Dr. Lin Ren-Te (林仁德), Chair of the Asia-Oceania Congress of Endocrinology, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It is really a pleasure to be here today to attend the opening ceremony of the Twelfth Asia-Oceania Congress of Endocrinology. On behalf of the people of Taiwan, I would like to express my warmest welcome to you for your participation in this conference, and to share with others your scientific experience and knowledge.
We know endocrinology is one of the most important fields in medicine today. Researches in this area will not only help us reveal the mysteries of diabetes and other endocrine diseases, but also enable us to develop newer technologies to control and even to cure them. As more people in developed societies are affected by endocrine-related diseases, we should devote more resources into medical researches and clinical experiments in this field, and enhance public awareness of relative medical knowledge. Today's conference, I am sure, will not only bring invaluable benefits to the development of endocrinology but also make great contributions to the entire medical field.
In fact, I am one of the victims of endocrine diseases. At the age of 30, I was discovered to have thyroid carcinoma. I took an operation and it was a success. I recovered and returned to work shortly. Five years later, in 1979, the authoritarian Nationalist government charged me with sedition. During the imprisonment the carcinoma reoccurred and made me terribly ill. Under the pressure from various human-rights groups, including Amnesty International, the government finally allowed me to have an early release for medical treatment. Thanks to you doctors and the technologies you have developed, I was able to overcome the illness and ordeal again. Thank you, Doctors! Without your help, I will not be able to stand here today as Vice President and speak to you!
Some of you may be wondering why I was imprisoned before. Now let me share with you the story of Taiwan. By the mid-1980s, the people of Taiwan had lived under Martial Law for almost four decades. Under the rule of the Nationalist government, the basic human rights had been strictly curtailed. Press was censored and all forms of opposition movements were banned. Virtually all the opposition leaders and activists were either jailed or forced to exile.
In 1979, as an activist of women's rights and a deputy director of a magazine that advocated for human rights, the government arrested me and sentenced me to 12 years in prison for giving a 20-minute speech on International Human Rights Day. The rally on and the following trial was what we called the "Kaohsiung Incident." During the unprecedented military trial, 15 brave and smart lawyers stood up to defend for the freedom fighters on charges of sedition.
Beyond everybody's speculation, 20 years later, one of the defense lawyers Mr. Chen Shui-bian, invited one of the seditious elements, which was me, to run for Presidency and Vice Presidency in the national election, and we succeeded. We took the power from the authorities which suppressed us decades ago. Our success not only terminated the 55-year-long one-party-rule on the island but also signifies the victory of the people's power and democratic values!
Other than democracy, we have achieved another miracle in economic sphere. From the 1960s onward, the world has witnessed Taiwan's transformation from a poor, underdeveloped society to a prosperous and energetic economic powerhouse. Today's Taiwan is the 17th largest trading nation in the world and takes a leading position in high-tech industry. For instance, Taiwan is the 4th largest nation in information technology industry and 15 items of Taiwan's IT products occupy over a half of the world's market. Our people's average income, calculated in terms of purchasing power parity, also reaches 20,000 US dollars while it was $150 fifty years ago.
On January 1st, 2002, Taiwan became the 144th member of the World Trade Organization. Under this mechanism, Taiwan and other WTO members, including the People's Republic of China, are equal partners and can work together according to international norms. This will ensure not only free flow of goods but also free flow of human resources. As a member of the most important economic organization in the world, Taiwan is willing to contribute to the prosperity of the world economy in the future.
Indeed, Taiwan, drawing on its experience and accomplishments in national development, is more than willing to doing her share by helping to promote international cooperation and enhance the welfare of mankind. When major earthquakes hit India, El Salvador, and Afghanistan, I launched campaign after campaign to raise money and relief materials to meet the needs of the victims of these disasters. Tsu-chi Foundation, a Buddhist charity group led by Master Zheng Yan, has been able to establish constant relief programs overseas. For instance, they have sent three relief missions to Afghanistan to distribute food and medical supplies to the refugees. Their volunteers were one of the first few humanitarian aid organizations entering the country after the war. They also earned their esteem by making tremendous efforts to rescue the victims of the twin towers in the 9-11 incident last year.
Unfortunately, despite that we are willing to share our experiences in public health and humanitarian aid with our friends around the world, we are not even a member of World Health Organization. Meanwhile, Taiwan is subsequently misplaced on the world map illustrating health conditions. W.H.O. publications have either carried no information on health conditions or related developments in this country, or wrongly integrated related information into the data of mainland China. For example, due to W.H.O.'s longtime lack of understanding of Taiwan's health conditions, foreigners are given a mistaken impression that Taiwan is "a province of China where AIDS is rampant." Ladies and gentlemen, if Taiwan is already part of the PRC, why do Chinese leaders deploy 400 ballistic missiles along the southeast coast to target at us, and the number is increasing by 50 to 70 every year?
Denial of Taiwan's right to join W.H.O. not only violates the spirit of the organization—"Health For All"—but also impedes Taiwan from bringing her rich medical resources into play to the benefit of all mankind! The government of Taiwan has made the acquisition of the observer status of W.H.O. the top priority. With our achievements in eradicating diseases and improvement of public health, I can assure you that Taiwan will play an active and constructive role in the W.H.O. and other international organizations.
Ladies and gentlemen, in the next few days, you will fully experience the hospitality and friendship of us Taiwanese people. Again, let me express my sincere regards to the success of this conference, and I hope your trip to Taiwan will enrich your experiences and memories. Thank you.