Vice President Lien Chan told visiting US House Representatives that President Lee's statement of a "special state-to-state relationship" between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait is to clearly define cross-strait relations according to historical, legal and political realities. It aims to clarify the equal status of the two sides, in order to pave the way for further dialogue in the future, he said.
Vice President and Mrs. Lien hosted a banquet this evening at the Sherwood Hotel, Taipei in honor of the visiting delegation of the US House International Relations Committee, headed by Rep. and Mrs. Benjamin Gilman.
The visiting US Congressmen have attached great importance to the ROC's democracy, prosperity and security. In the US House of Representatives, they have voiced their support for the ROC on such issues as the ROC's participation in international organizations, US arms sales to Taiwan and US assurances regarding the security in the Taiwan Strait. In his speech during the banquet, Vice President Lien particularly expressed his appreciation for his guests' long-time support for the ROC government, concern over the ROC's security and development as well as over the well-being of the ROC people, and firm friendship toward the ROC people.
He said that he has noticed the great significance attached by many people in the US to Taiwan's recent "special state-to-state relationship" formula and to subsequent developments in the Strait, adding that Chairman Gilman had especially voiced his concerns over this matter in the House of Representatives in mid-July. He then reiterated the ROC's viewpoints and position in cross-strait relations.
Vice President Lien expressed the ROC's long-lasting hope that the two sides can establish a better relationship and create a win-win situation rather than a zero-sum game by observing the principles of reason, peace, parity and reciprocity.
He emphasized that none of the ROC's related policies have changed. "In the future, we will continue to promote constructive dialogue and beneficial exchanges between the two sides," he said. "We welcome the chairman of the mainland Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, Mr. Wang Daohan, to visit us so that together we may seek a win-win solution for both sides as well as the future unification of China under freedom, democracy, and equitable prosperity."
The Vice President stated that the ROC government is keenly aware that developments in the Taiwan Strait directly affect peace and prosperity throughout the Asian-Pacific region, adding that preserving peace and stability in the Strait is the common hope of both sides and the international community.
He indicated that the ROC government has always proposed to settle cross-strait differences peacefully. "I am confident that, by clearly defining the relationship between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait from the perspective of historical, legal and political realities, we will facilitate interaction between the two sides and turn a new page in the dialogue between the two sides," he said.
He expressed his hope that the two sides will take this opportunity to gradually build a stable framework for relations over the long term and jointly seek a new China unified under democracy in the future. This would not only create a win-win situation for both sides, but also would benefit peace and progress throughout the Asia-Pacific region, he maintained.
The Vice President said that he believed that by visiting Taiwan at this time, Chairman Gilman and other members of his delegation have witnessed firsthand the development of democracy in the ROC.
Those Representatives attending the banquet included John D. Dingell, Alcee C. Hastings, Robert Underwood, Tom Campbell, Robert Ney and their spouses. Fredrick Chien, President of the Control Yuan, Ding Mou-shih, Senior Advisor to the President, Yin Tsung-wen, Secretary General of the National Security Council, David Lee, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Acting Director Stephen Young of the AIT Taipei Office were also present.