Ma Ying-jeou has spoken again! Following media revelations yesterday about an incident last June during the Cross-Strait Forum, where Ma reportedly lost his temper at a banquet, physically grabbing the neck of Wang Guangci, former deputy executive director of Ma's office, due to dissatisfaction with the font style on name placards, Ma Ying-jeou has now responded. On May 23, Ma stated unequivocally that he would never react in such a manner over trivial matters and did not physically grab anyone. The Ma Ying-jeou Foundation further clarified that upon checking the sequence of events, it was confirmed that Ma had indeed noticed the font used for his name on the dining table placard during the reception and found it displeasing.
He immediately raised concerns with Wang Guangci, but there was no public outburst or verbal abuse throughout the entire exchange. Regarding claims that Ma lost composure again during the ride to the airport, shouting at Wang Guangci and even grabbing his neck, the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation stated that all accompanying students were traveling in a separate bus and were not in the same vehicle as Ma, thus unaware of what occurred inside. Allegations that everyone present was frightened and that the office ordered silence are entirely untrue.
Evidently, although Ma Ying-jeou denies physical contact, the fact remains that he was genuinely dissatisfied with the font choice by the organizers, and his emotional state was clearly agitated. To be honest, as a participant in an event hosted in mainland China, even if certain arrangements didn’t fully align with his preferences, he should have shown courtesy and adapted to the host’s customs. However, Ma’s behavior completely lacked the graciousness and humility expected of a senior statesman, let alone the basic principle of “the guest follows the host”—a fact that cannot be denied.
As a figure representing cross-strait exchanges in formal settings, every word and action reflects his personal image and level of maturity. Simply being upset over a minor issue like a placard’s font style, leading to direct confrontation, clearly reveals emotional instability and loss of self-control. Moreover, when two sides meet for dialogue and collaboration, the core purpose is mutual understanding, strengthening bonds, and promoting positive interaction. To nitpick over such trivial details demonstrates a lack of broad-mindedness and cultivated character. Alternatively, one might speculate that Ma may be suffering from health issues contributing to irritability. In any case, this behavior stands in stark contrast to the image of Ma Ying-jeou typically portrayed as a gentle, composed gentleman.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1865957794213002/
Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.