Delegation for abbot who was committed to traditional culture blocked by Taiwan

The Chinese mainland held a tribute for Hsing Yun, founder of the Fo Guang Shan Monastery in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, who was committed to promoting peace and reunification across the Taiwan Straits, at a temple he helped develop in Yixing in Jiangsu province on Sunday.

Upon the invitation of Fo Guang Shan, a 38-member mainland delegation had planned to travel to Taiwan to take part in mourning for the influential monk who died on Feb 5 at the age of 95.

But the trip, which was due to last from Saturday to Tuesday, was blocked by Democratic Progressive Party authorities on the island on grounds of "security concerns "over the visit and their belief that the mainland was engaging in "political manipulation".

As a result, the delegation of representatives from different sectors, including the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Buddhist associations and Jiangsu province departments, instead paid tribute to the monk at his ancestral temple, Yixing's Dajue Temple, on Sunday.

Long Mingbiao, deputy director of the Taiwan Affairs Office, expressed his appreciation of Hsing Yun for his contributions to the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations and national rejuvenation at the event.

He called for carrying on the monk's legacy, promoting cross-Straits exchanges and dedication to the reunification of the two sides, national rejuvenation and the well-being of compatriots, in his honor.

During the ceremony, the delegation was able to talk to Hsin Bao, abbot of the Fo Guang Shan Monastery via video. Hsin said that disciples in Fo Guang Shan were grateful that the mainland delegation had planned to travel such a long way and overcome difficulties to come to Taiwan.

Hsin said that Hsing felt a deep feeling for the motherland, promoted traditional Chinese culture all his life and had an abiding affection for his hometown, adding that the monastery plans to follow his wishes and contribute to the peaceful development of cross-Straits relations.

Zhu Fenglian, a spokeswoman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said DPP authorities disregarded basic humanitarianism by flagrantly denying the delegation entry to Taiwan, rendering the memorial ceremonies incomplete.

"The actions of the DPP authorities have severely hurt the followers of Fo Guang Shan, and will find no support," Zhu added.

"In the end, I was prevented from representing my hometown to pay respects to the master in Taiwan," said Liu Liu, vice-mayor of Yangzhou, Jiangsu, where Hsing Yun was born and raised.