Vice President Lu, Presidents of the Five Yuans, Ministers, Distinguished
Guests, Esteemed Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen:
A Happy Double Tenth and greetings to you all!
On this very special occasion of our Double Tenth National Day, we are
gathered under one roof to celebrate our past accomplishments, reflect on
our past shortcomings, and meditate in earnest on the course of Taiwan's
future development.
You will note that the reviewing stand erected in front of the Presidential
Office is different from past years in that it is adorned with a giant
banner reading "UN for Taiwan, Peace Forever." This message signifies that
our quest to gain entry into the UN will not be abandoned simply because of
momentary setbacks. The Government of Taiwan will continue to pursue that
goal with unwavering determination.
Taiwan is a sovereign nation. Its sovereignty rests in the hands of its 23
million people. Only the people of Taiwan have the right to decide their
nation's future. United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758, passed on
October 25, 1971, neither defined Taiwan as a part of the People's Republic
of China nor affirmed the proposition that the People's Republic of China
has any right to sovereignty over Taiwan. Taiwan and the People's Republic
of China are two sovereign, independent nations, and neither exercises
jurisdiction over the other. This is a historical fact. This is the status
quo across the Taiwan Strait.
The People's Republic of China has neither the right nor the ability to
represent the 23 million people of Taiwan. Our people have the right to
demand appropriate representation in the United Nations. We have the right
to apply for admission to the UN as a new member under the name "Taiwan."
In the past, we have joined Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) under
the name "Chinese Taipei," and the World Trade Organization (WTO) using the
name "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu."
Though dissatisfied with this state of affairs, we have reluctantly accepted
it in view of practical international realities.
Before 1971, the United Nations was beset with quarreling over the right to
represent China. Hence, if we were to once more demand restoration of our UN
representation under the name "Republic of China," it would not only
constitute a direct challenge to Resolution 2758 but cause us to fall back
into the anachronistic mentality of belief in "one China" and Chiang
Kai-shek's dictum "Gentlemen do not stand with thieves" [i.e. there can be
no conciliation with usurpers]. We would succeed only in making ourselves
outcasts in the international community and exacerbating the dangers of
isolation.
That we have applied for new UN membership under the name "Taiwan" indicates
that we do not intend to challenge Resolution 2758 of the UN General
Assembly. Nor do we wish to compete with the People's Republic of China for
the right to represent China.
This year has seen our first application for UN membership under the name
"Taiwan," and although, as expected, our hopes were not realized, Taiwan's
membership bid gave rise to unprecedented discussion of the issue in the
General Assembly. Representatives of some 140 of the 192 UN member states
registered to speak on the question of whether Taiwan's application should
be included on this year's General Assembly agenda, and the debate lasted
for over four hours. Moreover, media reports on our UN bid were more than
four times as many as in last year.
This all goes to show that this year's efforts to join the UN have been a
diplomatic success, and have greatly raised Taiwan's visibility in the
international community.
On behalf of the government and people of Taiwan, I would like to express
our heartfelt thanks and highest respect to our diplomatic allies and their
leaders for their support and speaking out at the UN General Assembly.
Notwithstanding the importance of the international community's expressions
of support in our quest to gain membership in the UN, the decisive factor,
after all, is the question of whether the people of Taiwan are united. A
recent public opinion poll indicated that 55 percent of Americans think
Taiwan should have a seat in the UN. When asked whether they would support
UN membership for Taiwan if our forthcoming referendum on entering the
United Nations using the name "Taiwan" is passed, another 15 percent, or 70
percent of the respondents, said "yes." This shows just how much the
community of free and democratic societies respects the principle of
referendum, a universal value and basic human right.
The principle "sovereignty lies in people" is the essence of democracy, and
referendum is the most concrete, most direct expression of that principle.
In 2003, we passed the first Referendum Act, and, in 2004, we held the first
national referendum. In 2005, the Constitution was amended to abolish the
National Assembly and empower the people to ratify constitutional amendments
through referendum. In 2006, we mothballed the National Unification Council
and its Guidelines for National Unification, dispelling the misconception of
"ultimate unification" with China as a foregone conclusion, thereby enabling
the 23 million people of Taiwan to enjoy the right to decide the future of
their nation via referendum.
On September 14 of this year, the Central Election Commission officially
announced its approval of a referendum proposal on the recovery of
improperly obtained political party assets, to be held on January 12, 2008
in tandem with the legislative elections. And if the petition drive to hold
a referendum on applying for UN membership under the name "Taiwan" is
successful in gaining enough signatures by the end of October, and is
announced valid upon review by relevant government agencies, we can look
forward to holding it in conjunction with the upcoming March 22 presidential
election.
From encountering initial resistance and opposition to finally being
embraced and actively promoted, referendum has become a political process
affirmed by both the ruling and opposition parties, and an indispensable
part of Taiwan's democracy. Practical utilization of referendum in the past
few years, however, has highlighted the absurdity and unreasonableness of
the Referendum Act. The act restricts referendum topics, deprives
administrative agencies of the right to initiate referendum proposals, and
sets excessively high thresholds for referendum petition signatures and
passage of referendum proposals.
All this seriously restricts the people and deprives them of the right to be
masters of their nation. Moreover, it runs counter to the democratic
principle that sovereignty lies in the hands of the people. I earnestly urge
the ruling and opposition parties to speedily remedy the flaws in the
Referendum Act. I call on them to complete the review of related legal
amendments during the current Legislative Yuan session, and change the
ridiculous "birdcage" referendum law currently in effect into one that
genuinely empowers the people, and the substance of which lives up to its
name.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the February 28 Incident as well as
the 20th anniversary of the lifting of martial law. Looking back over the
past half century of progress on the path to democracy, we see that Taiwan's
people have steadily realized their aspirations one after anotherfrom the
lifting of martial law, abolition of bans on establishing new political
parties and newspapers, and nationalization of the armed forces [to ensure
their loyalty to the nation rather than to individuals or political
parties], to independence of the judiciary, overhaul of the parliament,
direct presidential elections, and the establishment of a referendum system.
Moreover, ongoing consolidation and deepening of democracy have ensured
freedoms, human rights and well-being of Taiwan's people are continually
safeguarded.
Regrettably, however, China, on the other side of the Taiwan Strait, has
distortedly portrayed our people's efforts in the pursuit of democracy as
moves toward "de jure independence." It has opposed and attempted to
suppress all of our democratization efforts. Facts demonstrate that
cross-strait problems do not derive from Taiwan, which respects freedom,
democracy, and human rights, but from China, which is still under
totalitarian, dictatorial rule. This is a reality that the international
community must squarely face.
In recent weeks, the global community of democracies has strongly condemned
Myanmar's military junta for its cruel suppression of the nation's Buddhist
monks and citizens, and expressed the intention to impose sanctions on the
regime. As a member of the alliance of nations that champion freedom and
democratic values, Taiwan is willing to do its share to help restore
democratic order in Myanmar as soon as possible. Infringements of human
rights and suppression of democracy are definitely not mere "domestic
affairs." While showing its keen concern for developments in Myanmar, the
international community should also conscientiously examine China's dismal
human rights record as well as its brutal suppression of the freedoms of
speech, the press, and religion.
While China's slogan for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is "one world, one
dream," the international community, for its part, should steadfastly
demonstrate its moral fortitude in demanding that China adhere to a "one
world, one standard" principle. There can be no double standards when it
comes to the universal values of freedom, democracy, human rights, and
peace.
The size of nations is irrelevant. The international community should not,
in fear of China's military might, demand that Taiwan keep quiet. Nor should
it, out of concern for commercial interests, turn a blind eye to China's
military intimidation and diplomatic suppression of Taiwan, or to its
"united front" economic warfare against Taiwan.
In a speech made in Kyoto in November 2005, US President George W. Bush
said, "Free nations are peaceful nations, free nations do not threaten their
neighbors, and free nations offer their citizens a hopeful vision for the
future. By advancing the cause of liberty throughout this region, we will
contribute to the prosperity of alland deliver the peace and stability that
can only come with freedom."
President Bush also publicly praised Taiwan's freedom and democracy,
describing it as a model for China and other nations. Therefore, the more
democratic Taiwan becomes, the more strongly it can exert a "lighthouse
effect" for China's democratization, and the more it can contribute to
safeguarding security and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. This
evolutionary process, moreover, is in line with the common interests of the
United States, Japan, and neighboring nations.
With China's rapid rise and relentless military build-up, the "China threat"
is no longer confined to confrontation across the Taiwan Strait. In fact, it
has already seriously impacted world peace. Members of the international
community not only should refuse to join forces with China in suppressing
Taiwan's democracy, but should strongly demand that China immediately
withdraw missiles deployed along its southeastern coast and targeted at
Taiwan, stop military exercises simulating attacks on Taiwan, abolish its
so-called anti-secession law, and accelerate political and democratic
reforms. We believe that only through China's democratic awakening can there
be lasting peace in the world.
Faced with China's ever-more belligerent rhetoric and military intimidation
since I took office, I have extended numerous olive branches expressing our
desire for peace and conciliation. In return, we have been subjected to
Beijing's five-pronged policy of suppression, aimed at denigrating our
nation, marginalizing it in the world, cultivating the perception that
Taiwan is a local region of China, delegitimizing its government, and
undermining its sovereignty. To safeguard cross-strait and regional security
and stability, however, we have never diverged from our fundamental policy
of maintaining a firm stance and moving forward pragmatically as the basis
for pursuing normalization of Taiwan-China relations.
Between 2000 and 2006, the annual number of visits by Taiwan's people to
China increased from 3.11 million to 4.41 million, or an average of more
than 12,000 visits per day.
Regarding direct transportation between Taiwan and China, whereas during the
2003 Lunar New Year holidays, Taiwan's air carriers first provided one-way,
indirect passenger charter flights, during the 2005 Lunar New Year holidays,
air carriers of both sides provided nonstop charter flights. Furthermore, in
June 2006, four categories of charter flights were launched [passenger
flights during major holidays, special cargo flights, medical emergency
flights, and other humanitarian flights].
At present, passenger charter flight services are provided for more than ten
weeks a year around the times of major festivals, carrying some 100,000
travelers. Moreover, our people make some 600,000 visits to China every year
as part of the "mini-three-links" [direct mail and commercial links are
already in place, while direct transportation is only provided between
Taiwan's Kinmen, Matsu and Penghu islands and ports in China's Fujian
Province]. I believe these transportation arrangements have succeeded in
satisfying the demands of Taiwan's citizens who wish to visit China.
These figures are an indication that the importance of political
considerations in discussions concerning the "three links" [the
aforementioned direct links, but between Taiwan proper and other
destinations in China] far exceeds that of satisfying transportation
demands. Unless one is willing to totally disregard national security
imperatives and abjectly surrender, the three links must evolve in an
orderly, gradual manner. Certainly, it is impossible to reach the final goal
of opening up free and direct links in one huge leap, or to impose any
timeline.
As I have often reiterated in the past, the mini-three-links must precede
the three links; charter flights must precede regularly scheduled flights;
and facilitation of cargo transportation must precede that of passenger
transportation. Now, the ball is in China's court. If China truly has the
sincere desire to enter into negotiations on facilitation of cargo charter
flights, we can look forward to solving a lot of problems.
Regarding economic relations between Taiwan and China: The volume of two-way
trade was US$31.2 billion in 2000, and rose to US$88.1 billion in 2006. Over
the same period, according to the Investment Commission of the Ministry of
Economic Affairs, annual China-bound investment figures increased from
US$2.6 billion to US$7.6 billion, and registered investments in China
totaled US$46.6 billion, or about NT$1.56 trillion. This goes to show that
economic interchange between Taiwan and China has become overheated, not too
cold. About 70 percent of all outbound investment goes to China. This cannot
be considered normal for any country.
Taiwan cannot cut itself off from the world, nor can it afford to lock all
of its economic bargaining chips and lifeblood in China. It is perfectly
understandable that businesses strive for profits. For its part, however, our
government must consider the impact Taiwan-China trade has on the capital and
labor markets as well as on the livelihoods of farmers, fishermen, and people
in the middle and lower income brackets. It must also strictly safeguard the
sustainable development of industries in Taiwan. Therefore, our economic
policy of "proactive management and effective liberalization" vis-à-vis
Taiwan-China economic interaction is certainly correct and necessary.
Though China is a very important market, it is not the only or ultimate
market. We can never accept a "Taiwan-China common market"that is, a "one
China market" based on acceptance of Beijing's "one China principle"as that
would cause Taiwan's economy to lose its autonomy and render it utterly
defenseless. China's cheap labor and agricultural products would flood the
Taiwan market, resulting in our being economically absorbed even before we
have been politically annexed. Only by keeping a firm grip on Taiwan's
economic lifeblood can we ensure our nation's continued existence and
sustainable development.
Over the past seven years, some people have tried to promote disparagement
of Taiwan's prospects as a political movement. Recently, they have even
repeatedly claimed that Taiwan has lost its place as one of the "four Asian
tigers." I would like to call upon my compatriots to realize that so long as
we cherish Taiwan in our hearts, we certainly will not fail to note its
presence as an economic power.
Take, for example, forecasts for this year released by Taiwan's Directorate
General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics and by the Central Bank of
Korea concerning their respective nations:
‧Each country's economy will grow by 4.6 percent.
‧Taiwan's consumer price index will post a rise of 1.5 percent, South
Korea's a rise of 2.5 percent.
‧Taiwan's unemployment rate for the year will be about 3.8 percent, compared
to South Korea's 3.3 percent.
‧And the ratio of average incomes in the highest-20-percent and
lowest-20-percent income brackets is 6:1 in Taiwan, while in South Korea it
is 8:1.
Also according to the two organizations' projections for 2007, although
Taiwan's nominal GDP per capita, at US$16,563, will be less than that of
South Korea's US$19,921, when evaluated in terms of purchasing power parity
(PPP), and discounting exchange rate fluctuations, Taiwan's GDP per capita
figure is equivalent to US$31,041 while South Korea's is equal to US$23,331.
As of the end of last year, Taiwan's foreign exchange reserves amounted to
US$266.2 billion, while those of South Korea stood at US$239 billion. Our
government's outstanding debt-to-GDP ratio was 31 percent as compared to
South Korea's 33.4 percent.
Furthermore, the 2007 World Competitiveness Report released by the
International Institute for Management Development on May 10 this year
ranked Taiwan 18th and South Korea 29th. Meanwhile, in the three major
indices of the World Economic Forum's Global Competitiveness Report
2006-2007 released in September 2006the Growth Competitiveness Index, the
Global Competitiveness Index, and the Business Competitiveness IndexTaiwan
ranked 6th (first in Asia), 13th, and 21st, respectively, while South Korea
ranked 21st, 24th, and 25th.
As the aforementioned statistics and rankings demonstrate, Taiwan is no less
impressive, economically speaking, than South Korea, both nations qualifying
as an "Asian tiger" in terms of overall economic performance, government
finance, domestic real purchasing power, and various competitiveness
rankings.
Currently, Taiwan's production values in the important categories of large
TFT-LCD flat panel manufacturing, contract IC chip-making, and IC packaging
and testing rank first in the world. As of the end of August, this year's
business turnover at Taiwan's three major science parksHsinchu Science
Park, Central Taiwan Science Park, and Southern Taiwan Science Parkstood at
NT$1.23 trillion [about US$37.88 billion]. This figure is expected to
increase to a record high of NT$2 trillion [about US$60.6 billion] by the
end of the year.
In the future, this administration will work to accelerate development of,
and attract investment in, the newly expanded facilities of each science
park. It will also work to promote precision machinery, communications
electronics, and biotechnology to become Taiwan's third, fourth, and fifth
trillion-NT-dollar industries, following the semiconductor and flat panel
industries. It is hoped that this will help achieve the goal of balanced
industrial and regional development within Taiwan. As for the stock market,
which reflects our economy's prospects, the Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted
index has risen about 25 percent from the beginning of the year, and the
overall value of traded stocks has hit record highs.
As can be seen, far from falling out of the ranks of the four Asian tigers,
Taiwan has become a leader in numerous high-tech realms. It has expanded
beyond Asia to achieve a global presence. Given this shining record, I am
confident that as long as we keep Taiwan in our hearts and have confidence
in her, she will certainly have high visibility in the world.
At the same time that this administration has pursued economic prosperity,
we have never forgotten to work toward social fairness and justice. Over the
past year, especially since Premier Chang Chun-hsiung took office, we have
been striving in that direction by pushing forward the "Big Investment,
Great Warmth" plan. For the first time in a decade, we raised the minimum
monthly wage by 9.09 percent, and the minimum hourly wage by 44 percent,
from NT$66 to NT$95. Over 1.4 million workers are benefiting from these
measures.
In addition, following the enactment of its organic law, the Labor Pension
Fund Supervisory Committee was established, whose purpose is to enable 8
million workers to share in the fruits of economic growth and enjoy greater
security in post-retirement life by "holding shares in Taiwan."
In the meantime, through cooperation between the ruling and opposition
parties, the National Pension Act was enacted on July 20 of this year. It
stipulates that a national pension system be launched on October 1 of next
year, setting in place the final major piece of our social security network
and transforming Taiwan into a modern welfare state.
Unquestionably, this is a landmark program designed to realize social
fairness, justice, and solidarity. I would like to urge all of my government
colleagues to complete all complementary measures, to ensure that the
national pension system can be launched and become fully functional on time.
As for taking care of our farmers and fishermen, the Executive Yuan has
raised the monthly payment to elderly farmers, from NT$3,000 to NT$4,000,
then to NT$5,000, and recently to NT$6,000. It also approved a program for
rebuilding rural villages and completed the drafting of the Farm Village
Reconstruction Act. Once the law is enacted, NT$100 billion [US$3 billion]
will be allotted to stimulate the rural economy, with priority given to
improving the living conditions of disadvantaged citizens. Comprehensive
programs will also be launched to beautify farm villages and improve their
public facilities. To mitigate the impact of rising oil prices on the
fishery industry, the Executive Yuan has approved a program to increase the
subsidy for fishing boat fuel to 14 percent as of July 1 this year, while at
the same time increasing subsidies for fishing boat insurance premiums.
With respect to helping disadvantaged groups, the Executive Yuan has also
completed planning for measures to assist disadvantaged students, including
tuition subsidies for children five years of age and under, and to expand
assistance to the families of students of all ages. The measures will
include the provisions of supplementary after-school tutoring for junior and
elementary school students, as well as increased financial assistance for
high school, vocational high school, technical college, and university
students. An estimated 658,000 students will benefit from the new measures.
Thereby, we hope to enable all young people to enjoy equal opportunity in
and quality of education.
The Executive Yuan continues to provide assistance and guidance to small and
medium-sized enterprisesthe backbone of Taiwan's economywith regard to
finance, research and development, and management. On August 20, it
appropriated NT$10 billion [US$303 million] from the National Development
Fund to invest in small and medium-sized enterprises in cooperation with
venture capital funds. This was the first time the National Development Fund
departed from its focus on the domestic high-tech sector to invest in SMEs.
It is anticipated that 1,000 enterprises will benefit and that 20,000 jobs
will be created, injecting new vitality into Taiwan's economy.
With ongoing implementation of the three-pronged policy to assist Taiwan's
central and southern areas, its middle and lower classes, and its small and
medium-sized enterprises, this administration is on course to meet the goals
of increasing investment in Taiwan, creating jobs, closing the gap between
city and countryside, and reducing disparities of wealth. In addition to
pursuing sustainable growth, we will work hard to build a "wellness economy"
that accentuates Taiwanese characteristics and places emphasis on quality
and human caring.
My dear colleagues and compatriots:
Tomorrow I will leave for the Second Taiwan-Pacific Allies Summit, to be
held in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Whenever I go abroad, far from
home, it makes me realize the preciousness of my own country.
Taiwan and its Pacific sister nationsnamely the Republic of the Marshall
Islands, Solomon Islands, Republic of Palau, Republic of Nauru, Republic of
Kiribati, and Tuvalushare a deep kinship because we are all oceanic
nations, and their peoples as well as our indigenous peoples are all
Austronesians.
Since I became President, I have visited all of these nations and have
witnessed their efforts in pursuit of prosperity, development, and
happiness. When I compare what I have seen with what the 23 million people
of Taiwan have undergone in the past half century, I know we should cherish
even more what we have today.
In the past few years, Taiwan-born stars, such as Ang Lee, Wang Chien-ming,
Chen Shih-hsin, Chu Mu-yen, Kevin Lin, Chan Yung-jan, and Chuang Chia-jung,
have had stellar performances on the world stage and continue to bring honor
to the nation. It is hard to put into words the pride we feel for their
outstanding achievements.
At the same time, however, we feel deep distress when people, for political
reasons and in pursuit of power, disparage Taiwan. For in denying Taiwan,
they deny all the sacrifices and contributions made by the 23 million people
of Taiwan for their nation over the past half century and more.
My dear fellow citizens, Taiwan is a success story. We should not
underestimate and look down on ourselves. Taiwan is our homeland, our
mother. It is the 23 million Taiwanese people's foundation and source of
hope for development. If we lose Taiwan, we will lose everything. Taiwan has
never been marginalized or ceased to be one of the four Asian tigers.
As long as we have Taiwan in our hearts, Taiwan will surely always be
prominent. We, as her children, must work to strengthen ourselves and unite
with a spirit of sincerity, and we must use our hard work, wisdom, and
creativity to make her visible to the whole world.
In closing, let me wish you a happy Double Tenth National Day. May our great
nation enjoy peace and everlasting prosperity. To all our distinguished
guests, fellow citizens, and colleagues, may you enjoy good health and
success in all of your endeavors. Long live democracy, and go, Taiwan!
Thank you.
【Source: Office of the President】