President Lee Teng-hui told visiting U.S. Senator Tim Johnson today that the Republic of China has long been dedicated to democratic reform and human-rights protection. Simply put, the ideals that the ROC upholds are identical to the traditional American spirit of democracy, equality and justice, he said.
President Lee stated that the development of cross-straits relations has immediate influence on the well-being of all the Chinese people and also affects the stability of the Asia-Pacific region. At this stage, stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait are most important, and serve the U.S. national interests, he added.
Despite its limited geographic area and natural resources, the ROC commands considerable economic strength and far surpasses mainland China in terms of purchasing power, President Lee said.
Accompanied by Secretary-General Ding Mou-shih of the National Security Council and Su Chi, Deputy Secretary-General to the President, President Lee met with Senator Johnson and his delegation this morning. Vice Foreign Minister Francisco H. L. Ou was also present.
During the meeting, Senator Johnson said that this is his second visit to the ROC since his first in 1991, and that he is extremely impressed with the ROC's progress and prosperity during the past seven years.
The economic strength demonstrated by the ROC in the face of worldwide recession and the Asian financial crisis is particularly admirable, he mentioned.
President Lee said that most Asian countries have suffered from the current recession, the underlying factors of which vary. This being said, the ROC has basically been pursuing growth amid stability in its down-to-earth approach to economic development, without aiming too high, he said.
The President stressed that he cannot agree with the concept of "Asian values" since human beings are born equal, regardless of native origins, be it Asian or European, or of race, be it black, white or yellow. In particular, the standards of human rights should be universally applicable without any discrimination, he added.
Democratization, liberalization and globalization have been the consistent policy and position of the ROC. They are also the foundations on which it will continue to strive for economic development and for participation in international organizations, President Lee said.
He also expressed his appreciation for the long-standing support that the U.S. Congress has rendered to the ROC. He said that the friendship of the U.S. is "engraved in our hearts." The visiting senator said that although his visit is a brief one, he will dedicate himself to economic and trade cooperation and exchanges between the two countries.