Taipei, Jan. 17 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian defended the Republic of China's sovereignty Saturday and vowed that Taiwan will not become a "second Hong Kong."
Chen made the remarks at the Presidential Office during a tea party with over 60 parliamentarians from more than 20 countries who were in Taiwan to attend the International Inter-Parliamentary Conference being held in Taipei.
Apparently refuting a Japanese economist prediction that Taiwan and mainland China will be reunified under the formula of "Chinese Federation", Chen told the visiting foreign dignitaries, that "Taiwan will still be Taiwan in 2005, " Chen said that "Taiwan's 23 million people will never accept Beijing's 'one country, two systems' unification scheme, not to mention an even worse 'Chinese federation.'"
Kenichi Omae predicted last week that Taiwan, Hong Kong and mainland China might create a "Chinese federation" by 2005. "Taiwan is a sovereign state. It is not a part, province or special administrative region of any other country," Chen emphasized, reiterating that "Taiwan's future is in the hands of the Taiwan people alone."
On the other aspect, Chen affirmed that Taiwan will continue to play an active role in promoting the peace, economic and democratic developments of the Asian Pacific region.
He also extended a warm welcome to the foreign parliamentarians, including seven members of the Congressional Pro-Taiwan Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, and thanked them for the attention and contribution they have made to the progress and peace of the region.
The International Inter-Parliamentary Conference, sponsored by the ROC (Taiwan) -USA Inter-Parliamentary Amity Association, opened Jan. 16 in Taipei and will run through Sunday.