China has canceled a trip of mourners coming to Taiwan to pay their respects to the founder of the Fo Guang Shan buddhist organization, Hsing Yun (星雲). Master Hsing Yun passed away on February 5th in Kaohsiung at the age of 95.
Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said that 120 people from Hong Kong and China had been approved to enter Taiwan to attend ceremonies for Master Hsing Yun. However, the MAC stated that some people who were part of a 38 member “condolence group” did not follow the proper procedures and were denied. The MAC said that several of the members of the group were current Chinese officials, which require special application procedures. They claimed these people worked in departments such as the Taiwan Affairs Office, United Front Work Department, and the Buddhist Association of China. In response, the entire group’s trip was canceled by China, and they chose instead to pay their respects at Dajue Temple in Jiangsu Province.
Although the “condolence group” visit was canceled, the MAC said that nearly 90 of the 120 people authorized to enter Taiwan had already done so successfully.