President Lee this morning reiterates the Republic of China's commitment to promoting China's unification under the tenets of freedom, democracy and equitable distribution of wealth, adding that the two sides of the Taiwan Straits should co-exist peacefully and that the Chinese Communists should renounce the use of military force against Taiwan.
The President makes the remarks while meeting with three senior executives from the U.S.-based Center for Strategy and International Studies (CSIS).
During the meeting, President Lee also tells his guests that a continued U.S. military presence will contribute to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. The U.S. government should not disregard Taiwan's security while engaging the Chinese mainland, the President notes.
The American visitors--including Ambassador Richard M. Fairbanks III, managing director of domestic and international issues at CSIS, Mr. Peter Watson, senor adviser and director of international business and economics at CSIS, as well as Mr. James Kelly, president of the CSIS Pacific Forum--come to the Office of the President for the meeting. They are currently in Taipei to attend the CSIS Taipei Roundtable 1997 scheduled for February 28, convened on the theme of "1997: A Year of Transition."
Also present at the meeting this morning are Dr. Samuel C. Shieh, national policy adviser to the President, Dr. Ding Mou-shih, secretary-general of the ROC National Security Council, and Mr. Stephen S.F. Chen, deputy secretary-general to the President.