' demands but emphasized Taiwan's diverse and free society, where everyone can voice their opinions. The foundation's stance highlights the ongoing dialogue about cross-strait relations and identity.
Protesting students offered books on China's and Hong Kong's democratization, urging Chinese students to take them back as souvenirs. They called for equal, free democratic exchanges, hoping to inspire respect for human rights and freedom. "This is not Taipei, China; this is democratic Taiwan," students declared, underscoring their aspirations for the mainland to embrace democratic values.