Kinmen, Sept. 4 (CNA) Kinmen should not seek development at the cost of national security and national interests, President Chen Shui-bian told the people of the frontline island Thursday.
Chen, who visited the island to convey seasonal greetings in the approach to the mid-autumn festival to the military forces stationed on the island, made the comment after being briefed by County Magistrate Lee Chu-feng on local issues, who told him that the current direct shipping links and direct trade between Kinmen and mainland China's Xiamen, in Fujian Province, have failed to meet local people's desire for closer ties with the mainland.
However, Chen pointed out that this is more because of Beijing's hostility toward Taiwan than because of his administration's reluctance to reach out to the mainland. Taiwan simply cannot risk its hard-won security for the economic benefit of direct transportation links and trade with the mainland, he said.
He urged the people of Kinmen to make their interests subordinate to those of the nation as a whole and to support his administration's policy with regard to Beijing.
Recalling the many years ago, when the frontline island was Taiwan's "castle in the sea" against invasion by communist China, the president said the people of the island have suffered a lot in terms of economic development and autonomy and that Taiwan owes its security and prosperity to them.