President Chen Shui-bian on February 21 met with US Congressman Steve Chabot, who is also Co-Chairman of the House Congressional Taiwan Caucus. In addition to extending a warm welcome and expressing his gratitude to Congressman Chabot, President Chen also gave him a Presidential red envelope, marking the Chinese Lunar New Year. President Chen wished Congressman Chabot the best in the New Year and said he hopes Congressman Chabot will enjoy the festive atmosphere on Taiwan during his stay here.
President Chen said that last month during his transit stop in San Francisco, he spoke with Congressman Chabot over the phone and invited him to visit Taiwan. He said he did not expect Congressman Chabot to organize a visit here so quickly, but added he was delighted that he did. The president noted that Congressman Chabot has visited Taiwan many times, showing his friendship toward and staunch support of Taiwan. In his capacity as Co-Chairman of the House Congressional Taiwan Caucus, Congressman Chabot has paid close attention to Taiwan-related topics, including being a strong promoter of a free trade agreement between the two nations. The president also expressed his appreciation to Congressman Chabot for his appeal to the American government to allow visits of high-ranking Taiwan government officials to the United States and even to Washington D.C. The president also said he admired Congressman Chabot for expressing that the US government's adherence to a "One-China Policy" is no longer appropriate and that an examination or revision of the policy needs to be undertaken. He added that the 23 million people of Taiwan will remember the courage of Congressman Chabot for these efforts.
President Chen also thanked Congressman Chabot for his statements last year in Washington D.C. supporting the ROC (Taiwan) government's decision that the National Unification Council would cease to function and the National Unification Guidelines would cease to apply, and that the decision of the 23 million residents of Taiwan as to their own future should be respected. The president furthermore said that based on the principles of democracy and that power be in the hands of the people, no one has the right to presume that the ultimate and only goal of the Taiwan people is unification with China. President Chen said that the future between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait and the road to be pursued by Taiwan are issues that only the 23 million residents of Taiwan have the right to decide. This is the reason that the government decided that the National Unification Guidelines would cease to apply, he said.
As for the topic of three major military procurement bills, President Chen said that the government will continue to urge the Legislative Yuan to hold a special session in early March to pass the government budget and the budget for the arms bills. He said the military procurements are needed to ensure Taiwan's national security and to bolster the nation's military preparedness. The president once again said he hopes that the ruling and opposition parties will support the government budget and military procurement bills. He added that he is confident that the future presidential candidates from both the ruling and opposition parties will place great emphasis on issues of national defense and security.
Accompanying Congressman Chabot to the Presidential Building to meet with President Chen were Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Chang Siao-yue and American Institute in Taiwan Director Stephen Young. Also in attendance was Deputy Secretary-General of the Presidential Office, Chen Chi-mai.