On the morning of November 13, President Ma Ying-jeou attended the closing ceremonies of the 2013 Conference of the Overseas Community Affairs Council. In addition to recognizing the importance of the overseas compatriot community to the Republic of China, the president also encouraged overseas compatriots to work together with the government to forge greater prosperity in Taiwan, a higher level of peace between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait, and more friendship for the ROC in the international community.
In remarks, President Ma stated that overseas compatriots are very patriotic and show great concern for the nation. Their recognition of the ROC and its founding father Dr. Sun Yat-sen constitutes a powerful cohesive force that enables many of them in the United States who've never even visited Taiwan to be enthusiastically involved in overseas community affairs, he said. For instance, the president remarked, in August of this year when he visited the ROC's allied nations in South America and the Caribbean, a delegation of overseas compatriots from Paraguay, Brazil, and Argentina braved cold temperatures to welcome him at the airport when he arrived in Paraguay, which was touching. In addition, he noted, when he made a transit stop in New York City, he visited the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association, making him the first ROC president to visit the organization since its founding 130 years ago. He said he was warmly received there. Furthermore, the president mentioned, many overseas compatriots attended a banquet when he made a transit stop in Los Angeles, expressing their support for the ROC.
In discussing Taiwan's external relations, President Ma stated that after taking office in 2008 he adopted a comprehensive strategy for relations with the international community and mainland China. The main idea was to use reconciliation and cooperation to create peace and prosperity in the Taiwan Strait, which has in turn won the ROC more breathing space in the international community. Taiwan's relations with mainland China and with the international community, he said, are now in a virtuous cycle.
Over the past five years, the president explained, Taiwan and mainland China have signed 19 agreements. The number of scheduled flights between the two sides has risen from the odd charter in the past to 95 regularly scheduled flights daily these days. Meanwhile, he said, the number of mainland Chinese students studying in Taiwan each year has risen from only 800 prior to his taking office to 20,000 today. This has enabled mainland Chinese students to observe the principles of freedom and democracy up close, and has helped them see how these ideas have taken root in an ethnic Chinese society, which is extremely meaningful. President Ma emphasized that even though trade and economic ties between the two sides are increasingly close, Taiwan has nonetheless been able to avoid becoming more reliant on mainland China. He pointed out, for example, that in 2000 Taiwan's exports to mainland China and Hong Kong accounted for 24% of Taiwan's total external trade. This percentage had increased to 40% in 2008, but today it stands at only around 39%, he said, so even though bilateral trade has increased, the ratio of Taiwan's trade with mainland China has not risen during his time in office, which shows that the effort to diversify Taiwan's export markets has been successful.
With respect to Taiwan's international relations, the president commented, the nation has attended the World Health Assembly for five consecutive years, briefing other nations on Taiwan's national health insurance program, its efforts to reduce smoking, its anti-obesity campaign, etc. He mentioned that in April of this year Taiwan and Japan signed a fisheries agreement, enabling Taiwan to act on the principle that "although sovereignty over national territory cannot be compromised, natural resources can be shared." At the same time, this agreement has increased catches for Taiwanese fishermen, he said. President Ma also stated that the government in August of this year resolved a fishing dispute between Taiwan and the Philippines after the Guang Da Xing No. 28 shooting incident in which a Philippine government vessel fired shots at a Taiwanese fishing boat, damaging the boat and killing a Taiwanese fisherman. The Philippine government has issued an apology, compensated the family of the victim, and brought charges against those responsible, he said, and the two sides are now in preparations for the negotiation of a fishing agreement.
President Ma emphasized that since taking office he has actively sought to re-establish trust between Taiwan and the United States at the highest levels. He said that the United States has agreed to sell Taiwan US$18.3 billion worth of arms. He also mentioned that last year the United States formally included Taiwan in its Visa Waiver Program, and that the two sides are currently negotiating a bilateral investment agreement under the Trade and Investment Framework Agreement. In summary, he said, Taiwan's relations with the United States, Japan, and mainland China are at their best state in many decades. As a result, he commented, overseas compatriots now feel they get more respect in their host countries, and the government is better able to pursue its policies in the area of overseas community affairs.
Turning to the topic of economic development, President Ma encouraged overseas compatriots to come back and invest in Taiwan. He mentioned that since the government launched an initiative last year to encourage offshore Taiwan-invested companies to invest in Taiwan, over 30 firms have invested a total of NT$180 billion here, thus creating over 28,000 job opportunities. He stated that the government will continue to implement its free economic pilot zones plan, hoping that various incentives and an advantageous environment will attract companies to set up operations in these zones and make export goods. This business model, he said, will hopefully attract Taiwanese companies back to Taiwan and further enhance Taiwan's economic momentum.
President Ma also mentioned that Taiwan and mainland China have signed the Cross-Strait Trade in Services Agreement, which will enable Taiwan's comparatively mature service industries to expand into mainland China and pursue many growth opportunities there. He expressed hope that overseas compatriots and the government can work together to make Taiwan even more prosperous, make cross-strait relations even more peaceful, and forge greater goodwill for the ROC in the international community.
With respect to the heavy casualties in the Philippines caused by Typhoon Haiyan, the president stated, the government donated US$200,000 to the relief effort immediately after the disaster. The Red Cross Society of the ROC and other private groups have also donated roughly 100 tons of goods, he said, adding that on November 12 a C-130 transport aircraft transported 15 tons of these goods to the Philippines. The president said he has also instructed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the National Security Council to consider further measures that could be taken. If necessary, he remarked, the ROC will dispatch a military vessel to the area to help deliver relief aid to those in need.
President Ma emphasized that the devastation caused to the Philippines by Typhoon Haiyan shocked the world. He pointed out that the ROC has consistently acted as a "provider of humanitarian aid" in the international community. Over the past five years, Taiwan has provided assistance to mainland China, New Zealand, Haiti, Japan, and other places struck by natural disasters, so after the catastrophe in the Philippines the ROC government has of course been obliged to provide assistance, especially given that some 67,500 Philippine nationals are working in Taiwan and make an important contribution here. With this in mind, he commented, the government will provide the best humanitarian assistance possible to help the Philippines overcome the challenges it is facing as soon as possible.