President Chen Shui-bian met with the winners of the 4th Golden Roots Award on February 10, showing his appreciation and acknowledgement to the winners' long-term support to Taiwan.
The president denied the notion that the People's Republic of China is the world's ultimate market. "China is absolutely an important market; however, it is by no means either the sole or the final market in the world," the president firmly emphasized. Furthermore, the president mentioned to the award winners that "Taiwan sovereignty" and free will should be top priority while making vital decisions. "The idea of 'proactive management and effective opening' indeed aims at ensuring the root of Taiwan's economic development and providing Taiwan businesses with opportunities and freedom to choose," reassured the president.
According to the reports of "Time Magazine" and "Newsweek," the president reminded the award winners of the fact that "Google" yielded to the Chinese government's pressure and set up a censorship mechanism while developing their market share in China. "It is far beyond their imagination that censorship and gagging of press freedom would be practiced in any democratic and civilized countries," the president said. "Its practice in China, therefore, witnesses that the Chinese government is nonetheless authoritarian."
At the point of China's military expansion, the president reminded the award winners of the threats Taiwan citizens were facing while protecting our democracy, human rights and freedom of choice. "The rising China is bringing uncertainty to the region's peace and stability," the president said and concluded that "any democratic and peace-seeking countries should take the issue into serious consideration."