While receiving a group of six Chinese democracy activists at the Office of the President on April 20, President Chen Shui-bian said that the entire world would benefit if China's rise were accompanied by peace and democracy.
In a recent interview with Le Figaro, a French newspaper, the president presented five points that the Chinese Communist leadership has been reluctant to accept: abandoning authoritarian rule; adhering to the principles of democracy, freedom and human rights; ending oppressive actions against Taiwan; renouncing the use of force against Taiwan; and respecting the free will of the 23 million people of Taiwan. President Chen told his guests that until these five points are realized, it would be impossible for the Taiwanese people to accept unification as the ultimate goal and the only option for the future of Taiwan.
The president further emphasized that his effort to reform the constitution to include a referendum mechanism and his decision to cease the function of the National Unification Council and the application of the National Unification Council's Guidelines were meant to deepen and consolidate Taiwan's democratic spirit and preserve the sovereignty of its people.
Taiwan's peaceful transformation from an authoritarian regime to a democratic country is an invaluable experience. President Chen added that this experience should be a lighthouse guiding China towards democracy.
The Chinese democracy activists included Ruan Ming, Paul Lin and Mrs. Lin, Tsao Chang-ching, Hu Ping, and Wang Ce. Mainland Affairs Council Chairman Joseph Wu and Deputy Presidential Secretary-General Cho Jung-tai were also present during the meeting.