Reported 12 months ago
On July 3, 2024, Ma Zu is a folk belief in Taiwan, and China attempts to convey unified thinking through religion. China is using traditional temples in folk beliefs to infiltrate Taiwan, packaging United Front motives. This has recently sparked a sharp confrontation between the Mainland Affairs Council and China's Taiwan Affairs Office. National security personnel have integrated Chinese religious United Front tactics, including using incense offerings, forming sister temple relationships, jointly holding religious rituals, organizing religious academic conferences, and even establishing branch temples in Taiwan. These are concrete practices conducted under the guise of folk belief exchanges to carry out United Front actions. The Democratic Progressive Party recently held a seminar on 'China's Influence Campaign and United Front Infiltration in Taiwan,' with several attending scholars mentioning how China influences Taiwan's elections through traditional beliefs like Ma Zu temples. Liang Wen-Je, Deputy Minister of the Mainland Affairs Council, further pointed out that not only Ma Zu but also other deities like Baosheng Dadi, Guan Yu, and Shennong Dadi are 'tools for the Chinese Communist Party's United Front tactics.' These arguments have been harshly criticized by China's Taiwan Affairs Office at routine press conferences. National security personnel have listed that in recent years, the mainland has used specific religious groups to promote unification concepts under the guise of cultural exchanges.
Source: YAHOO