Remarks at the Liberal International Conference on Human Rights and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats General Assembly
Chen Shui-bian
President
Republic of China (Taiwan)
December 8, 2007
President of Liberal International Lord Alderdice, Chairman of the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats Senator Drilon, Director of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation's East and Southeast Asia Regional Office Mr. Hubert von Welck, Distinguished Guests:
Good morning to you all!
To start off, on behalf of the government and the 23 million people of Taiwan, I would like to welcome and express my most profound appreciation to our comrades for working hard in the quest for freedom and democracy, and congratulate Liberal International on this auspicious occasion as it celebrates its 60th anniversary.
Since its establishment in 1947, Liberal International (LI) has been committed to the causes of freedom, justice, and the rule of law, providing a most vital platform for cooperation between democratic parties in many countries. LI has made shining contributions to the spread of the fundamental values of liberalism, and its work is highly praised by people around the world.
LI and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD) have played a positive role in helping to strengthen and consolidate Taiwan's democracy and in maintaining peace in the region. When Taiwan is unfairly treated or unreasonably oppressed in the international arena, LI always stands up for its belief in democracy and freedom and speaks out for Taiwan. To us, it is like coming in from the winter cold to a warm fire. Many members of LI and CALD have spoken or expressed concern about such issues as security in the Taiwan Strait, China's military intimidation, and restrictions imposed on Taiwanese people when they travel abroad.
LI and CALD are also witnesses to the transformation of Taiwan's democracy. During the presidential elections in 2000 and 2004, LI and CALD held executive committee meetings here and observed the elections. Election time is again nearly upon us, with legislative elections scheduled to take place next January and the presidential election next March. In conjunction with these, referenda will also be held. I want to thank LI and CALD for once again coming to Taiwan in support of our democracy. We are truly grateful to you.
Much to our regret, China has stepped up its suppression in recent years. It has blocked Taiwan not only from international inter-governmental organizations that require statehood as a prerequisite for membership, but also from international non-governmental organizations and alliances of political parties that do not require statehood as a prerequisite for membership. What's worse, China does not stop at bullying Taiwan, but goes further to bully Taiwan's friends.
For example, LI has called on the World Health Organization to allow Taiwan to participate so as to protect the health rights of Taiwan's people, as doing so would both demonstrate a universal value and benefit the international community as a whole. It is astonishing, then, that China used this just appeal as an excuse to bully LI and maneuver to strip LI of its general consultative status with the United Nations.
Not long ago, our Legislative Yuan passed a resolution calling for Taiwan to participate in the UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. After it was passed, I had hoped that the UN Secretariat would accept this document and place it in its archive. But to our great regret, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon came out with a distorted interpretation of UN Resolution 2758 as his reason for rejecting this document.
Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are two different countries, one on each side of the Taiwan Strait, and neither exercises jurisdiction over the other. This is an undeniable fact. Holding fast to a belief in freedom, democracy, and human rights, Taiwan is willing to shoulder its responsibilities as a member of the international community. It is my earnest hope that our friends will continue to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations.
This year marks the 20th anniversary of the lifting of martial law. Taiwan was under martial law for 38 years under the KMT, the longest period of martial law in modern times. We have learned through personal experience how important it is to protect human rights. That's why when I assumed the presidency in 2000, I announced that one of the major objectives of my government would be to build a nation based on human rights principles. I also proclaimed that Taiwan would abide by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the Vienna Declaration and Programme of Action, so that the development of human rights in Taiwan would mirror that seen worldwide.
In 2003, the Democratic Progressive Party government worked with political parties and organizations under LI to launch the LI Human Rights Project, which dispatched experts to promote human rights in all continents.
When the military regime in Burma violently cracked down to suppress its own people this September, our government quickly condemned its atrocities and urged the international community to intervene in the hope of seeing freedom, democracy, and peace returned to the Burmese people.
Any brutal or violent acts, whether to oppress one's own people or to threaten foreign countries, cannot be tolerated by civilized society. I would like to appeal to the international community to see clearly the true nature of China's authoritarian government and understand the implications of its awful human rights record. Moreover, the world should pay close attention to the military intimidation, diplomatic oppression, and united front tactics China uses against Taiwan.
Besides, although the human rights situation has been improving in general, there are still many problems that must be addressed through the collective action of all members of the international community. Statistics show that, today, millions of people are being bought and sold like commodities across the globe, which constitutes nothing less than a 21st-century slave trade.
We must not allow human beings to be denigrated and treated as commodities. We will not stand for the brutalizing of people as a byproduct of globalization. Taiwan's Ministry of Interior last year proposed a plan to combat human trafficking, while last week, the Legislative Yuan added a chapter on combating human trafficking to the Immigration Act and introduced measures to strengthen the protection of the rights of foreign workers in Taiwan.
International cooperation is necessary to effectively curb human trafficking, implement a global disease prevention and healthcare network, and fight terrorism. The urgency of allowing Taiwan's participation in international networks dealing with these issues is clear. We will continue to work hard with Taiwan's best friends, LI and CALD, for the freedom, democracy, peace, and security of all people.
In closing, I would like to once again commend the efforts and contributions LI has made to the advancement of human rights across the world, and wish LI a very happy birthday on the 60th anniversary of its founding. As well, I wish the LI conference and CALD General Assembly every success. Thank you!