President Chen Shui-bian hosted the military's promotion ceremony on the morning of February 15, emphasizing that as the president he did not allow anybody to deprive the country of its sovereignty.
Lieutenant Generals Shen Kuo-chen, Chi Lin-lien, Wu Ta-peng, Chao Shih-chang and Wang Li-sheng were promoted to generals and bestowed insignias.
The president said after the ceremony that over the past six years he and his administration had extended more than forty olive branches to the Chinese government and proposed to launch a "military mutual trust mechanism" and an "interactive framework for peace and stability" through cross-strait talks and negotiations. While some opposition leaders currently appealed to similar proposals, the president added, they pretended to ignore the fact that the "One-China Policy" is precisely where the shoe pinches. Under the "One-China Policy," Taiwan is one of China's provinces; "this exactly is against the mainstream public opinion," said the president.
President Chen spoke to the newly-promoted generals that, whatever the reason, he did not allow anyone to deprive the country of its sovereignty. "Taiwan's future cannot be solely decided by any individuals or political parties," the president said in a tone of determination.