President Lee Teng-hui tonight delivered a speech at a U.S. Independence Day celebration hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Taipei and the American University Club, ROC.
The full text of the President's speech is as follows:
President Williams, President Wu, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
I am delighted to join you for this US Independence Day celebration, hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce and the American University Club, and to share with you my views on ROC-US relations and the future development of the Republic of China.
First, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC, allow me to extend my heartiest congratulations to President Clinton and the American people on this 221st anniversary of your great nation's independence. I would also like to offer my best wishes for the continued prosperity and success of the United States and its president.
Eighteen years ago, the US government adopted a new China policy in response to changes on the world stage. Washington decided to establish formal diplomatic relations with Peking while maintaining informal substantive relations with Taipei. The ROC answered with a pragmatic and innovative foreign policy to overcome the various difficulties that followed from this foreign relations setback. With the Taiwan Relations Act, enacted by the US Congress, and the efforts of successive US administrations, ROC-US relations have continued to grow steadily.
We fully appreciate the support and assistance that our friends in the United States have extended to us so readily over the years. Under the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act, the US government has provided the weapons necessary for Taiwan's defense. It has also strengthened cooperation with the ROC through trade, technological, cultural and academic exchanges. In March of 1996, as the Republic of China prepared to hold its first-ever direct presidential election, the Chinese mainland attempted to interfere by conducting military exercises off the coast of Taiwan. In a clear demonstration to the world of its determination to uphold freedom and democracy, the United States moved to safeguard regional security by sending two aircraft carrier groups to patrol the area adjacent to the Taiwan Strait. We are deeply grateful for this wise decision of the Clinton Administration.
In the post-Cold War era, the ROC has vigorously promoted its relations with Washington. We seek to fulfill the interests of both nations and to build more bridges between our peoples. The United States continues to be Taiwan's largest market, with our exports to the US totaling US$26.87 billion in 1996. As for imports, the United States is the second largest supplier of imported goods to Taiwan; we bought US$19.97 billion worth of products in 1996. In addition to our being one of the most important trading partners of the US, our two countries also cooperate closely in the areas of high technology, transportation, conservation, telecommunications, and various academic disciplines. Last year, over 32,000 ROC overseas students were studying in the United States--the fourth largest group of foreign students in American universities. These contacts contribute immensely to improving mutual understanding and communication. Many of you here today once studied in the United States and thus certainly recognize the value of such exchanges. We believe that as Taiwan becomes more democratic and free, ROC-US bonds will grow even stronger, and both the scope and frequency of bilateral exchanges will expand.
With our current foundation, I am confident that as long as both nations continue to cooperate and to exert greater efforts, there will be excellent opportunities to advance ROC-US relations. Allow me to use this occasion to point out and explain some of the fundamental issues in ROC-US relations, so that our American friends here will acquire a better understanding of the Republic of China and will lend your support to the advancement of closer bilateral ties.
One question that our foreign friends often ask is how the ROC will develop in the future. You are all aware that the Republic of China has engaged in national development on Taiwan since 1949. Although we encountered innumerable difficulties, we stood firm in the face of adversity, and through the joint efforts of the government and people, created an "economic miracle." This process of national development has come to be known as the "Taiwan experience." Now, the ROC has begun a new chapter in its political and social history following the successful conclusion of our first direct presidential election last year. We will continue to devote our best efforts to construct the "second phase of the Taiwan experience." During this phase, we must work to maintain the long-term stability of the Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen, and Matsu area in order to ensure that the institutions of democracy, free economy, and social pluralism will flourish with magnificent success, for they will create conditions conducive to national reunification. I am confident that the first phase of the Taiwan experience which transformed Taiwan from an agrarian into an industrialized society, and from authoritarian to democratic rule, builds a solid foundation for our second phase of transformation, and guarantees another success.
To safeguard our future, the Republic of China must stand firm. Our policy is based on the indisputable fact that China is a divided nation, ruled by two distinct political entities. This policy gives priority to maintaining domestic stability and raising our international profile while at the same time developing relations with the Chinese mainland. Put simply, in the first phase of the Taiwan experience, we succeeded in completing the formidable task of building democracy through the process of economic development. In the second phase of the Taiwan experience, we will not only continue to institutionalize our democracy and economic liberalization, but will also promote peaceful and pragmatic diplomacy, push for the steady development of cross-strait relations, and create conditions conducive to the peaceful reunification of China.
ROC policy is clearly understandable when viewed in terms of this primary objective. We are in the midst of the second stage of consolidating and strengthening democracy. During the first stage of the Taiwan experience, the government and people jointly completed the process of democratization through participation by the people, periodic elections, inter-party consultations, and constitutional revision. Through this experience, we fully understand that democratization is a long-term endeavor, and consolidating democracy requires far greater efforts to create better conditions for success. This is the primary reason why we held the National Development Conference following the successful completion of the first direct presidential election. Our goal was to build a consensus and to come up with concrete ideas to offer our government for the next stage of democratic development, cross-strait relations and economic development. Through open discussion and consultations, we arrived at consensus on many issues which are currently being implemented incrementally by the pertinent government agencies.
Consolidating and strengthening democracy are more arduous, and present even greater challenges, so we cannot rest on our laurels yet. In these past few years, with universal suffrage, multiparty competition and freedom of speech, we have laid the foundation for democratization. However, cultivating a community spirit and building a civil society with respect for the law and discipline still await further efforts. Completing this task will require establishing institutions and instilling greater comprehension of democracy. Only in this way will our people fully enjoy freedom, respect the law, and exercise independent judgment so that democracy becomes their way of life. It will also elevate government efficiency to provide better service to the public, and pursue a higher international status for the ROC. If we describe the past few years as the era when Taiwan pursued democratization, then we are presently in an era of consolidating and strengthening democracy.
During this current era, we are vigorously developing foreign relations based on pragmatism and peaceful objectives. Ever since the Republic of China was founded in 1912, it has been a completely sovereign state. Our consistent foreign policy goal has been to preserve this sovereignty, raise our international status, and cooperate with neighboring nations to jointly work toward regional stability and peace. We have never been the enemy of any nation, nor have we ever curbed any effort to promote regional integration and enhance economic cooperation. After being acclaimed for our successful economic development, we have adopted active measures to share our experience with friendly Third-World Nations. The Republic of China currently has teams of agricultural, industrial and fishing technologists in Africa and Latin America to promote and contribute to various kinds of technical cooperation projects. Some international pundits have labeled ROC pragmatic diplomacy as "diplomatic adventurism." This is extremely unfair. It assumes that ROC pragmatic diplomacy will elicit diplomatic pressure from Peking, which is very unreasonable. Our purpose in being a part of the international community is to promote international cooperation, to spur prosperity, and consolidate world peace. This is a totally fitting, completely normal and proper diplomatic approach for a sovereign state.
We must particularly stress that, as a democratically elected government, our administration derives from popular will. Survey after survey indicate strong public desires and demands that the government score some diplomatic breakthroughs to raise the ROC's international status and safeguard the dignity of our citizens in the international community. This popular will is also evident from parliamentary debates, discussions in the media, and the platforms of various political parties. Since the public concurs on the need to pursue pragmatic foreign relations and to raise the international status of the ROC, it is imperative that we actively respond.
There has been some debate in Taiwan about whether pragmatic diplomacy or mainland policy should have priority. However, the National Development Conference arrived at the consensus that pragmatic diplomacy and mainland policy should be complementary. In fact, pursuing pragmatic diplomacy while promoting relations with Peking has been our consistent policy and is not likely to change in the foreseeable future. Regardless of Peking's slanderous allegations, the ROC's pragmatic diplomacy does not have Taiwan independence as its goal. Only if the Republic of China has a definite international status can it commence talks with Peking on an equal footing to discuss the problem of reunification. Therefore, pragmatic diplomacy is necessary for assuring the existence and development of the Republic of China and for the pursuit of peaceful national reunification.
In today's international community which stresses democracy and peace, the ROC's pragmatic diplomacy and mainland policy are not only in line with world trends but are completely consonant with the policy objectives pursued by the United States and other developed nations. We have always maintained that the two sides of the Taiwan Strait should engage in peaceful interaction, accord each other equal status, give consideration to the current situation, and negotiate with sincerity, in order to find reasonable and appropriate solutions to cross-strait issues. Thus, when I was inaugurated as the Ninth-term President of the Republic of China, I called for both sides to end the state of hostility and also stated that "I would like to embark upon a journey of peace to mainland China taking with me the consensus and will of the 21.3 million people." However, Peking has yet to offer a concrete response. Only if Peking faces up to the fact that each of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is ruled by a separate entity, renounces the use of military force to solve disputes, continues reciprocal exchanges, and accords us mutual respect in the international arena, will there be long-term prospects for cross-strait relations.
We view with favor the US policy of constructive engagement with the mainland, and wish it a success. We believe that if the United States continues to safeguard the regional peace and security of East Asia and the Taiwan Strait, remains constructively engaged with the Chinese mainland, and continues its dialogue with Peking, this will spread the influence of democratic ideals and promote the peaceful transformation of the Chinese mainland. As the mainland is gradually incorporated into the world order, hopefully it will begin to accept international norms and become a responsible member of the global community. This will provide a stabilizing force for peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large.
However, we must emphasize that improvement in relations between Washington and Peking cannot be at the expense of the welfare of the people on Taiwan. In order to achieve an appropriate balance in relations between Taipei and Peking, and in order to maintain the stability of the Taiwan Strait, the US should maintain "parallel engagement" with Taipei and with Peking. This would increase the foreign policy options of the United States, create a climate of peace and free cross-strait exchanges from any unnecessary misgivings or interference. We believe that in the process of conducting relations between the US and the Chinese mainland, a free, democratic and prosperous Republic of China can be a valuable political, economic and strategic partner for America.
Taking this one step further, the peacefully transformed Republic of China can be a stabilizing force in the western Pacific and a progressive partner of the free world. Our promotion of the Asia-Pacific Regional Operations Center plan is based on the desire to construct an open business environment that will allow enterprises operating in the Taiwan area full access to resources that they need, be it manpower, commodities, services, capital, and information, both domestically and from abroad. In other words, we are working in concert with the trend toward global and regional economic liberalization, to build Taiwan into a base for investment and entry into Southeast Asia and Chinese mainland markets, and unveil new economic horizons of mutual benefit and prosperity. We heartily welcome investment and participation in the Asia-Pacific Regional Operations Center by US and other multinational firms.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the United States, since its birth, has steadfastly pursued democratic ideals including free elections, freedom of the press, freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of association and respect for individual rights and family values, becoming the common standard by which all freedom-loving peoples in this world strive for. During the past century, the Republic of China and the United States have both stood firm by our democratic convictions, and have worked to establish similar institutions that safeguard our common values and pursue our common ideals. From this has sprung an unshakable and long-lasting friendship that is substantial and precious. Continuing American support and assistance in the future are indispensable to our efforts to consolidate democracy and safeguard peace. Tonight, on the eve of July 4th, as the popularly elected President of the Republic of China, I solemnly declare: The Republic of China will stand in the same camp with the United States to always defend democracy, to guarantee freedom, and to let the hope for freedom and democracy light every corner of the world. Let us join together in wishing the continuing growth of ROC-US relations. Ladies and Gentlemen, I also wish each and everyone of you good health and happiness.
Thank you.