President Ma Ying-jeou met on the afternoon of August 25 with scholars attending the International Conference on Democracy in East Asia and Taiwan in Global Perspective, which is being held as part of the ROC centennial celebrations. During the meeting, the president stated that the government will continue to enhance the fairness of local elections and guarantee human rights. At the same time, the government will respect judicial independence and press freedom, working hand-in-hand with the public to create a top-quality democracy.
In remarks at the gathering, the president said that the ROC was Asia's first democratic republic and has created the most free, democratic, and prosperous society in the ethnic Chinese world. In the political arena, over the past two-plus decades Taiwan has instituted elections for legislative seats that had previously been uncontested for decades, instituted direct presidential elections, and twice switched ruling parties through the electoral process. Taiwan's democracy has thus set several historical milestones, he said, adding that three years ago when he was elected president, then US President George W. Bush sent him a congratulatory wire in which he wrote that "Taiwan is a beacon of democracy to Asia and the world." This showed that the international community had taken notice of the ROC's democratic achievements, President Ma said.
The president furthermore stated that Taiwan's process of democratization has been tempered and gradual. We have seen no bloodshed, social upheaval, or economic downturns as a result, he pointed out. Taiwan's democratic experience has captured the world's attention, especially as in recent years some emerging nations in the third wave of democratization have experienced a retreat in democracy, and some emerging democracies in East Asia are facing serious governance crises, he added.
However, President Ma believes that Taiwan's democratic system still has room for improvement. For instance, even though elections here are in principle fair, just, and open, illegal practices still take place. While the people of Taiwan already enjoy considerable protections in the area of human rights, further progress is needed. Likewise, the government has consistently respected judicial independence and freedom of the press, but there are still people who do not understand that the government cannot interfere with the judiciary or the press. The government will therefore continue its efforts to create a more mature democracy here, he said.
President Ma cited the saying, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Although Taiwan's democracy is quite advanced in the ethnic Chinese world, we still are considered a young democracy, so a broad-based effort is still needed to build up a top-notch democracy that inspires feelings of pride and respect among our people.
This year marks the ROC's centenary, said the president, who thanked the foreign guests for coming to Taiwan to witness our democratic achievements and the results of constitutional government here. He also expressed deep appreciation for their valuable suggestions.
Larry Diamond (Professor at Stanford University and Senior Fellow at the Hoover Institution), Francis Fukuyama (Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University), and other scholars attending the event were accompanied to the Presidential Office in the afternoon by Minister of the Interior Jiang Yi-huah (江宜樺). Also attending the meeting was National Security Council Advisor Tung Kuo-yu (董國猷).