TAIPEI (Taiwan News) -- After Taiwan's 'bread master' Wu Pao-chun (吳寶春) found himself in hot water for saying he was "proud of being Chinese," a famous Buddhist master has weighed in on the subject and declared himself "Chinese from Taiwan."

In an editorial entitled "I am a Chinese person from Taiwan" (我是台灣中國人) published in China Times on Dec. 11, Hsing Yun (星雲), the founder of the Chinese Buddhist order Fo Guang Shan, pointed out that he was born in China and has lived in Taiwan since 1949. Yet despite having lived in Taiwan for 68 years, Hsing Yun says that he is still "not recognized as a Taiwanese person," which makes him feel regret towards the good and evil, and the standard of justice, in society.

In his editorial, Hsing Yun asked, "Who in Taiwan does not have Chinese ancestors?" Looking back on the many years he has walked on Taiwan's land, however, he added, "Can you say that I don't love Taiwan?"

Hsing Yun lamented that former Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) was able to serve as leader of the country despite not being born in Taiwan. The Buddhist master said that he "can't even become a Taiwanese person, so I can only call myself a Chinese person from Taiwan."