President Ma Ying-jeou met on the evening of June 11 with former Australian Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer. In addition to welcoming Mr. Downer to Taiwan, the president also expressed hope that his visit will help to further strengthen relations between Taiwan and Australia.
In remarks, the president stated that Professor Downer previously visited Taiwan in 1991, and again in 2008 to observe the presidential election here that year. President Ma commented that he held discussions with Professor Downer after the election, and at that time told Professor Downer that he intended to put an end to Taiwan's "checkbook diplomacy" policy that sought to forge relations with other nations by providing financial assistance.
The president pointed out that Professor Downer made significant contributions to Australia's international relations as foreign affairs minister from 1996 to 2007, and has consistently advocated the resolution of issues between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait through peaceful dialogue.
President Ma mentioned that Professor Downer belongs to the Liberal Party, which is a member of the International Democrat Union (IDU). The ruling Kuomintang (KMT) is also a member of the IDU, he said. Former Australian Prime Minister John Howard, he noted, presently chairs the organization, and Mr. Howard in February 2010 came to Taiwan to attend a meeting of the IDU's Executive Committee. The president commented that he met with Mr. Howard at that time and the two exchanged opinions on the development of relations between the two countries and the two parties.
President Ma pointed to statistics showing that in 2012 the value of trade between Taiwan and Australia reached nearly US$13 billion. Taiwan is Australia's 10th largest trading partner and its sixth largest export market. In 2012, tourists from Taiwan made over 90,000 visits to Australia, while Australian tourist visits to Taiwan surpassed 60,000, he said. Meanwhile, over 7,000 Taiwanese students are studying in Australia, while the number of young people from Taiwan who reside in Australia on a working holiday arrangement stands at more than 22,000. Australia, the president noted, is the favorite working holiday destination for young Taiwanese, which proves that relations between the two countries in a variety of areas continue to strengthen.
President Ma mentioned that Taiwan and Australia each year hold the Taiwan-Australia Bilateral Economic Consultations and the Taiwan-Australia Joint Energy and Minerals, Trade and Investment Cooperation Consultations on a rotating basis. The 17th round of the Taiwan-Australia Bilateral Economic Consultations will be held in Taipei on June 18-19, he said. To date, Taiwan and Australia have signed a total of 35 memoranda covering a broad range of topics, which have created a solid foundation for bilateral economic cooperation, the president stated.
President Ma noted that Taiwan and Australia have similar foreign affairs agendas. Both believe that it isn't necessary to pick between the United States and mainland China, but rather that friendly relations can be developed and maintained simultaneously with both the United States and mainland China, he said. For instance, the president remarked, immediately upon taking office he promoted the policies of "cross-strait reconciliation" and "viable diplomacy," which have effectively improved the cross-strait relationship and helped Taiwan expand its relationships with the international community.
President Ma furthermore explained that in addition to its "viable diplomacy" policy, Taiwan is guided in its foreign aid policy by the principle of "seeking proper goals, acting lawfully, and exercising effective administration." This has gradually helped to strengthen Taiwan's relations with other countries, he said, specifically noting that 133 jurisdictions now provide ROC nationals with visa-free courtesies or landing visas, more than double the 54 jurisdictions that provided such privileges to ROC nationals when he took office in 2008. This proves that this policy has been the correct one, the president said, adding that Taiwan will continue to move along this path so that even more countries will take notice and understand Taiwan's desire to play the roles of "peacemaker and provider of humanitarian assistance" in the international community.
President Ma reiterated that last year he unveiled his East China Sea Peace Initiative in an effort to resolve the sovereignty dispute over the Diaoyutai Islets in the East China Sea, calling for all sides to resolve the controversy in a peaceful manner. On April 10 of this year, Taiwan and Japan signed a fisheries agreement, which he said provides for cooperation in joint conservation and management of a designated fishing area. The agreement enables fishermen from both countries to operate in designated seas without interference, he stated, furthermore elaborating that this puts into practice the concept that "national sovereignty cannot be divided, but natural resources can be shared." President Ma expressed confidence that addressing this issue will significantly contribute to peace in the region.
The president then turned his remarks to the shooting of a Taiwanese fishing boat by a Philippine government vessel. The Taiwan boat was sprayed with automatic fire, resulting in the death of a Taiwanese fisherman. He said that the ROC government made four demands of the Philippines, namely: to offer a formal apology; to provide compensation for the losses; to promptly and thoroughly investigate the incident and severely punish those responsible for the killing; and to initiate fishery negotiations between the two countries as soon as possible. Taiwan and the Philippines, he mentioned, have activated their mutual judicial assistance mechanism to clarify what happened and punish those responsible. President Ma emphasized that Taiwan hopes the Philippines will respond to the four demands as soon as possible to provide compensation and a sense of closure for the victim's family.
Professor Downer was accompanied to the Presidential Office by Australian Office in Taipei Representative Robert Kevin Magee to meet President Ma. Also attending the meeting were Secretary-General to the President Timothy Chin-Tien Yang (楊進添), Deputy Secretary-General to the President Lo Chih-chiang (羅智強), National Security Council Advisor Francis Yi-Hua Kan (甘逸驊), and Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Vanessa Yea-Ping Shih (史亞平).