Quotes about mainland (100 quotes) | Quotes of famous people

“The United States has broken the second rule of war. That is: don't go fighting with your land army on the mainland in Asia. Rule One is, don't march on Moscow. I developed those two rules myself.”

Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein (1887–1976) British Army officer, Commander of Allied forces at the Battle of El Alamein

Interview, 2 July, 1968; quoted in New York Times, 3 July, 1968, p. 6.

War , Fight

“Safeguarding the interests of our Taiwan compatriots and expanding their well-being is the mainland's oft-repeated pledge and solemn promise of the new leaders of China's Communist Party central committee.”

Xi Jinping (1953) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and paramount leader of China

As quoted in "China's Xi to tread peaceful, patient path on Taiwan" http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/25/us-china-taiwan-idUSBRE91O0CC20130225 in Reuters (25 February 2013).
2010s

“[We should] set our eyes on the future. The political differences between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan should eventually be solved step by step, and [we] can not let these problems hand on from generation to generation.”

Xi Jinping (1953) General Secretary of the Communist Party of China and paramount leader of China

As quoted in "Xi calls for peaceful development of cross-Straits ties" http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2013xiapec/2013-10/06/content_17011186.htm in China Daily (6 October 2013).
2010s

Problem , Future

“One way of poisoning love is to mingle it with hate. It is the best way but in some ways the most dangerous. Love and hate are the cat and mouse of our emotions, sometimes the cat chases the mouse, often the mouse chases the cat; but when both cat and mouse are tired of chasing each other there is little left to do. All one can do then is to admit the most bitter truth of all, the most bitter but also the best: that two people in love with each other can not be alone on an island without ceasing to love; that they can not be an island, they need contact with the mainland, they need other people. It is cold comfort for those who believe that love is an island in the sea, and when we have grown tired of islands very little consolation remains. When we have grown tired of loving we are glad that the one we love is not the only person in the world.”

Stig Dagerman book A Burnt Child

Source: A Burnt Child (1948), p. 206

Love , Hate , People , Truth

“You cannot invade the mainland United States. There would be a rifle behind every blade of grass.”

Isoroku Yamamoto (1884–1943) Japanese Marshal Admiral

It has been declared this attribution is "unsubstantiated and almost certainly bogus, even though it has been repeated thousands of times in various Internet postings. There is no record of the commander in chief of Japan’s wartime fleet ever saying it.", according to source Brooks Jackson in "Misquoting Yamamoto" at Factcheck.org (11 May 2009) http://www.factcheck.org/2009/05/misquoting-yamamoto/, which cites source Donald M. Goldstein, sometimes called "the dean of Pearl Harbor historians", writing "I have never seen it in writing. It has been attributed to the Prange files [the files of the late Gordon W. Prange, chief historian on the staff of Gen. Douglas MacArthur] but no one had ever seen it or cited it from where they got it."
Misattributed

Grass

“And this is where it went. In places all around the eastern Mediterranean the sea is separated from the mainland by strips of flat marshy land like this. Made up of the soil that once clothed the hills beyond. All this was deposited during the last 2000 years. This is the marsh that now separates the sea from the city of Ephesus. These ruined buildings mark the edge of the quay where once merchant ships lay moored. As the harbour died, so did the trade upon which the city's wealth was based, and so, well, ultimately did Ephesus itself. What was once one of the most splendid cities in the Roman Empire fell into decay and was abandoned.”

David Attenborough (1926) British broadcaster and naturalist

50 min 10 sec
The First Eden (1987)

Sea , Clothes , Wealth

“Like a fish in the wind, jumps right out of its knowledge, and lands on the sand. Like when the wind comes ruffling at last, to sailors adrift, trying to manage the broken springs of their muscles, and lever and lift their well rubbed oars, making tiny dents, in the ocean. Like when they're cutting ash poles in the hills, the treetops fall as soft as cloth. Like oak trees swerving out of the hills, and setting their faces to the wind, day after day being practically lifted away, they are lashed to the earth, and never let go, gripping on darkness. All day in a trance of war, men murder each other, but at dusk, silence, only the fingers of fire lifting their questions to the mainland. Is there anybody there, please help. Help. help. Until he's full, and of his own iron will walks on.”

Alice Oswald (1966) British poet

Men , War , Spring , Question

“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.”

Ma Ying-jeou (1950) Taiwanese politician, president of the Republic of China

Source: Ma Ying-jeou (2013) cited in: " Ma says meeting with Xi Jinping rests on popular approval http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2013/07/27/384866/Ma-says.htm" in The China Post, 27 July 2013.

Statement made at the Presidential Office in Taipei commenting on the handover of Hong Kong to the People's Republic of China, 25 July 2013.

Universe , Change

“I also hope that Mainland China does not misinterpret or misjudge the current (cross-strait) situation, or think that Taiwanese will bow to such pressure. In a democratic society, this kind of pressure is felt by all. No administration in Taiwan can make a decision that runs counter to public opinion.”

Tsai Ing-wen (1956) President of the Republic of China

President urges talks with Beijing: report, Focus Taiwan, 1, October 5, 2016, 6 October 2016 http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201610050021.aspx,

Hope , Thinking , Decision

“The slogans of 'countering back the mainland' created by Chiang Kai-shek and 'liberating Taiwan' by Mao Zedong several decades ago should be forgotten because none of them could be put into practice.”

Hau Pei-tsun (1919) Taiwanese politician

Hau Pei-tsun (2013) cited in " Call for Beijing to work with Taiwan to reunify in 'Chinese-style' democracy http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1287281/call-beijing-work-taiwan-reunify-chinese-style-democracy" on South China Morning Post, 21 July 2013

“The immediate occasion for alarm is the government's announcement that British contractors for supplying armaments to our armed forces must in future share the work with what are called ‘European firms’, meaning factories situated on the mainland of the European continent. I ask one question, to which I believe there is no doubt about the answer. What would have been the fate of Britain in 1940 if production of the Hurricane and the Spitfire had been dependent upon the output of factories in France? That a question so glaringly obvious does not get asked in public or in government illuminates the danger created for this nation by the rolling stream of time which bears away the generation of 1940, the generation, that is to say, of those who experienced as adults Britain's great peril and Britain’s great deliverance. Talk at Bruges or Luxembourg about not surrendering our national sovereignty is all very well. It means less than nothing when the keys to our national defence are being handed over: an island nation which no longer commands the essential means of defending itself by air and sea is no longer sovereign…The safety of this island nation reposes upon two pillars. The first is the impregnability of its homeland to invasion by air or sea. The second is its ability and its will to create over time the military forces by which the last conclusive battle will be decided. Without our own industrial base of military armament production neither of those pillars will stand. No doubt, with the oceans kept open, we can look to buy or borrow from the other continents; but to depend on the continent of Europe for our arms is suicide.”

Enoch Powell (1912–1998) British politician

Speech to the Birmingham branch of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers Association (18 February 1989), from Enoch Powell on 1992 (Anaya, 1989), pp. 49-50
1980s

Fate , Question , Suicide , Time

“I'd like them (Mainland Chinese) to live here (Kinmen) too. I hope someday they can buy property here and their children could come to school here.”

Wu Cherng-dean (1957) Taiwanese politician

Source: Wu Cherng-dean (2016) cited in " On A Rural Taiwanese Island, Modern China Beckons http://www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2016/09/11/493255462/on-a-rural-taiwanese-island-modern-china-beckons" on NPR, 11 September 2016.

Children , School , Hope

“We do not and will not promote 'two Chinas', 'one China and one Taiwan' or 'Taiwan independence'. Taiwan and Mainland China share the common heritage. Both sides of the Taiwan Strait are part of the Chinese nation. Their people are descendants of the same ancestors. The people of mainland China and the people of Taiwan share a common bloodline, history and culture. And after five years of peaceful exchange, the two sides have created an unprecedented horizon for the Chinese nation, as well as set an example, not only for East Asia but also for the entire world, on how to settle disputes peacefully. With mutual non-recognition of sovereignty and mutual non-denial of jurisdiction as guiding principles, both sides should continue to expand and deepen their ties in areas such as commerce, culture, technology, environmental protection and human rights.”

Ma Ying-jeou (1950) Taiwanese politician, president of the Republic of China

Ma Ying-jeou (2013) cited in: " Gov't won't push 2 Chinas, independence: Ma http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2013/04/30/377336/Govt-wont.htm" in The Taipei Times, 30 April 2013.
Statement made during the 20th anniversary of Koo-Wang Talks at the Straits Exchange Foundation in Taipei, 28 April 2013.
Strait issues

People , World , Peace , History

“The DPP will engage (mainland) China with a positive attitude and confidence, hoping to foster constructive and well-intentioned dialogues, while maintaining the party’s values and basic positions. Unfortunately, China remains stubborn and has always tried to coerce Taiwan into a framework defined by nobody but China.”

Su Tseng-chang (1947) Taiwanese politician

Su Tseng-chang (2013) cited in " DPP tells PRC to respect public, party views http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/11/28/2003577848" on Taipei Times, 28 November 2013.

Hope , Confidence

“Passing round Point Conception, and steering easterly, we opened the islands that form, with the mainland, the canal of Santa Barbara. There they are, Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa, and there is the beautiful point, Santa Buenaventura; and there lies Santa Barbara on its plain, with its amphitheater of high hills and distant mountains. There is the old white mission with its belfries, and there the town, with its one-story adobe houses, with here and there a two-story wooden house of later build; yet little is it altered — the same repose in the golden sunlight and glorious climate, sheltered by its hills; and then, more remindful than anything else, there roars and tumbles upon the beach the same grand surf of the great Pacific… the same bright-blue ocean, and the surf making just the same monotonous, melancholy roar, and the same dreamy town.”

Richard Henry Dana Jr. (1815–1882) United States author and lawyer

Twenty-Four Years After (1869)

Beauty , Mountain , Distant , Housing

“[Physicists and philosophers] stick stubbornly to the principles of a mechanistic interpretation of the world after physics has, in its factual structure, already outgrown the latter. They have the same excuse as the inhabitant of the mainland who for the first time travels on the open sea: he will desperately try to stay in sight of the vanishing coast line, as long as there is no other coast in sight, towards which he steers.”

Hermann Weyl (1885–1955) German mathematician

"Wissenschaft als symbolische Konstruktion des Menschen" Eranos-Jahrbuch (1948) GA IV, as quoted/translated by Erhard Scholz, "Philosophy as a Cultural Resource and Medium of Reflection for Hermann Weyl" http://arxiv.org/abs/math/0409596 (2004)

World , Travel , Time , Sea

“(If) the (mainland) Chinese see the vulnerability of Taiwan, not getting United States support, then they would be thinking about starting scenarios where they would be able to take Taiwan over.”

Joseph Wu (1954) Taiwanese politician

Joseph Wu (2018) cited in " Taiwan vulnerable to Chinese invasion without US, foreign minister says https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/23/asia/taiwan-foreign-minister-interview-intl/index.html" on CNN, 23 July 2018.

Support , Thinking

“It's time that six decades of separation (between Taiwan and Mainland China) and previous generations' confrontation be ended. Let the current and the future generations choose common development and jointly create a situation of mutual benefits.”

Eric Chu (1961) Taiwanese politician

Eric Chu (2009) cited in " Senior official urges "most broad-based" cross-Straits exchanges http://www.gov.cn/english/2009-05/17/content_1316846.htm" on The Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China, 17 May 2009.

Time , Future

“Everything the British Empire built here will be history. Most of it already is, but it’s a history that has left its mark. In the War Cemetery at Sai Wan Bay you can see it clearly: understated but indelible. The armed forces of Imperial Japan tried to enslave the whole of the East, including Japan itself. Caught up in the terrible war that raged in Asia and the Pacific, a lot of our people who came out here to fight never came home. They died in a good cause. But if the people in this graveyard were somehow to learn that yet another tyranny was on the way, they would find it hard to rest in peace. One of them is my father, who has lain here now for fifty years. He lived and died under our old empire without ever thinking that it was wonderful beyond question. But he thought that it created more than it destroyed, and he was right. The best hope of our last colony is that when the men from the mainland finally take over they will not try to rewrite history by pretending we were never here. Some of us will always be here.”

Clive James (1939–2019) Australian author, critic, broadcaster, poet, translator and memoirist

On the then imminent transfer of sovereignty over Hong Kong from the British Empire to the People's Republic of China. From Clive James' Postcard from Hong Kong.
Television and radio

Men , War , People , Peace

“But his genetic and physical inference from cases of ethnic durability cannot account for the considerable variability, wide range and frequent absorptions and dissolutions of instances of ethnic affiliation, and the fact that many ethnies have undergone large-scale changes of culture and, in some cases, of demography. This is the case even in such a culturally long-lived example as the Greeks, where undoubted evidence of massive rupture of demographic continuity by the influx of Albanians and Slavs on the Greek mainland from the sixth to eighth centuries AD and of considerable, though not complete, culture change after the conversion to Orthodoxy, call into question the continuity and influence of a common ancient Greek biological and genetic inheritance on modern Greeks.”

Anthony D. Smith (1939–2016) British academic

Source: Nationalism and Modernism (1998), p. 150.

Question , Change

“in the mainland, a university has a party committee secretary (黨委書記). Do they want a party committee secretary at HKU? Is he a party committee secretary? They want to put him here as party committee secretary.”

Arthur Li (1945) Hong Kong politician

Leaked recording: Arthur Li speaks against Johannes Chan, EJ Insight, http://www.webcitation.org/6cfxbjx4k, 30 October 2015 http://www.ejinsight.com/20151028-leaked-recording-arthur-li-speaks-against-johannes-chan/,

Universe

“I believe that both sides (Mainland China and Taiwan) will continue to be friendly while our (Republic of China) policies will remain firm.”

Lin Join-sane (1944) Taiwanese politician

Lin Join-sane (2013) cited in " Taiwan offices in China may pool officials cross-ministry: Wang Yu-chi http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130315000019&cid=1101" on Want China Times, 15 March 2013.

“The moment the first American soldier sets foot on the Japanese mainland, all prisoners of war will be shot.”

Hideki Tōjō (1884–1948) former Prime Minister of Japan and Minister of War executed in 1948

Note signed by Tojo (June 1945), left at a camp during the Bataan Death March http://home.att.net/~betsynewmark3/DebateonBomb.htm. Possible forgery since Tojo was no longer in power for over a year at the time of the discovery. Also, the Japanese homeland was not threatened with invasion at the time and it was common sense that the Philippines would be attacked before.
1940s

War

“Flour shipped from the Mississippi River to Havana can pass by the very entrance to the city on its way to a port in Spain, there pay a duty fixed upon articles to be reexported, transferred to a Spanish vessel and brought back almost to the point of starting, paying a second duty, and still leave a profit over what would be received by direct shipment. All that is produced in Cuba could be produced in Santo Domingo. Being a part of the United States, commerce between the island and mainland would be free. There would be no export duties on her shipments nor import duties on those coming here.”

Ulysses S. Grant (1822–1885) 18th President of the United States

1870s, Eighth State of the Union Address (1876)

Way , Parting

“If we don't put forward such a proposal (signing a peace pact with Mainland China) and start negotiating with (Mainland) China, how can we know we will not achieve any results?”

Hung Hsiu-chu (1948) Taiwanese politician

Hung Hsiu-chu (2015) cited in " Cross-strait status quo is 'one China, same interpretation': KMT's Hung http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201505060036.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 6 May 2015

Peace

“We won't give up on any opportunity to rescue the victims. More than 90 rescue workers are still working in shifts searching for people who remain unaccounted for. Even if the golden 72 hours are slipping away and there is only a 0.1 percent chance (of saving them), we will continue to search for the five (mainland) Chinese tourists who remain missing.”

Fu Kun-chi (1962) Taiwanese politician

Fu Kun-chi (2018) cited in " Hualien magistrate vows ongoing rescue effort http://focustaiwan.tw/news/asoc/201802090036.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 9 February 2018

People , Search , Chance

“We are delighted to see that some political parties (e. g. DPP) have decided to change their approach and start a dialogue with mainland China. More communication between Taiwan and the Mainland can only help to reduce differences within Taiwan and achieve consensus, so the KMT welcomes such developments.”

Wu Po-hsiung (1939) Taiwanese politician

Wu lauds DPP’s China department (2012)

Communication , Change , Help

“(Mainland China) has the necessary patience as well as a strong determination to see cross-strait unification, but that does not mean waiting passively without doing anything.”

Zhang Zhijun (1953) Chinese politician

Zhang Zhijun (2013) cited in " Taiwan under pressure to engage China in political dialogue http://www.scmp.com/news/china/article/1330565/taiwan-under-pressure-engage-china-political-dialogue" on South China Morning Post, 13 October 2013.

Strong , Waiting , Patience

“The end of the negotiations is a blow to the cause of the wider European unity for which we have been striving. We are a part of Europe, by geography, history, culture, tradition and civilization … There have been times in the history of Europe when it has been only too plain how European we are; and there have been many millions of people who have been grateful for it. I say to my colleagues: they should have no fear. We in Britain are not going to turn out backs on the mainland of Europe or the countries of the Community.”

Edward Heath (1916–2005) Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (1970–1974)

Speech at European conference after France vetoed the British application to join the EEC (28 January 1963), quoted in Edward Heath, The Course of My Life (Hodder and Stoughton, 1998), p. 235.
Lord Privy Seal

People , Fear , History , Communication

“If they (Mainland China) say we (Mainland China and Taiwan) are close family, they won't repeatedly threaten to use force to settle disputes.”

Cheng Wen-tsan (1967) Taiwan politician

Source: Cheng Wen-tsan (2018) cited in " Taoyuan mayor calls for China to stop threatening Taiwan http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201803070035.aspx", Focus Taiwan (7 March 2018).

Family

“We shouldn’t push it away. As it is a huge market over there in mainland China, it behooves Taiwan to maintain friendly, smooth economic relations.”

Lin Chuan (1951) Taiwanese politician

“The two sides (Mainland China and Taiwan) should learn a lesson from history and never fight each other again.”

Andrew Hsia (1950) Taiwanese politician

Source: Andrew Hsia (2015) cited in " Hsia, Zhang evoke the past at Taiwan-China meeting http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201505230020.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 23 May 2015.

History , Learning , Fight

“If Taiwan can establish a democracy, so can you (Mainland China).”

Su Tseng-chang (1947) Taiwanese politician

Su Tseng-chang (2014) cited in " No independence clause revision: Su http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2014/01/26/2003582179" on Taipei Times, 26 January 2014.

Democracy

“If we work to (make) the welfare of the people our goal based on the concept that both sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) belong to one family, increase the exchange and cooperation between the two sides so as to construct a cross-strait community of a common destiny and to pursue a better future for people on the both sides, then certain deadlock we're facing at the moment can be broken.”

Ko Wen-je (1959) Taiwanese politician and physician

Ko Wen-je (2017) cited in " UPDATED: Ko meets China's Taiwan chief but eases up on rhetoric http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2017/07/03/499165/updated-ko.htm" on The China Post, 3 July 2017.

People , Family , Communication , Future

“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.”

Ma Ying-jeou (1950) Taiwanese politician, president of the Republic of China

Ma Ying-jeou (2013) cited in: " Ma dishonest in avowal of the ‘1992 consensus’ http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2013/07/26/2003568165/1" in The Taipei Times, 26 July 2013.
Statement made in response to the congratulating message sent by Xi Jinping via telegram after Ma Ying-jeou was reelected as the Chairman of KMT, 20 July 2013.
Other topics

“Both sides of the Taiwan Strait belong to one family. There are no Taiwanese in Taiwan and Taiwanese are all Chinese. Which Taiwanese is not Chinese? They are Chinese just like you are. We are all brothers and sisters. The more (cross-strait) exchange we have, the more mixed we will be. Then we won't be able to distinguish who's Mainland and who's Taiwanese — and we will naturally become unified.”

Hsing Yun (1927) Chinese religious leader

Hsing Yun (2013) cited in " Taiwan Buddhist master: 'No Taiwanese' http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2009/03/31/2003439813", Taipei Times (31 March 2009).

Family , Nature , Sister

“Part of my Greek heritage: The call of resistance to the Nazis, when all mainland Europe had succumbed, it was only Greece my Antigone, who resisted and was starved for it.”

Angelique Rockas South African actress and founder of Internationalist Theatre, London

Interview on Helenism .net (September 2011)

Parting

“It is impossible for us to recognize (mainland China) as another nation within our (Republic of China) territory.”

Ma Ying-jeou (1950) Taiwanese politician, president of the Republic of China

Ma Ying-jeou (2013) cited in: " Cross-strait political issues not being shied from: Ma http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/10/23/2003575166" in Taipei Times, 23 October 2013.
Statement made during the meeting with Kuomintang delegation at the Presidential Office in Taipei heading to the cross-strait forum with the Communist Party of China in Nanning, Guangxi Province, 22 October 2013.
Other topics

“We've had too many divisions or stand-offs regarding the pan-blue and pan-green divide, the mainlander-Taiwanese divide and even the southern Taiwan-northern Taiwan divide. In fact, we're all in the same boat.”

Wang Ju-hsuan (1961) Taiwanese politician

Wang Ju-hsuan (2015) cited in " Chu's running mate: 'We're all in same boat' http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201511180030.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 18 November 2015.

“I hope that the team on the other side (Mainland China) can cooperate with us to contribute to the peaceful development of relations across the (Taiwan) strait, safeguard cross-strait security, and develop ideas for co-existence and mutual prosperity.”

Chen Ming-tong (1955) Taiwanese politician

Chen Ming-tong (2018) cited in " Taiwan's China policy agency hoping to work with Beijing counterpart http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201803190006.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 19 March 2018.

Peace , Hope , Idea

“Both sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) are so lovely and so many of their people are behaving like heroes and heroines, and yet Taiwan's former ambition to 'recover the mainland' has become a thing of the past.”

Wu Den-yih (1948) Taiwanese politician

Wu Den-yih (2016) cited in: " Ex-VP calls on China 'not to widen distance' with Taiwanese http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201610030023.aspx" in Focus Taiwan, 3 October 2016.

Love , People , Past

“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.”

Ma Ying-jeou (1950) Taiwanese politician, president of the Republic of China

Ma Ying-jeou (2013) cited in: " Ma says he will only talk with Xi ‘as president’ http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/07/27/2003568278" in The Taipei Times, 27 July 2013.
Statement made at the Presidential Office in Taipei commenting on the possibility of Ma Ying-jeou meeting up with Xi Jinping before end of Ma's term in 2016, 25 July 2013.
Other topics

“The more areas in which we (Taiwan and Mainland China) agree, the greater the chances of resolving our differences.”

Wu Po-hsiung (1939) Taiwanese politician

Wu Po-hsiung (2013) quoted in: " Taiwan, China should put aside disputes: KMT’s Wu http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/09/19/2003572505" in Taipei Times 19 September 2013.
Statements were made during the visit of Yunnan Communist Party of China secretary, Qin Guangrong, and his delegation to Taiwan in September 2013.
Wu lauds DPP’s China department (2012)

Chance

“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 (1950) Taiwanese politician, president of the Republic of China

Ma Ying-jeou (2013) cited in: " Taipei, Beijing yet to reach consensus on visitation rights http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2013/09/19/2003572508" in Taipei Times, 19 September 2013.
Statement made to defend the creation of the representative offices as a practical plan amid increasing cross-strait exchanges, 18 September 2013.
Other topics

Time

“It's not easy for (Minister of Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council of the People's Republic of China) Zhang (Zhijun) to openly address me by my official title (Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council of the Executive Yuan of the Republic of China).”

Wang Yu-chi (1969) Taiwanese politician

Wang Yu-chi (2013) cited in " MAC chief hails progress in 'special' cross-strait ties http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20131012000033&cid=1101" on Want China Times, 12 October 2013

People

“So, the kangaroos, people ask, "How did the kangaroos get to Australia?" Uhh, they hopped. That is how they get everywhere. You see, kangaroos, koalas, and wombats are nonaggressive. Compared to tigers they are just not very aggressive. So when animals got off the Ark over here in Turkey where it landed, they are going to start spreading out and establishing their territory. So the kangaroos are at home raising their family and all of the sudden the tigers come in, "Rrrr - I want this property!" So they say, okay So, rather than fight, they run, if possible. Less aggressive animals would have been pushed to the migration fringe. A kangaroo would rather run than fight. And they ended up over generations, possibly a hundred years or so, they would keep spreading out. And those that don't run get killed. And they end up in Australia, down here. But at the same time, while they are being pushed to the edge of the migration fringe the water is coming up because the ice caps are melting back. And as the ice caps melt back, the water comes up, and all of a sudden, Australia is protected from additional migrations. Now Australia is an island. Long ago it used to be a part of the mainland. And they just got as far away from the tigers as they could get, and that is where they got stuck in Australia.”

Kent Hovind (1953) American young Earth creationist

Creation seminars (2003-2005), The Hovind theory

People , Family , Home , Water

“We believe if the mainland really values how the Taiwanese people feel, and if it wishes to improve mutual political trust between both sides, it will grant Taiwan representative office personnel the right to visit (inmates) for humanitarian reasons.”

Wang Yu-chi (1969) Taiwanese politician

Wang Yu-chi (2013) cited in " Taiwan urges China to allow visits to Taiwanese prisoners http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2013/10/27/392238/Taiwan-urges.htm" on The China Post, 27 October 2013

People , Feeling

“Since a trilateral negotiation between Chinese mainland, Japan and Taiwan cannot be realized at the time, the Taiwan government should hold a dialogue with the mainland so the two sides could jointly discuss issues related to defending China’s inherent territory.”

Yok Mu-ming (1940) Taiwanese politician

Yok Mu-ming (2012) cited in " Can mainland, Taiwan jointly defend Diaoyu Islands? http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/2012-09/17/content_26542428_2.htm" on China.org.cn, 17 September 2012.

Time

“In Hawaii the United States has another possible source of undesirable immigration. The dominant element among its third of a million inhabitants is the Japanese, who have held themselves aloof from the other residents and shown little tendency to intermarry. Every Japanese child born in the islands is an American citizen, with the full right of entry to the mainland. The greater part of the rest of the population is a mongrel crowd. Chinese and native Hawaiians, until quite recently, have shown a marked tendency to intermarry. Every effort should be made to find some constitutional way by which Hawaii can be prevented from becoming a continuous source of supply of undesirable citizens of the United States.”

Madison Grant (1865–1937) American lawyer, eugenicist, and conservationist

The Conquest of a Continent (1933)

Way , Effort , Parting

“Many Taiwanese people have been interacting and associating with the Chinese for a long period of time, so their perspectives can be very valuable when addressing issues concerning Mainland China. We should view Mainland China from the perspective of Taiwan as a whole, instead of only from the DPP's point of view.”

Su Tseng-chang (1947) Taiwanese politician

Su Tseng-chang (2013) cited in " Taiwan should know more about China: Su http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2013/05/23/379305/Taiwan-should.htm" on The China Post, 23 May 2013.

People , Time

“If (Mainland) China's dream is a dream of democracy, Taiwan will provide all needed assistance in the process of realizing that dream.”

Tsai Ing-wen (1956) President of the Republic of China

Liu Xiaobo's dream should be China's dream: Taiwan's Tsai, Focus Taiwan, 1, July 13, 2017, 14 July 2017 http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201707130028.aspx,

Dreams , Democracy

“Even those who once supported and promoted Taiwan independence, or followed those who do, so long as they are willing to help improve and develop cross-strait relations, will be welcome to visit the mainland and to join us in promoting exchanges and cooperation between the two sides of the (Taiwan) strait.”

Yu Zhengsheng (1945) Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference

Yu Zhengsheng (2013) cited in " China unveils 6 new cross-strait measures http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2013/06/17/381387/China-unveils.htm" on The China Post, 17 June 2013.

Support , Help

“p>When I was small,
Nostalgia was a tiny postage stamp,
I, on this side,
My mother, on the other.Later on,
Nostalgia was a low tomb,
I, outside.
My mother, inside.And now,
Nostalgia is the coastline, a shallow strait.
I, on this side,
The mainland, on the other.”

Yu Kwang-chung (1928–2017) Taiwanese poet

"Nostalgia" (《乡愁》, "Xiangchou"), in The Isle Full of Noises: Modern Chinese Poetry from Taiwan, ed. and trans. Dominic Cheung (New York: Columbia University Press, 1987), p. 51

Nostalgia

“With hindered communication across the strait, I will lead the (Kuomintang) party to take on the responsibility to protect and ensure the personal well-being, rights, social and economic exchange, and cultural transmission for people on both sides (Taiwan and Mainland China).”

Wu Den-yih (1948) Taiwanese politician

Wu Den-yih (2017) cited in: " Wu stresses ‘1992 consensus’ in Xi reply http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2017/05/22/2003671071" in Taipei Times, 22 May 2017.

People , Communication , Personality

“For us (Taiwan and Mainland China) to simply sit at the same table, sit down to discuss issues, is already not an easy thing.”

Wang Yu-chi (1969) Taiwanese politician

Wang Yu-chi (2014) cited in " China and Taiwan in first government talks http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-26129171" on BBC, 11 February 2014

“The tremendous effort by the War Relocation Authority and concerned Americans for the welfare of these Japanese-Americans may add perspective to that story, but it does not erase the setback to fundamental American principles. Fortunately, the Japanese-American community in Hawaii was spared the indignities suffered by those on our mainland.”

Gerald Ford (1913–2006) American politician, 38th President of the United States (in office from 1974 to 1977)

1970s, Proclamation 4417 (1976)

War , Communication , Effort , Suffering

“The truth is, ever since (Mainland) China snapped up Panama (in June 2017), none of our (Republic of China) diplomatic allies in Latin America are considered safe.”

Lin Yu-fang (1951) Taiwanese politician

Lin Yu-fang (2018) cited in " Haiti, Honduras could be next, Lin Yu-fang says http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/05/03/2003692421" on Taipei Times, 3 May 2018.

Truth

“True, no man can be wholly apart from his fellows. But, if each of us is a promontory, yet the promontory reaches out beyond the social mainland to a point where others cannot intrude. Beyond that point lies an unexplorable lonesomeness, a unique privacy. It is a no-other-man's land, for others can't penetrate it, can't communicate with it.”

Jerome Frank (1889–1957) American jurist

Judge Learned Hand, reprinted in A Man's Reach: The Philosophy of Judge Jerome Frank (1965), page 49.

Communication

“The general disposition of the land is one of metals in the west, giving way, as you travel eastward, to a varied landscape of nonmetals, which terminates in largely inert elements at the eastern shoreline. To the south of the mainland, there is an offshore island, which we shall call the Southern Island. It consists entirely of metals of subtly modulated personality. North of the mainland, situated rather like Iceland off the northwestern edge of Europe, lies a single, isolated region-hydrogen. This simple but gifted element is an essential outpost of the kingdom, for despite its simplicity it is rich in chemical personality. It is also the most abundant element in the universe and the fuel of the stars.”

Peter Atkins (1940) British chemist

Source: Periodic Kingdom (1995), Chapter 1. The Terrain

Way , Travel , Star , Universe

“The building of the Jindeng Bridge will not only help hone Taiwan's bridge building technologies, it will also help boost development in Kinmen itself. The Jindeng Bridge will facilitate the building of water pipes and electricity transmission cables between Kinmen and Xiamen, allowing Kinmen to import fresh water and electricity from (Mainland) China. A move that would also manifest Taiwan's sincerity in pursuing peace and co-prosperity with (Mainland) China.”

Lee Chu-feng (1953) Taiwanese politician

Lee Chu-feng (2009) cited in " Bridge to Xiamen popular with Kinmen residents http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2009/02/08/2003435563" on Taipei Times, 8 February 2009

Peace , Water , Help , Sincerity

“Beijing's marriage and inheritance laws are closely related to Taiwanese lives, since numerous Taiwanese businessmen have purchased properties or taken a mistress in (Mainland) China. I have also been approached by many Taiwanese wives who needed legal advice in these areas.”

Wang Ju-hsuan (1961) Taiwanese politician

Wang Ju-hsuan (2015) cited in " Jennifer Wang’s Chinese degree stirs speculation http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2015/12/02/2003633814" on Taipei Times, 2 December 2015.

Marriage , Law

“The relationship between Scotland and the UK and that between the ROC-Taiwan and (Mainland China) are totally different. The ROC is an independent country, so the question of announcing independence via referendum is simply a nonstarter. Any kind of referendum that aims to change the status quo would be unwise. Keeping the ROC on Taiwan as an independent, sovereign state is our topmost priority. Any idea diverging from this would be at odds with the Constitution and against our citizens’ interests.”

Jiang Yi-huah (1960) Taiwanese politician

Jiang Yi-huah (2014) cited in " ROC not Scotland, independence vote not needed: Jiang http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/09/17/2003599885" on Taipei Times, 17 September 2014

Idea , Question , Change , Country

“In the years to come, I also hope that both sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) can work to facilitate policy communications, reinforce their economic cooperation, push ahead with cross-strait negotiations, accomplish more achievements beneficial to the public, expand their scope of amicable interactions, cement the ‘family bond’ between the people on both sides and jointly build a better home for Chinese.”

Zhang Zhijun (1953) Chinese politician

Zhang Zhijun (2014) cited in " Jiang says no ‘three noes’ set for Wang-Zhang talks http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2014/01/28/2003582310/2" on Taipei Times, 28 January 2014.

People , Family , Hope , Home

“China will not allow those Taiwanese investors that advocate Taiwan independence to make money here (in Mainland China).”

Zhang Zhijun (1953) Chinese politician

Zhang Zhijun (2016) cited in " China closes door on independence-espousing firms http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2016/12/03/2003660482" on Taipei Times, 3 December 2016.

Money

“Let's put all this (cross-strait conflict) aside. The best choice for both sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) at this moment is peace.”

Wu Den-yih (1948) Taiwanese politician

Wu Den-yih (2016) cited in: " Wu Den-yih calls on China to improve Taiwan relations http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2016/10/05/480217/Wu-Den-yih.htm" in The China Post, 5 October 2016.

Peace

“Both of our (Mainland China and Taiwan) legal and governance systems were built following the 'one China' structure. That is why cross-strait relations are not state-to-state relations and there is no room for Taiwanese independence.”

Lien Chan (1936) former Chairman of the Kuomintang

Source: Lien Chan (2018) cited in " Lien Chan says no room for Taiwanese independence in talks with Xi Jinping http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/07/14/2003696647" on Taipei Times, 14 July 2018

“As an academic, I believe in the advantages of global academic dialogue, including exchanges with (mainland) China. While there are special circumstances across the (Taiwan) Strait, the nation has laws and regulations in place to govern (issues related to mainland China), and I have followed them in all of my speaking engagements and short-term lectureships there.”

Yeh Jiunn-rong (1958) Taiwanese politician

Yeh Jiunn-rong (2018) cited in " Interior minister denies illegally teaching in PRC http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/04/11/2003691083" on Taipei Times, 11 April 2018.

Law

“It's impossible to imagine in the past that we could sit here and meet (between Taiwan and Mainland China officials). We must have some imagination if (we want to) resolve some difficulties, not just for such a meeting, we should also have a bigger imagination for cross-strait future development.”

Zhang Zhijun (1953) Chinese politician

Zhang Zhijun (2014) cited in " China and Taiwan in first government talks http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-china-26129171" on BBC, 11 February 2014.

Imagination , Past , Future

“The fifth and most important principle of our foreign policy is support of national independence—the right of each people to govern themselves—and to shape their own institutions. For a peaceful world order will be possible only when each country walks the way that it has chosen to walk for itself. We follow this principle by encouraging the end of colonial rule. We follow this principle, abroad as well as at home, by continued hostility to the rule of the many by the few—or the oppression of one race by another. We follow this principle by building bridges to Eastern Europe. And I will ask the Congress for authority to remove the special tariff restrictions which are a barrier to increasing trade between the East and the West. The insistent urge toward national independence is the strongest force of today's world in which we live. In Africa and Asia and Latin America it is shattering the designs of those who would subdue others to their ideas or their will. It is eroding the unity of what was once a Stalinist empire. In recent months a number of nations have east out those who would subject them to the ambitions of mainland China. History is on the side of freedom and is on the side of societies shaped from the genius of each people. History does not favor a single system or belief—unless force is used to make it so. That is why it has been necessary for us to defend this basic principle of our policy, to defend it in Berlin, in Korea, in Cuba—and tonight in Vietnam.”

Lyndon B. Johnson (1908–1973) American politician, 36th president of the United States (in office from 1963 to 1969)

1960s, State of the Union Address (1966)

Hostility , People , World , Peace

“On the fifth day following the murder of the ship's officers, land was sighted by the lookout. Whether island or mainland, Black Michael did not know, but he announced to Clayton that if investigation showed that the place was habitable he and Lady Greystoke were to be put ashore with their belongings.”

Edgar Rice Burroughs book Tarzan of the Apes

Source: Tarzan of the Apes (1912), Ch. 2 : The Savage Home

“(Mainland) China is telling you (Taiwan) that that there is no safe place.”

Lin Yu-fang (1951) Taiwanese politician

Lin Yu-fang (2016) cited in " China military flights 'a warning,' say lawmakers http://www.chinapost.com.tw/taiwan/china-taiwan-relations/2016/12/12/486486/China-military.htm" on The China Post, 12 December 2016.

“It (1992 consensus) won't work even if Taiwan accepts the consensus, as (Mainland) China won't accept a free interpretation of 'one China.”

Chen Ming-tong (1955) Taiwanese politician

Chen Ming-tong (2018) cited in " MAC head brushes off '1992 consensus' http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201805250028.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 25 May 2018.

“I believe that both sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) will continue to be friendly while our (ROC) policies will remain firm.”

Wang Yu-chi (1969) Taiwanese politician

Wang Yu-chi (2013) cited in " Taiwan offices in China may pool officials cross-ministry: Wang Yu-chi http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20130315000019&cid=1101" on Want China Times, 15 March 2013

“The dispatch of a naval force and the peremptory outcome that Great Britain tried to impose are clear demonstrations that that country persists in addressing the question with arguments based on force, and that the solution is sought through the simple refusal to recognize Argentinian rights. In view of that unacceptable intention, the Argentine Government could have no other response than the one it has just made by taking action. The Argentinian position can in no way be considered a form of aggression against the present inhabitants of the islands. Their rights and ways of life will be respected with the same generosity with which we respected those peoples we liberated during our independence movement. Yet we will not yield to the intimidatory deployment of the British forces; far from using peaceful diplomatic channels, they have threatened the indiscriminate use of those forces. Our forces will act only to the extent strictly necessary. They will in no way disrupt the life of the islanders. On the contrary, they will protect those institutions and persons who agree to coexist with us, but they will not tolerate any excesses either in the islands or on the mainland. We have a clear appreciation of the stance adopted and it is in defence of this stance that the Argentine nation has risen, the whole nation, spiritually and materially.”

Leopoldo Galtieri (1926–2003) Argentine military dictator

President Galtieri’s address to the nation https://teachwar.wordpress.com/resources/war-justifications-archive/falklandsmalvinas-war-1982/#arg1, 2 April 1982

Life , People , Peace , Way

“It (Mainland China) should be wiser in handling cross-strait affairs.”

Ko Wen-je (1959) Taiwanese politician and physician

Ko Wen-je (2018) cited in " Taiwan denounces China for taking its allies, brutish suppression http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201808210024.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 21 August 2018.

“Of course, we are against Taiwan's independence, but we don't think right now is the time to talk about reunification (with Mainland China).”

Wu Den-yih (1948) Taiwanese politician

Wu Den-yih (2018) cited in: " Taiwan opposition ditches pro-China overtures ahead of poll https://www.ft.com/content/515fc4f0-51bd-11e8-b24e-cad6aa67e23e" in Financial Times, 8 May 2018.

Thinking , Time

“In my lifetime all our problems have come from mainland Europe and all the solutions have come from the English-speaking nations across the world.”

Margaret Thatcher (1925–2013) British stateswoman and politician

Speech to Scottish Tories in 1999 http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Did+they+REALLY+say+that%3F+AS+A+SHORTLIST+IS+COMPILED+OF+THE+YEAR%27S...-a0109790331
Post-Prime Ministerial

World , Problem

“Observe where the islands are located, how the continental shelf extends over that area and connects the coast with the islands. It's easy to see the natural correlation between them and the mainland. Indeed, the Falklands belonged, and will belong, to us both historically and geographically.”

Leopoldo Galtieri (1926–2003) Argentine military dictator

Reportaje de Oriana Fallaci a Leopoldo F. Galtieri http://archivohistorico.educ.ar/content/reportaje-de-oriana-fallaci-leopoldo-f-galtieri#sthash.ZQrMQt2O.dpuf, Revista El porteño, August 1982

Nature

“Because the two sides of the Taiwan Strait (Taiwan and Mainland China) are not at war at present, we should accept them (People's Liberation Army military aircraft to land in Taiwan due to mechanical failure) out of humanitarian concerns.”

Feng Shih-kuan (1945) Taiwanese politician

Feng Shih-kuan (2016) cited in " Taiwan to accept Chinese military aircraft in distress: MND http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201612120030.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 12 December 2016

War , People , Failure

“It would be against (Mainland) China's hope of a rapprochement in cross-strait relations if it continues to ignore Taiwan's rights and suppress Taiwan's participation in international organizations.”

Lin Cheng-yi

Lin Cheng-yi (2017) cited in " Taiwanese officials ready to work from WHA sidelines http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2017/05/11/2003670350" on Taipei Times, 11 May 2017

Hope

“There is no timeline for future political negotiations, but both of us (Taiwan and Mainland China) must develop and accumulate enough friendship and mutual trust.”

Wu Den-yih (1948) Taiwanese politician

Wu Den-yih (2012) cited in: " Cross-strait ties are geography, not politics: Wu Den-yih http://www.wantchinatimes.com/news-subclass-cnt.aspx?id=20120601000114&cid=1101" in Want China Times, 1 June 2012.

Friendship , Future

“We (Taiwan and Mainland China) may not share the same history, but we could have a common destiny and future.”

Frank Hsieh (1946) Taiwanese politician

Frank Hsieh (2013) cited in " Hsieh wraps up cross-strait forum in HK http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2013/07/01/2003566053" on The Taipei Times, 1 July 2013.

History , Future

“Three blokes go into a pub. Well, I say three; could be four or five. Could be nine or ten, doesn't matter. Could have been fifteen, twenty - fifty. Round it up. Hundred. Let's go mad, eh - two-fifty. Tell you what, double it up - five hundred. Thousand! Oh, I've gone mad! Two thousand! Five thousand! (adopting auctioneer persona) Anyone? Five thousand, six thou, six thousand, ten thousand! Small town in Hertfordshire goes into a pub! Fifteen thousand blokes! Alright, let's go - population of Rotterdam. The Hague. Whole of Northern Holland. Mainland U. K. Let's go all the way to the top - Europe, alright? Whole of Europe goes - I say Europe. Could be Eurasia. Not the band, obviously, that's just two of them. Alright, continents - North America! Plus South America! Plus Antartica - that's just eight blokes in a weather station. Not a good example. Alright, make it a lot simpler, all the blokes on the planet go into the pub, right? And the first bloke goes up to the bar and he says "I'll get these in."”

Bill Bailey (1965) English comedian, musician, actor, TV and radio presenter and author

What an idiot!
Cosmic Jam (tour 1995, DVD 2005, 2006)

Way , Weather , Madness

“Aborigines engaging in exchanges in (mainland) China should insist on being recognized as Aborigines, and not as Taiwanese minorities.”

Icyang Parod (1960) Taiwanese Amis politician

Icyang Parod (2019) cited in " China should hear heritage: Icyang http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/10/29/2003724850" on Taipei Times, 29 October 2019.

“What matters most (for Taiwan in dealing with Mainland China) is exerting the positive influence of Taiwan and making (mainland) Chinese people envy life on the (Taiwan) island. This would be key to the survival of Taiwan.”

Ko Wen-je (1959) Taiwanese politician and physician

Ko Wen-je (2019) cited in " Taipei Mayor says no need to infuriate China https://www.taiwannews.com.tw/en/news/3792875" on Taiwan News, 9 October 2019.

Life , Envy , Making love , People

“Both sides of the Taiwan Strait (Taiwan and Mainland China) have their differences of opinion. I hope people on both sides could help, protect and give their blessings to a simple businessman (bread master Wu Pao-chun) who wishes to develop his business without becoming too involved in politics.”

Han Kuo-yu (1957) Taiwanese political figure

Han Kuo-yu (2018) cited in " President Tsai decries row over Wu Pao-chun http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2018/12/12/2003705958" on Taipei Times, 12 December 2018.
2018

Business , Hope , Help , People

“I firmly believe that the provisional agreement between the Vatican and (mainland) China on the appointment of bishops will help harmonize the Universal Church and the Catholic Church in (mainland) China.”

Chen Chien-jen (1951) Vice President of the Republic of China, Taiwanese epidemiologist and academic

Chen Chien-jen (2019) cited in " Holy See values relations with Taiwan: Vice President Chen http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201910120004.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 12 October 2019.

Universe , Help

“If the Kuomintang has the opportunity to rule (Taiwan) again, then we would have met the conditions stipulated by the (Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area) law. Assuming talks between the two sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) are successful, a Kuomintang government would be within its rights to sign a cross-strait peace treaty.”

Wu Den-yih (1948) Taiwanese politician

Wu Den-yih (2019) cited in: " Wu Den-yih says KMT could sign peace treaty if it regains presidency next year http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/archives/2019/02/15/2003709751" in Taipei Times, 15 February 2019.

Peace , Law , Success , People

“Pragmatically speaking, there exists no possibility of Taiwan independence. The only option (for Taiwan) is whether to reunify (with Mainland China) or not.”

Ma Ying-jeou (1950) Taiwanese politician, president of the Republic of China

Ma Ying-jeou (2018) cited in: " Taiwan's former President Ma says independence not possible http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201812200018.aspx" in Focus Taiwan, 20 December 2018.
Statement made during the launch of his biography entitled ""A Memoir of Eight Years in Office", 20 December 2018.
Strait issues

“Without the removal of threats to the personal safety of (Republic of China) nationals going to or living in Hong Kong caused by being extradited to Mainland China, we will not agree to the case-by-case (crime suspect) transfer proposed by the Hong Kong authorities.”

Chiu Chui-cheng politician

Chiu Chui-cheng (2019) cited in " Taiwan won’t ask for murder suspect https://www.thestar.com.my/news/regional/2019/05/11/taiwan-wont-ask-for-murder-suspect/" on The Star Online, 11 May 2019

Personality

“We will remind our (Republic of China) nationals that you may face potential risk if you travel to Hong Kong (if the extradition law of Hong Kong with Mainland China is passed). We (Mainland Affairs Council) may even issue a travel alert for Hong Kong.”

Chiu Chui-cheng politician

Chiu Chui-cheng (2019) cited in " Taiwan could issue travel alert for Hong Kong if proposed extradition update passes https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/03/25/taiwan-issue-travel-alert-hong-kong-proposed-extradition-update-passes/" on Hong Kong Free Press, 25 March 2019

Travel , Law

“In Taiwan, we have cultural heritage from (Mainland) China, Japan, Netherlands, Spain and Portugal, which has resulted in a deep melting pot of cultures and an acceptance of many cultures. Against that background, we can see diverse traditional arts in Taiwan.”

Hsiao Tsung-huang Taiwanese politician

Hsiao Tsung-huang (2019) cited in " A country's performing arts reflect its democracy: culture minister http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aedu/201907200010.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 20 July 2019

Art

“We hope to accomplish sustainable progress through positive competition (between Taiwan and Mainland China) based on mutual understanding, respect and cooperation, despite the differences caused by long-term separation.”

Teng Chia-chi (1956) Taiwanese politician

Teng Chia-chi (2018) cited in " Taipei-Shanghai Twin-City Forum opens in Taipei http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201812200006.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 20 December 2018

Hope , Understanding

“As a local government, Kinmen should avoid becoming embroiled in (cross-strait) political affairs, but the county needs to seize opportunities (with Mainland China) when the atmosphere is right. Fujian and Kinmen are neighbors and during the trip to the (Fujian) province, the (Kinmen) county government can put forward ideas on future exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, in the hope of concrete results.”

Yang Cheng-wu (1972) Taiwanese politician

Yang Cheng-wu (2019) cited in " Fujian, Kinmen ties lauded by county magistrate http://focustaiwan.tw/news/acs/201901150024.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 15 January 2019

Idea , Future , Hope

“Kneeling before (mainland) China and begging for mercy would not make Taiwan better.”

Su Tseng-chang (1947) Taiwanese politician

Su Tseng-chang (2019) cited in " Kneeling to China won’t help ties: Su http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2019/10/09/2003723646" on Taipei Times, 9 October 2019.

Making love

“We intend to make use of the natural buffer zone of the Taiwan Strait and our geostrategic advantages (in the case of conflicts with Mainland China). We adopt innovative and asymmetric concepts to focus our investment on systems that are mobile, hard to find, agile, cheap, numerous, survivable and operationally effective.”

Chang Guan-chung (1959) Taiwanese military personel

Chang Guan-chung (2019) cited in " Taiwan seeking long-term U.S. logistic support: defense official http://focustaiwan.tw/news/aipl/201910080004.aspx" on Focus Taiwan, 8 October 2019

Making love , Nature

“I hope one day not only Hong Kong people, but also people in mainland China, can enjoy freedom and democracy.”

Joshua Wong (1996) Hong Kong activist, Secretary-general of Demosistō

Source: September 11, 2019 Hong Kong protesters pause to mark Sept. 11 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-hongkong-protests/hong-kong-protesters-pause-to-mark-sept-11-idUSKCN1VW0DT?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+reuters%2FtopNews+%28News+%2F+US+%2F+Top+News%29

Democracy , People , Hope , Freedom

“The local (COVID-19) transmission chain (in Hong Kong) has begun (as of 6 February 2020), and if we do nothing to control it, Hong Kong will become another mainland city that has suffered lots of cases.”

Yuen Kwok-yung (1956) Hong Kong microbiologist, physician and surgeon

Source: Yuen Kwok-yung (2020) cited in " Coronavirus: community outbreak declared in Hong Kong as government prepares to quarantine mainland Chinese entering city in hotels and facilities https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/health-environment/article/3049297/coronavirus-community-outbreak-declared-hong-kong" on South China Morning Post, 6 February 2020.

Suffering

“It's not a provocation (to Mainland China) to come to Taiwan. It should be normal.”

Raphaël Glucksmann (1979) French film director and journalist

Source: Raphaël Glucksmann (2021) cited in: " Taiwan official urges Ireland to reopen representative office in Taipei amid 'new EU relationship' https://www.thejournal.ie/taipei-representative-office-ireland-china-5593311-Nov2021/" in The Journal, 6 November 2021.

“If you grew up in mainland China, there’s something disorienting about being in Hong Kong.”

Jiayang Fan (1984) chinese-American journalist (born 1984)

Denise Ho Confronts Hong Kong’s New Political Reality, The New Yorker (2019)