President Ma Ying-jeou on the afternoon of September 2 at the Presidential Office met with Tokyo University Professor Mr. Masahiro Wakabayashi. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), extended his warmest welcome and deep appreciation to Professor Wakabayashi.
Professor Wakabayashi first asked President Ma to explain the strategic and conceptual background to his diplomatic truce policy. The president said that in order to understand the concept of a diplomatic truce, one cannot neglect the history of the diplomatic battle between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait over the past nearly 60 years. The People's Republic of China was established in 1949 and roughly a dozen countries, mainly Eastern European nations, recognized it in its first year of existence, he said. A turning point was seen in 1971 when the ROC lost its seat in the United Nations. After the Shanghai Communiqué in 1972, more and more nations established formal diplomatic relations with Communist China. Then, after the United States recognized Mainland China in 1979, a sharp increase was seen in the number of countries establishing ties with the PRC, he said. Two years ago, former President Chen Shui-bian sought to gain membership for the nation in the UN using the name "Taiwan." Not only did the nation face many obstacles in this initiative, but also most of its diplomatic allies did not support the move. As a result, the ROC has had no choice but to adopt a different diplomatic strategy in order to alleviate the difficulties facing Taiwan in the international community, the president explained.
President Ma cited the second reason for the idea of a diplomatic truce. The two sides of the Taiwan Strait engaged in a high level of confrontation in the diplomatic arena. What resulted was not competition, but rather a diplomatic battle between the two. He said that the two sides resorted to various tactics that many countries in the international community found questionable. President Ma said that the ROC should be an upright and decent nation in the world community, providing international humanitarian assistance and helping nations in need of assistance. It should not be involved in a contentious struggle, he said. As a result, a diplomatic truce would put an end to this contentious struggle, and both sides would not seek to pry away the diplomatic allies of the other, he added. President Ma said a diplomatic truce is not tantamount to a diplomatic holiday or a diplomatic respite. Rather, the ROC will continue to solidify its relationship with its diplomatic allies, he said.
President Ma also said that in presenting the concept of a diplomatic truce to the ROC's diplomatic allies, officials have clearly communicated to their counterparts in other countries that existing relations will not be impacted. To be sure, relations between the ROC and its allies will be strengthened and expanded, he said. The president said the ROC hopes to reach a consensus with Mainland China in which neither will seek to woo the diplomatic allies of the other. In other words, the two sides would avoid contentious struggle in the pursuit of diplomatic recognition, he said.
President Ma furthermore said that the ROC wants to be a peacemaker. Taiwan's existence should not present a predicament to other countries, regardless of whether they maintain formal diplomatic ties with the ROC. Other nations should feel that maintaining relations with the ROC is beneficial, he said. President Ma said that as Taiwan works to improve cross-strait relations, the United States will not be faced with the problem of having to pick sides. It will be able to concurrently maintain friendly relations with both Taiwan and the mainland, he said.
President Ma ended by saying that both sides of the Taiwan Strait should be able to cooperate in international organizations and mutually respect each other. He said that Mainland China cannot deny the existence of Taiwan. As a result, how to enable Taiwan to have reasonable space in the international circle is a topic that both sides must face and discuss. The president said that a wide range of opinions has emerged in Mainland China on this issue, and that this is a positive development. He said that the ROC will not engage itself in the topic of dual recognition, nor will it promote an idea of two Chinas. Both sides must maintain the status quo, he said, which he noted will be the most beneficial for Taiwan. The president said that both sides still require further negotiation with regards to an arrangement for Taiwan to participate in international organizations and related activities. He specifically pointed out the World Health Assembly, saying that participation in this institution and its activities is extremely important for the 23 million people of Taiwan. This is not a political issue, but rather an issue of human rights, he said.