Editing Ma Ying-jeou (section)

===View on Chinese unification===
In a December 2005 ''[[Newsweek|Newsweek International]]'' interview, when asked about unification, Ma stated that "for our party, the eventual goal is reunification, but we don't have a timetable."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10511672/site/newsweek/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051229041141/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10511672/site/newsweek/|url-status=dead|title='Conditions Aren't Ripe'|publisher=Newsweek International|date=26 December 2005|website=msnbc.com|archive-date=29 December 2005}}</ref>

In February 2006, Ma published an op-ed in ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' titled ''Taiwan's 'Pragmatic Path'''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ma|first=Ying-jeou|date=7 February 2006|title=Taiwan's 'Pragmatic Path'|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB113926633134866511|website=The Wall Street Journal|access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref> In the article, Ma stated that neither unification nor independence was likely for Taiwan in the foreseeable future and that the status quo should be maintained. He emphasized that the island's future should be determined by its people, rather than the government. During the same month, while visiting Europe, the KMT ran an advertisement in the ''[[Liberty Times]]'' with the same title, asserting that Taiwan's future could take many possible directions—be it unification, independence, or maintaining the status quo—and that such decisions must be made by the people.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yzzk.com/article/details/%E7%89%B9%E7%A8%BF/2006-09/1367551076853/%E5%9C%8B%E6%B0%91%E9%BB%A8%E5%8F%B0%E7%8D%A8%E5%BB%A3%E5%91%8A%E4%B8%80%E6%B1%A0%E6%98%A5%E6%B0%B4|title=國民黨台獨廣告一池春水|language=zh|date=27 February 2006|website=Yazhou Zhoukan|access-date=25 April 2025}}</ref> The advertisement, which stated that independence is an option for the people of Taiwan, sparked criticism within the party and raised concerns in the PRC.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merit-times.com.tw/NewsPage.aspx?unid=9487|title=社論--統一與獨立的終極選項|language=zh|website=The Merit Times|date=17 February 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> [[Wang Jin-pyng]] felt gratified for the policy shift, since Wang himself made a similar statement during the 2004 election, but [[James Soong]] said he was "shocked" and [[Lien Chan]] said he was never consulted.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/57926|title=馬：台獨非國民黨選項 但尊重言論自由|work=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=16 February 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.voachinese.com/a/a-21-w2006-02-15-voa38-58207047/1069531.html|title=国民党广告风波马英九称解读有误|work=VOA|language=zh|date=15 February 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> Ma clarified later that the KMT policy of retaining the status quo has not changed and has reiterated this position several times;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.ltn.com.tw/news/focus/paper/58575|title=馬重申 台獨非國民黨選項|work=Liberty Times|language=zh|date=20 February 2006|access-date=26 April 2006}}</ref> further, he has also reiterated his party's support of the one-China policy.<ref name="taipeitimes2006">{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2006/04/04/2003300822|title=Chen and Ma fail to reach consensus|work=Taipei Times|date=4 April 2006|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>

Ma supported autonomy for [[Tibet]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://english.president.gov.tw/news/3313|title=President Ma Ying-jeou's interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour|website=Office of the President|date=30 April 2010|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> On 17 March 2008, Ma threatened to boycott the [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Olympics]] if elected, should the [[2008 Tibetan unrest|Tibetan unrest]] spiral out of control.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/193045,taiwan-presidential-candidate-threatens-to-boycott-beijing-olympics.html|title=Taiwan presidential candidate threatens to boycott Beijing Olympics: Sports|publisher=earthtimes.org|access-date=19 March 2008|archive-date=11 October 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011233558/https://earthtimes.org/|url-status=live}}</ref> After he was elected president, he refused to let the [[14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]] visit Taiwan, citing the timing as inappropriate.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2008/12/04/2003430223|title=Dalai Lama not welcome to visit: Ma|work=Taipei Times|date=4 December 2008|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref> He later approved a visit by the Dalai Lama to lead prayers for [[Typhoon Morakot]] victims in August 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.france24.com/en/20090827-president-ma-ying-jeou-approves-dalai-lama-visit-|title=President Ma Ying-jeou approves Dalai Lama visit|work=France 24|date=27 August 2009|access-date=26 April 2025}}</ref>

[[File:104年4月2日 馬英九總統出席中華民國104年中樞遙祭黃帝陵典禮 - 17059997442.jpg|thumb|President Ma Ying-jeou paid homage to the [[Yellow Emperor]] in 2015]]
In April 2009, President Ma became the first ROC president to pay homage in person to the [[Yellow Emperor]] who is believed to have founded China as a nation more than 5,000 years ago. Accompanied by all his government leaders, the president sang the ROC's national anthem as the starter.<ref name="chinapost.com.tw">{{cite news|title=President Ma pays homage in person to the Yellow Emperor|author=Joe Hung|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/joe-hung/2009/04/04/202967/President-Ma.htmPresident|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910131529/http://www.chinapost.com.tw/commentary/the-china-post/joe-hung/2009/04/04/202967/President-Ma.htmPresident|url-status=dead|archive-date=10 September 2012|newspaper=China Post|date=4 April 2009}}</ref><ref name="Thomson_2024-04-04">{{Cite news|last=Thomson|first=Jono|date=4 April 2024|title=Most Taiwanese have strong belief in Chinese national identity: Former Taiwan president|url=https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/news/5136818|work=Taiwan News}}</ref> Ma's spokesman said the president wanted to pay his respects to the Yellow Emperor on [[Qingming Festival|National Tomb-Sweeping Day]] in person to stress the importance of the Chinese ancestor-worshipping tradition. However, others saw the precedent-making ceremonies at the [[National Revolutionary Martyrs' Shrine|Martyrs' Shrine]] as meant to be a show by President Ma of his unprofessed commitment to maintain a close relationship between Taiwan and mainland China.<ref name="chinapost.com.tw" /> During his time at the tomb of the Yellow Emperor, Ma said that most Taiwanese people have a strong belief in Chinese culture and national identity.<ref name="Thomson_2024-04-04"/>