Ladies and Gentlemen:
Today is the 88th National Day of the Republic of China. Each year, we greet this day with boundless joy. Today, however, we must solemnly and seriously review our nation’s founding principles and forge a consensus of unity to overcome sorrow and pain and to create a bright future for us all.
In the early hours of September 21, a major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 hit the Taiwan area, causing severe casualties and immense losses. The earthquake not only shocked the international community, but also left us in lasting sorrow.
During the past 20 days, I went deep into the devastated areas, to determine the full scope of the disaster and the progress of the relief work. Seeing the destruction of our homeland and our suffering fellow countrymen, I am grief-stricken; however, I am even more determined to work together with the entire populace to rebuild our homeland.
In fact, since the September 21 earthquake occurred, the government, the private sector, and all the citizens have shown their best capabilities and devoted their utmost efforts to the relief and rescue work. Showing deep compassion for their compatriots and brothers, they have made it possible for the disaster victims to receive timely care and feel warmth. The collective efforts, the courage, and the faith in surmounting difficulties together will provide the greatest momentum for us to begin the reconstruction of our beautiful homeland.
In the aftermath of the earthquake, we are especially heartened and comforted by the concern and assistance we received from the international community, as well as the generous donations from our overseas compatriots. A total of 38 rescue teams, with over 700 members, from the United Nations and 20 countries in Asia, Europe, and America, arrived in Taiwan to participate in our rescue mission. On behalf of the government and people of the Republic of China, I would like to express my most sincere appreciation to the world community for its concern and support. Let me also reiterate here that the Republic of China will strive even more vigorously to fulfill its international responsibilities and make substantive contributions to the development of the global community.
Ladies and gentlemen: Tempering through adversity creates an opportunity for rebirth. Although the earthquake has left scars on this land that cannot be healed, we are confident and determined that we shall accomplish our reconstruction projects within the shortest possible time under the concerted efforts of every one of us. Giving consideration to both the characteristics of each area and the needs of the people, we shall implement a renovation that will bring harmony to our homeland, so our people can enjoy a safe, new life. We will also advance more steadily and firmly to expand new opportunities for national development as we enter the next millennium.
In domestic affairs, we will continue to promote reengineering of the government, along with judicial and educational reforms, to realize the ideals of democracy, increase government effectiveness, and encourage the vitality of the private sector. We will thereby enhance the overall strength of our nation and lay a favorable foundation for our national development, to meet the intense international competition of the future.
In economics, we will focus on liberalization, internationalization, and pluralization, actively removing barriers to investment, accelerating the modernization of industry, and strengthening the economic structure, in order to maintain economic stability and growth. Concurrently, we will utilize our advantages of the present to build Taiwan into a technology island and thereby, launch a new era for Taiwan’s future economic development.
In the area of social development, we must improve our social welfare system to protect the minority and disadvantaged groups, in order to implement social justice and establish a humanitarian and caring modern society. We must effectively carry out the rule of law, take strict precautions against natural calamities, and strengthen law and order to protect the lives and properties of the people.
On national security, we must consolidate our defense and the strategy of effective deterrence. We must continue to streamline the military and regenerate a modern military force. Meanwhile, we must also actively participate in Asia-Pacific regional security mechanisms to jointly promote world peace, cooperation, and prosperity.
In cross-strait relations, we acknowledge that the nation has not yet been unified, and the two sides of the Taiwan Strait still maintain different views on the definition of “one China.” However, we deem that the relationship between the two sides to be a special state-to-state relationship, which is a historical and legal fact. Both sides should squarely face this reality. They should use it as a foundation to promote constructive dialogue. Through parity, divided rule, and peaceful competition, the two sides should seek peaceful unification in the future. On Taiwan, the Republic of China has created a dominion of democracy unprecedented in Chinese history, a model for the Chinese mainland on its way toward modernization. We hope that the Chinese mainland authorities will soon implement democratic reforms, which will create conditions conducive to the gradual unification of the two sides.
Ladies and gentlemen: The Republic of China has weathered many difficulties and challenges since its establishment. It was only through the perseverance and unceasing efforts of all ROC citizens that we could surmount these adversities and bring our nation into a new era. Particularly, in the past five decades, the unity of purpose and effort of the government and the people has made Taiwan an island of freedom, democracy and prosperity.
Today, we face tremendous destruction of property and loss of life from this devastating earthquake. But, we believe that hardship will bring us closer together and adversity will regenerate our strength. Only if we have an iron will and cooperate fully can all the pain and sorrow be transformed into that new strength, and the unity of purpose become a force for rebirth. At the threshold of the new century, let us take that brave step forward to rebuild our beautiful homeland.