The Republic of China has existed as an independent sovereign state for 86 years and of course need not seek "independence". President Lee Teng-hui made these remarks today when he received General Colin Powell.
President Lee told the former chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff that national unification has been a longtime commitment for the government and people of the Republic of China, but it is also a reality that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are currently under separate rule. "We pursue national unification based upon a system of freedom, democracy, and equitable distribution of wealth," the President said. "This is our belief and also our non-negotiable stance."
President Lee also explained to his visitor the principles under which he administrates this country. They are:
--ensuring Taiwan's security and replacing past military confrontations between the two sides with peaceful approaches;
--discarding the authoritarian system of government in favor of a free and democratic one;
--and pursuing pragmatic diplomacy to win for the ROC a status in the world community that this country deserves.
The President stressed that only if the ROC can exist will there be hope and development for the country. The ROC's existence is the essence of its value. "It is of critical significance that the ROC rejoins the international community to remind the world of its existence," he said.
During their talk, President Lee also expressed his sincere appreciation to General Powell for the latter's longtime concern over the ROC as well as the situations across the Strait, and in particular, for his assistance in the ROC's purchases of defensive weapons. "The ROC government understands the reality of Washington's engagement with Peking, but hopes that the U.S. will not disregard the security and well-being of the 21.3 million people on Taiwan," the President said.
General Powell said that it has been a consistent U.S. position to show concern over and help safeguard Taiwan's security. "The dissemination of the ideals of freedom and democracy to the mainland people through cross-strait people-to-people contacts will lead to an osmosis effect on the communist system there," he added.
The visiting U.S. general expressed his approval of President Lee's ideas of governance, and his admiration for what the ROC has achieved politically and economically in recent years.
Meanwhile, General Powell congratulated President Lee on the President's landslide victory in the presidential elections last year, and spoke highly of the President's insistence on his ideals in the face of external pressures.
U.S. President Clinton announced early this year that General Powell will preside over the Presidents Summit for America's Future scheduled for next month in the United States. This summit is aimed at leading the American people to a new state of voluntary work.
President Lee said that he attaches great importance to voluntary work, which is very meaningful to both society and individuals. "After a system is established," he said, "it becomes most essential to elevate correspondingly the level of people's spirit." Spiritual reformation requires further guidance, which in turn will contribute to the establishment of a better system. Many problems faced by society which the government cannot solve need to resort to the services and devotion of social organizations or individuals for solutions. And, voluntary work is most effective and meaningful in this regard, according to the President.
Accompanied by Chen Chien-jen, ROC Vice Foreign Minister, General Powell met with President Lee in the Office of the President at 10 o'clock this morning. Secretary-General Ding Mou-shih of the ROC National Security Council and Deputy Secretary-General to the President Stephen Chen were also present.