President Lee Teng-hui this afternoon made a speech at the National Women's League of the Republic of China in honor of Madame Chiang Kai-shek's Centennial Birthday.
The full text of his speech is as follows:
Secretary-General Yen, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
This year, the 12th day of the second lunar month falls on March 20 on the Gregorian calendar. As I'm sure you are all aware, March 20, 1997, is Madame Chiang Kai-shek's one hundredth birthday. Today, on International Women's Day 1997, the National Women's League of the Republic of China has invited distinguished guests from at home and abroad to gather here for an advance celebration of Madame Chiang's birthday. On this highly significant occasion, I would like to wish Madame Chiang many happy returns, and the women of the ROC a joyous and meaningful Women's Day.
In the contemporary history of China, Madame Chiang stands out as an exceptional female leader. Her outstanding contributions to the development of her nation and the welfare of the people testify to her selfless generosity.
At the same time, her dedication to a more peaceful and humanitarian world has won her the respect and admiration of the global community.
Madame Chiang served as a trusted right hand to the late President Chiang Kai-shek. Moreover, she devoted all her wisdom and strength to every stage of national reconstruction. Madame Chiang's success can be attributed to many factors. However, two stand out in their importance: the education she received in the United States, and her devotion to her Christian faith.
The United States is an advanced democratic nation. Education there stresses the cultivation of a free and democratic spirit. I am confident that as a student, Madame Chiang absorbed such concepts and adopted them as fundamental principles of her philosophy toward life. Therefore, in assisting the late President Chiang Kai-shek over the years, she advocated the ROC's membership in the society of free democracies, and conveyed to the people the true meaning and significance of freedom and democracy. Madame Chiang also strove to put democratic ideals into practice in the national development. Unfortunately, political instability caused by domestic turmoil and external threats prevented the successive implementation of these ideals. Nevertheless, Madame Chiang's high-minded and clearly defined objectives have profoundly influenced the subsequent development of democracy in the Republic of China.
Madame Chiang is a devout Christian. Sincere in her beliefs and devoted to her faith, she follows a Christian path in her actions and thoughts. In my own experience I have found that the essence of the Bible can be expressed in a single, most precious word--love. In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul states: "...but love edifieth." (8:1) And in John 13:34, John says: "A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another." Madame Chiang understands the wisdom contained in the Bible and knows that all things must begin with love. Her efforts to put this understanding into practice has left the wide expanse of our nation scattered with monuments to the love she has spread.
In 1929, Madame Chiang founded a school to care for the orphaned children of revolutionary soldiers. In 1937, during China's war of resistance against Japan, Madame Chiang often led women to see the troops at the front, visited field hospitals, and provided relief to homeless refugees. In 1938, she established a war-time child protection and nursery association to rescue children in the war-devastated areas . After arriving in Taiwan, she began setting up orphanages and rehabilitation centers.Madame Chiang also took the initiative in establishing the Chinese Women's Anti-Aggression League, later renamed the National Women's League of the ROC. This organization--your organization--began an organized and systematic campaign to comfort those in the armed forces, serve women, and assist the elderly, the weak, the handicapped and the poverty-stricken. The National Women's League became an important force for social development.
Throughout her decades of devoted service, Madame Chiang has held fast to one principle: Always endeavor to share love with the disadvantaged and most fundamental levels of society. She did not seek to embellish perfection, but rather render assistance where it was most urgently needed. It is this quality which has earned her a place as the "eternal Madame Chiang Kai-shek" in all our hearts.
In recent years, the National Women's League has brightened society through its commendable and effective work. The people of the ROC owe a great debt of gratitude to Secretary-General Cecilia Yen and all league members. I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere admiration.
In closing, I would once again like to congratulate Madame Chiang on her centennial birthday and wish her a long life. I would also like to wish everyone here good health and happiness.
Thank you.