Vice President Annette Lu was invited to attend a local meeting of the Rotary International on April 15. In her remarks delivered at the meeting, the vice president talked about the current forum on trade and economy between the Kuomintang (KMT) and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
On the CCP-KMT Trade and Economic Forum, the vice president asked, "Does Lien Chan, former KMT Chairman, have any qualms about what he has done to the Taiwanese people? Has he truly been concerned about China's missile threats to Taiwan? Does he care about the repressive actions against Falungon members in China?"
With regards to the 15 measures mainly concerning trade, tourism and recognition of Taiwan's university degrees that were announced by China's officials at that meeting, the vice president regarded them as a humiliation to Taiwan's sovereignty.
The vice president told her audience that President Chen has pointed out that any cross-strait exchanges must be conducted according to the principles of sovereignty, parity, peace, and democracy, and that failing to adhere to these values would localize Taiwan as one of China's provinces.
The vice president reminded her audience that peace in the Taiwan Strait must not be achieved at the cost of surrendering Taiwan's sovereignty to China.
In addition, in her remarks the vice president mentioned the Democratic Pacific Union, which was formed under her direction. The vice president told her audience that the union's 28 democratic, free, and peace-loving member countries are working together to pursue world peace and prosperity. Next month in Korea, the vice president said, the union will host an international conference on the development of the west-Pacific region. In conclusion, the vice president encouraged the Rotarians to broaden their visions for the future.