President Chen extended his warm welcome to US Senator Jack Reed, first-time visitor to the Republic of China. He also expressed his appreciation for the long-time concern and support that Senator Reed has extended to this country.
On cross-strait relations, President Chen echoed US President Bill Clinton's call for the solution of the Taipei-Beijing dispute through peaceful dialogue and respect for the free choice of the Taiwan people.
President Chen elaborated that based on principles of democracy and parity, the Republic of China stands ready to talk with the Beijing leaders or concerned agencies at any time and the key to break the deadlock lies in cross-strait contacts and dialogue.
President Chen stressed again that the leaders on both sides should possess enough wisdom and creativity to jointly deal with the existing questions. As a head of state elected by the people, Chen said he would be over-stepping his authority if he were to accept Beijing's "one China" without the people's mandate, as the majority of the people of Taiwan do not want the island to become "another Hong Kong or Macau." Just as the US administration must respect the views of Congress, the government of the Republic of China has to consult public opinion when setting forth its policy toward the mainland, and should give the people the final say on the issue of Taiwan's future relationship with mainland China.
Taking this opportunity, President Chen rebutted Beijing's differing two-handed versions of "one China." He further pointed out that, while some Beijing leaders have told Taiwan visitors that "one China" does not necessarily refer to the People's Republic of China, in the international context they promote "peaceful reunification" and "one country, two systems," by sticking to the claim that "there is only one China of which the People's Republic of China is the sole legitimate regime and Taiwan is a part." President Chen said that such an interpretation, which attempts to define Taiwan as a province of the People's Republic of China, is against the free will of the people here and is thus unacceptable. In fact, the Republic of China has been a sovereign state.
Recognizing that there remain significant differences in the interpretation of "one China," President Chen suggested that both sides should lay aside their sovereignty dispute for the time being and seek to have constructive dialogue. The President reiterated an offer he made before that Taipei is ready to resume dialogue with Beijing "in the spirit of 1992."