【Epoch Times April 16, 2024】
The concept of nationality is a long-standing reality. In contrast, a nation is often a relatively temporary choice. There is no right or wrong in existence, but choices can be judged as right or wrong.
Former President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan recently visited mainland China and made two “slip of the tongue” errors within a few days, referring to “Chinese nationality” as “Republic of China.” He then corrected himself back to “Chinese nationality.”
With a doctoral degree in law, Ma Ying-jeou should understand the difference between “nationality” and “Republic.” He has been eloquent in numerous speeches worldwide, so such “slip of the tongue” should not have occurred, especially when he was speaking from a prepared script during his engagements.
Ma Ying-jeou’s two “slip of the tongue” incidents sparked a huge controversy in Taiwan. There were voices of support, praising him for mentioning “Republic of China” in front of Xi Jinping. However, there were also criticisms because he did not dare to mention the crucial point of “both sides not subordinate to each other” throughout his entire visit to the mainland. Almost all comments revolved around cross-strait relations and the power struggle between China and the US.
The question remains, during Ma Ying-jeou’s visit to Beijing, accompanied by Cai Qi and Wang Huning, members of the standing committee of the political bureau, all receiving him together with Xi Jinping. As a former president who has been out of office for nearly 8 years, what substantial impact can Ma Ying-jeou make on cross-strait and China-US relations with his influence? Is it worthy of such high-profile hospitality from the Chinese Communist Party?
To answer this question, it is necessary to consider the emphasis of CCP official media propaganda and the current domestic situation in China to provide a reasonable explanation.
On April 10, CCTV’s website reported on the meeting between Xi Jinping and Ma Ying-jeou under the title “Xi Jinping Meets with Ma Ying-jeou Delegation,” accompanied by extensive on-site photos. In this over 1800-word report, Ma Ying-jeou was mentioned briefly in less than a hundred words. In this orchestrated drama in Beijing, Ma Ying-jeou merely played a supporting role.
Looking at the official comments, People’s Daily published a featured commentary on April 13 titled “Grasping the Overall Situation of Cross-Strait Relations, Continuation of the Glorious History of Chinese Nationality,” two days after Ma Ying-jeou returned to Taiwan. All major official media outlets like Xinhua News, Guangming Online, China.org.cn, and China Taiwan Net reprinted the full commentary.
What’s more interesting is that this article, nearly 2500 words long, extensively quoted Xi Jinping’s speech during the meeting with Ma Ying-jeou but did not mention Ma Ying-jeou’s name or the “1992 Consensus.” The article simply stated that this was “General Secretary Xi Jinping’s first meeting and important speech to Taiwan compatriots after the Party’s 20th Congress.”
Undoubtedly, in this article, Ma Ying-jeou became the representative of Taiwanese compatriots in CCP’s official proclamation.
Since this article was published after Ma Ying-jeou left the mainland, it’s clear that the real readers of this official commentary are the Chinese people domestically. This means that Ma Ying-jeou’s own views and how Taiwanese society perceives the Xi-Ma meeting are not essential; brainwashing the Chinese population is the top priority for CCP.
The article’s headline, “Continuation of the Glorious History of Chinese Nationality,” exposed Beijing’s true motive for warmly welcoming Ma Ying-jeou: CCP aims to use Ma Ying-jeou as a “Taiwan compatriot” representative to highlight their position as the legitimate heir to the Chinese orthodox heritage.
In 2023, China’s economy experienced a significant decline. Investments, domestic demand, and exports – the three major economic engines – went stagnant, causing a downturn in the stock, real estate, currency, and bond markets. The top echelons in Beijing were in a quandary, facing multiple challenges.
The economic downturn resulted in CCP’s long-promoted slogans like “rise in the East and fall in the West” and “community of shared future for mankind” becoming increasingly elusive. For officials facing salary cuts, middle-class families trapped by property prices, unemployed graduates resorting to delivery services, the slogan of “national rejuvenation” was becoming less appealing.
Moreover, even some former CCP loyalists began discussing emigration options.
Meanwhile, CCP’s military provocations in the Japan Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, and especially the Taiwan Strait, were becoming more frequent. If you are part of the aforementioned groups grappling with unresolved real-life problems daily, the authoritarian actions of the government and military surely left you perplexed.
Adding to the confusion of mainlanders is the outcome of Taiwan’s recent elections. Despite CCP’s relentless propaganda efforts stating that “choosing Lai Ching-te means choosing war,” Taiwanese voters expressed their firm support for Lai Ching-te through their ballots, rejecting CCP’s “one country, two systems” proposal.
The results of Taiwan’s elections have awakened more Chinese from the grand dream of national rejuvenation.
However, this dream is the cornerstone of Xi Jinping’s CCP era policies. Thus, to prevent this dream from bankruptcy, what CCP urgently needs is a cost-effective propaganda show that can operate smoothly. According to official statements, there is a necessity for a patriotism education campaign in society. The Xi-Ma meeting is an orchestrated brainwashing operation in this significant environment conducted by Xi Jinping to Chinese society.
The goal of this show is for Ma Ying-jeou to represent the “Republic of China” and acknowledge CCP as the legitimate heir of the Chinese orthodoxy.
Of course, CCP is unlikely to reveal its true intentions to Ma Ying-jeou.
In recent years, CCP’s incessantly promoted concept of “realizing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation” traces back to Sun Yat-sen’s slogan of “revitalizing China,” the founding principle of the Revive China Society established by Sun Yat-sen. Sun Yat-sen later served as the President of the Republic of China.
Furthermore, the idea of establishing China as a national state under the concept of the Chinese nation originated with Liang Qichao. The term “Chinese nationality” was invented by Liang Qichao. After the success of the 1911 Revolution, Liang Qichao served as the Minister of Finance in the Republic of China. Even many first-generation CCP leaders like Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai joined the Republic of China government and actively participated in the efforts to revitalize China. CCP leaders commonly refer to Sun Yat-sen as the “Father of the Nation.”
It is evident that CCP cannot achieve its rejuvenation dream without Republic of China. This is why, during the national day parade, the formation led by Sun Yat-sen’s portrait takes the front position. Unfortunately, the Republic of China has been expelled by the CCP to Taiwan.
In other words, the existence of the Republic of China informs the common Chinese people that the path to the great rejuvenation dream of revitalizing China should rightfully be Taiwan’s path. It was so in the past, is so in the present, and should be so in the future.
How does the current CCP leader feel about this?
Therefore, Ma Ying-jeou, a former President of the Republic of China who has been out of office for nearly 8 years, has been deemed valuable for exploitation by CCP.
Ma Ying-jeou is a democratically elected president of Taiwanese society and, although no longer in office, still has some connection with public opinion. Having him represent the Taiwanese people and endorse CCP’s “rejuvenation dream” is the motivation behind CCP orchestrating the Xi-Ma meeting drama.
Unfortunately, Ma Ying-jeou’s two slip of the tongue incidents in referring to “Chinese nationality” as “Republic of China” and then correcting himself turn a statement that should have been straightforward and unequivocal into a dubious performance.
As a democratically elected former president with a doctoral degree in law, who is the biggest beneficiary of his behavior?
The Republic of China or CCP?
Editor: Lien Shu-hua #