Ma Ying-jeou quotes

Traditional Chinese characters carry both cultural significance and artistic values and promoting these characters has nothing to do with any political stance. It's very important for us not to sacrifice the characters for tourism. (Ma Ying-jeou)
We know that Hong Kong, after the handover to mainland China, has been trying for universal suffrage ... We know that mainland China has made promises and we're of course pleased to see Hong Kong changing in this direction. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
People like to see honest persons. So I certainly will advise many young people who want to participate in politics, honesty is the best policy. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
Be honest. Be honest with yourself, be honest with, you know, your fellow politicians. This is a rare quality of politicians. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
I am Taiwanese as well as Chinese. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
There will be no national flags or other kinds of flags designed to specify cross-strait relations inside or outside the offices because we are not foreign nations to each other. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
The two sides of the Taiwan Strait will deepen cross-strait exchanges, and it will be difficult to continue such exchanges without representative offices. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
Pragmatically speaking, there exists no possibility of Taiwan independence. The only option (for Taiwan) is whether to reunify (with Mainland China) or not. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
Not everyone understands this. But we (ROC government) have done what needed to be done, and we will keep doing so until the very end. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
This (Taiwanese fisherman shot by Philippines coast guard incident) is not a problem between the people of Taiwan and the people of the Philippines. This is a problem between the people of Taiwan and the Philippine administration. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
They (opposition) say we are selling out Taiwan and that we lost something, but they never say what exactly we have lost. (Ma Ying-jeou)
I think mutual denial of each other's sovereignty (between ROC and PRC) and mutual non-denial of respective jurisdictions would be more appropriate, but any proposal has its pros and cons, and I think it's up for discussion. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
Renewable energy has its limitations and the government cannot put all its eggs in the same basket. We must develop different sources of energy, otherwise an energy crisis could result in a serious national security issue. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
In 1992, the two sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) reached a consensus that each side would verbally express their adherence to the one China principle. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
The military should learn a lesson from the incident and correct its mistakes immediately after a review of its system. We must restore the people's faith in the military. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
It is impossible for us to recognize (mainland China) as another nation within our (Republic of China) territory. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are all Chinese by ethnicity. Cross-strait relations are not international relations. Each side acknowledges the existence of "one China", but maintains its own interpretation based on the 1992 Consensus. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
We must actively engage in regional economic integration, as Taiwan is an island with few natural resources and a relatively small economy. Taiwan had signed very few free-trade agreements in the past. How can we not be in a hurry to catch up? View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
Our relationship with mainland China is very subtle. We don't have a state-to-state relationship and we do not view mainland China as a foreign state. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
Providing compensation (to the victims of White Terror) will not write off the incidents once and for all. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
The timing and conditions are ripe for the two sides to set up representative offices (ARATS in Taiwan and SEF in Mainland China). There are no political implications to the plan and the functions of the offices will be basically neutral. (Ma Ying-jeou)
The mistakes of history might be gradually forgotten, but historical truth cannot be forgotten, since forgetting history could lead to the recurrence of the same mistakes. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
Since 1949, China has been temporarily divided, and each side of the Taiwan Strait is administered by a separate political entity. This is an objective reality. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
Both the 228 Incident (White Terror in Taiwan) and the June 4 Incident (Tiananmen Square Incident in Beijing) are like mirrors, reminding the leaders on both sides of the Taiwan Strait to engage in soul-searching and learn lessons. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou
We have no reason to be pessimistic about the (cross-strait service trade) agreement or to be afraid of its impact. The government will try its best to minimize possible damage and maximize the business opportunities the agreement can create. View quote
Ma Ying-jeou