Former Taiwan President Ma visits China amidst controversy.

Former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou has departed for a tour of China with a delegation of academics and college students for exchanges, as well as members of his family, in what he called an attempt to reduce tensions a day after Taiwan lost one of its few remaining diplomatic partners to China. Ma's policies brought Taiwan and Beijing to their closest relationship ever, but his exit from office was overshadowed by massive protests against a trade deal with the mainland and his successor has focused on bolstering ties with the U.S. and defending the autonomy of the democratically governed island that China claims as part of its own territory.