President Chen Shui-bian received 20 members of the Youth Friendship Ambassadors of the "Formosa Foundation in the United States" this morning. Aside from expressing his appreciation for the foundation's enthusiastic efforts in promoting equal rights for Taiwan in the international arena, president Chen also carefully listened to each of the ambassador's opinions and suggestions.
Before talking with the ambassadors, the president clarified recent misunderstandings circulating in the media.
The following is the president's speech:
I am very pleased to meet the members of the Friendship Ambassadors. However, before listening to each of your opinions, I would like to take advantage of this rare opportunity to address the youth of today about a few issues of considerable importance. In fact, the following concerns are being intensely studied in both the United States and Taiwan, yet I feel it necessary to justify the Taiwanese government's basic thoughts, and to offer an explanation to the criticisms and doubts.
For instance, it was claimed that I intended to participate in person at the unofficial leaders' summit while the 13th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation convenes in November in Pusan, Korea. However, in actuality, my participation in the summit is a moot issue in comparison with my dissatisfaction to the name Chinese Taipei, which has been used as an appellation for Taiwan's membership into certain international events such as APEC. Although frustrated, I remain hopeful that this is only a temporary designation. My comments do not seek to provoke or challenge Taiwan's political reality, but aims for awareness. I recognize the difficulties, yet also the significance in Taiwan's opportunity to contribute to this event, where no more than ten years ago, when we were first allowed in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, Taiwan was represented only by an ambassador or plenipotentiary. Since then, the name of our country has been distorted to Chinese Taipei, a name I certainly did not propose. The government, at the time of Taiwan's entrance to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation along with China and Hong Kong, unfortunately accepted it. I had hope that we could take part in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation with either the name of Taiwan or with our country's official title, The Republic of China; yet this task proved to be very difficult to accomplish. Let me use the experience of last year's Olympic Games as an example of the mixed emotions our country felt when we won two gold medals, our very first medals in the history of Taiwan's participation of the games. The entire country was cheering with pride and people all over were touched, but I would be lying to you if I said that joy and happiness overwhelmed us when we saw that the flag being raised was not Taiwan's national flag and when we heard that the anthem being played was not Taiwan's national anthem.
"Chinese Taipei," no display of the national flag and no national anthem, these have been Taiwan's Olympic realities and I am incapable of changing this fact since an agreement was established in 1982 stating the terms under which Taiwan could participate in the games. Taiwan is only allowed to use its Olympic flag and play its national flag's anthem. This is what we have been told. And, despite the many complaints, this is how Taiwan's complex and challenging diplomatic position has affected the manner in which the international community regards us. APEC and the Olympics, however, are not alone in perpetuating Taiwan's political ambiguity. Take the World Trade Organization for instance, when our country became the 144th member after the People's Republic of China on January 1st, 2002, were you all aware that we are not recognized in the WTO as Taiwan or the Republic of China? The lengthy name Taiwan must use in the WTO is "Separate Customs Territory of Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu."
Do you think that we like it this way? Of course not, but we fought 12 hard years just to gain membership into the WTO.
Even our efforts to adhere to the World Health Organization, an organization that is considered the united nations of medical care, have drawn similar results. Medical care, a concept that should be impartial to the boundaries between countries, is a universal right, and Taiwan should not be excluded. For nine long years, we have done everything to observe the guidelines of the World Health Organization, but it has not been an easy task. Nine years we have tried, and nine years we have failed to obtain membership of the WHO. In fact, we are not even applying for official membership, but rather seeking observer status in the World Health Assembly. Neither the title of "Taiwan" nor the "Republic of China" are being used, instead we have the name "Taiwan Health Entity." Nine years without success and unable of reaching out; it gives you an idea of the diplomatic hurdles Taiwan has been leaping in and out of within the international arena. Can we really use the name we desire? Can we really reach out with a name that marginalizes our country and people? Can we really use the name "Taiwan?" And when the title of "Taiwan" is appropriate in some circumstances, it remains taboo in others due to pressures from China, a fact we in Taiwan and the United States know all too well.
I say, unequivocally, the Republic of China is Taiwan. And in the past 94 years, changes in the relationship between the Republic of China and Taiwan have been clearly distinguished. The Republic of China was born in 1912 and established in China before 1949, therefore, without any relation to Taiwan at all. However, after 1949 the Republic of China was reestablished in Taiwan and with the presidency of Lee Teng-hui, the island became "The Republic of China on Taiwan." And finally by the year 2000, with the ruling party changing hands, the Republic of China became Taiwan. Four steps of evolution take the Republic of China from China, transferring it to Taiwan then to the declaration of the "Republic of China on Taiwan" to finally the Republic of China is Taiwan. This is the presidential office of the Republic of China, however, since the Republic of China is now Taiwan, we must educate our next generation and say "the Presidential Office of the Republic of China (Taiwan)," despite those who are unhappy with this position.
We have to be clear on the differences between national identity, national status, national sovereignty and Taiwan's sovereignty. This emphasis on clarity is part of the reason why I proposed the national sovereignty of "Taiwan" and the three discourses on "Taiwan," as oppose to the three discourses on the "Republic of China." Nevertheless, Taiwan's sovereignty is vested in its 23 million people and any change in Taiwan's future can only be decided by the people of Taiwan. This is the most significant aspect of popular sovereignty, sovereignty by the people. The point is sovereignty and my point is that Taiwan's sovereignty cannot be shared with people other than the 23 million Taiwanese people it already belongs to.
The reason why I propose these sensitive, complex and difficult issues is because I would like to encourage our youth of today to think. To think about this no matter if you are in the United States or in Taiwan. To think about it in the middle of the night, even if you just do not understand why. To think about how a challenging problem like this can be dealt with. And, to ultimately think about Taiwan for what Taiwan really is.
Wu Li-pei, advisor to the president and chairman of the Formosa Foundation said earlier that there are already more than 70 friendship ambassadors, and this is the third delegation of friendship ambassadors sent abroad. The ambassadors that are visiting this time have visited 170 parliamentarians' offices and have directly contacted with more than 50 parliamentarians. After briefly speaking to and mutually understanding with the ambassadors, some members of parliament immediately agreed to take part in the Taiwan Alliance. Due to the positive results, these 70 friendship ambassadors have already formed a club hoping to continue contributing their efforts to Taiwan.