Former Taiwan president Ma crosses strait

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou arrived in the mainland yesterday for the first cross-strait visit by a past or present leader of the island in more than seven decades.

Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party called his trip "regrettable."

Ma's 12-day trip will not involve official meetings, his office said, with his focus on paying tribute to his ancestors and promoting youth exchanges.

Ma was born in Hong Kong in 1950 to immigrant parents from Xiangtan in Hunan, which he will visit in addition to the cities of Shanghai, Nanjing, Wuhan, Chongqing and Changsha.

"I hope to improve the cross-strait atmosphere through the enthusiastic interactions of young people so peace can come to us faster and sooner," the 73-year-old said.

Ma was met at the airport at Shanghai in the afternoon by central government and city officials.

His trip came a day after Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taipei in favor of Beijing.

President Tsai Ing-wen's DPP accused Ma of "endorsing" Beijing's Taiwan policy with his visit. "We should be more united," the party declared, "but it's regrettable the KMT stands with the Chinese communists, and ex-president Ma disregards public disapproval to visit China at this time."

Ma is a senior leader of the Kuomintang, which sits in opposition in Taiwan and advocates for warmer ties with China, but denies being pro-Beijing. Taiwan will hold a presidential election next year, with the KMT and the DPP the main contenders for the position.

Ma oversaw a dramatic improvement in cross-strait ties during his time in office from 2008 to 2016, which culminated in a summit between him and Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Singapore in 2015.

Beijing has ramped up military, economic and diplomatic pressure on Taiwan under Ma's successor, Tsai, poaching nine of Taiwan's allies, leaving only 13 countries that recognize the island diplomatically.

China and Honduras began formal diplomatic relations on Sunday, with Taipei accusing Beijing of using "coercion and intimidation" to lure away its allies.

At Taipei airport yesterday, a handful of demonstrators protested against Ma's visit, saying he had "betrayed Taiwan" by going to the mainland. They were soon after removed by police to an area outside the main airport building.

China's foreign ministry has not offered a comment on Ma's visit, with spokesperson Mao Ning saying it was "not a diplomatic issue."