President Ma Ying-jeou and Mrs. Ma attended a reception held on the evening of February 10 by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) for members of the foreign diplomatic corps stationed in the ROC. The president wished all in attendance great success in the New Year.
The president and the guests first watched a film produced by the MOFA that chronicled major diplomatic events in 2010. In remarks to the audience, the president said that the film reminded him of a statement made by Confucius over 2,500 years ago that "the virtuous do not stand alone." The president stated that over the past two-plus years, the ROC has exhibited integrity and a spirit of pragmatism, using its soft power to actively engage with countries throughout the world. He added that the ROC has become an important force for peace in East Asia.
President Ma furthermore stated that last year marked the 60th anniversary of the Korean War. Over the past six decades, East Asia has been home to two flash points, one being the Korean Peninsula and the other being the Taiwan Strait. During the past two years, however, improved cross-strait relations have enabled incipient signs of peace to emerge in the Taiwan Strait. The Korean Peninsula, on the other hand, is still under the threat of military confrontation. The phrase "flash point" no longer can be applied to the Taiwan Strait, for the two sides have taken steps towards peace and prosperity.
President Ma noted that cross-strait relations have long been a focal point of international attention. The president commented that since taking office, his government, under the framework of the Constitution, has embraced the policy of "no unification, no independence, and no use of force" as well as the "1992 Consensus" that stipulates "one China, respective interpretations." This has served as the cornerstone in promoting the peaceful development of cross-strait relations, he explained. Consequently, being able to maintain the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, putting trade and economic relations on a more systematic footing, and signing the cross-strait Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement last year have helped to promote closer and more orderly cross-strait relations. The president added that, at the same time, the ROC has seen progress in its relationships with the international community. Besides maintaining stable alliances with its 23 diplomatic allies, Taiwan has re-established trust at the highest levels with countries that do not maintain formal diplomatic ties with it, including the United States, Japan, Southeast Asian nations, New Zealand, Australia, and members of the European Union.
President Ma stated that this year marks the ROC's centenary and that the Three Principles of the People as espoused by the ROC's founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen have been realized in Taiwan. The ROC, he remarked, hopes in the future to act as a peacemaker, a provider of humanitarian aid, a promoter of cultural ties, a creator of new technologies and business opportunities, and a standard-bearer at the leading edge of Chinese culture. While this constitutes an extremely tough challenge, he said that we are confident that we can achieve our goal.
【Source: Office of the President】