President Chen Shui-bian met with 10 of Taiwan's overseas diplomatic mission chiefs and representatives on May 16 at the Office of the President, and reminded them that democracy and economy are the two blades of Taiwan's diplomatic sword that can be used to open up Taiwan's international space.
The president told these diplomats that the rising China, with its fast-growing military and economic power, has choked Taiwan's development in the international community. Referring to Taiwan's current agricultural and health assistance programs abroad, he said that these traditional diplomatic operations are no more sufficient nowadays. To adapt to the world trend of globalization, the president told these diplomats that the diplomacy of "democracy" and of "economy" should be more emphasized.
"Taiwan's democracy, freedom, and protection of human rights are what China has never experienced," said the president. Together with Taiwan's economic and trade capacity, they should be further utilized in Taiwan's diplomatic front.
Taiwan's ambassadors to Costa Rica, Guatemala, the Holy See, the Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, and representatives to Austria, New York, Los Angeles (USA), San Pedro Sula (Honduras) and Edinburg (UK), together with Foreign Minister James Huang, attended the meeting.