President Ma Ying-jeou arrived at Logan International Airport in Boston, Massachusetts at 11:30 a.m. on July 11 local time (11:30 p.m., July 11 Taipei time) on a stopover on the first leg of the Forever Rising Project, a trip that will see him visit the ROC's three diplomatic allies in Latin America and the Caribbean. ROC Representative to the US Lyushun Shen (沈呂巡) and American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Chairman Raymond F. Burghardt boarded President Ma's aircraft upon arrival to welcome him. The president and his delegation then departed for their hotel, and attended a banquet at 7:30 p.m. for overseas compatriots in Boston.
In remarks delivered at the banquet, the president first greeted the overseas compatriots in Cantonese. He then commented that he was deeply touched by the enthusiastic reception he has received from them and his old acquaintances on his return to Boston. In particular, the president said that he was extremely pleased to see the support that overseas compatriots have exhibited towards him and the ROC government.
President Ma stated that outside of Taiwan, he lived in Boston longer than in any other place, and that during his time in Boston he not only forged many friendships, but also developed cordial relationships with overseas Chinese organizations there. He pointed out that in 1979 the ROC and the United States severed diplomatic relations, which triggered an outpouring of anger from the overseas compatriot community, with many of them participating in protest marches in Chinatown. At that time, Mr. Ma explained, the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) sought a spokesman, and the ROC consulate recommended him. When the CCBA invited him to serve as spokesperson, his sense of honor obligated him to accept. The president noted that during that period he had to deliver speeches, participate in debates, and take part in other activities at school or on television, thus delaying the writing of his thesis. Nonetheless, he felt it was an enriching experience, and being able to come to the aid of his nation in a time of crisis is something that he will never forget and always cherish, he said.
The president stated that overseas compatriots have made many significant contributions to the ROC over the past century, constituting one-third of the 72 martyrs in the Huanghuagang Uprising. Furthermore, many overseas compatriots from the Boston area made sacrifices for the nation including Robert C. Hong (陳啟邦), Li Zhaojin (李兆進), and William Sean Wong (黃廷深) who joined the Flying Tigers during the War of Resistance Against Japan, as well as Arthur Y. Wong (黃君裕), who took part in the Normandy landings. The president found it gratifying to know that during World War II, whether in the Asian or the European theater, Bostonians could be seen serving their country.
Given that this year marks the 70th anniversary of the ROC's victory against Japan in the War of Resistance as well as Taiwan's retrocession, President Ma emphasized that the government's commemorative activities do not sing the praises of war, but rather condemn aggression while hoping to promote peace.
The president stated that to promote peace, since taking office in 2008 he has actively worked to improve Taiwan's relations with mainland China. In the past 66 years, trade, investment, and tourism exchanges between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait have never been more stable and robust than they are now. He pointed to the number of tourists to Taiwan as an example, saying that when he took office, mainland Chinese made about 200,000 visits to Taiwan each year, whereas nearly four million visited last year. In addition, the number of mainland students studying in Taiwan jumped from about 800 in 2008 to 32,000 last year. The cross-strait interaction between people has gradually fostered cordial relationships and mutual trust. Since the signing of the Cross-Strait Joint Crime-Fighting and Judicial Mutual Assistance Agreement in 1999, both sides have captured over 6,000 suspects, the majority of which were engaged in fraud. The losses on our side caused by scams, which peaked in 2006 at NT$18.6 billion, dropped to NT$3.3 billion last year, a fall of 82%.
The president said that Taiwan and mainland China have found a mode for peaceful coexistence by upholding the principle of the "1992 Consensus" whereby each side acknowledges the existence of "one China" but maintains its own interpretation of what that means. He emphasized that the "1992 Consensus" was first proposed by Taiwan, and then accepted by mainland China. Although some people call this consensus a "masterpiece of ambiguity," nevertheless, it works, said the president. The two sides have shelved sovereignty disputes that cannot be resolved at present and focused on the issues that yield mutual benefit. Looking ahead, he stated, under the principle of the "1992 Consensus," i.e. "one China, respective interpretations," the two sides will continue to promote interaction and exchanges.
The president stressed that the improvement in cross-strait relations is conducive to Taiwan-US relations, which are now the best they have ever been in the 36 years since the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was enacted. He remarked that he was studying for his doctorate at Harvard Law School when the United States ended its diplomatic relationship with the ROC. The president said he recalls his thesis advisor, Professor Detlev Vagts saying, "Taiwan is the most recognized unrecognized country of the United States." Also at that time, an American scholar commented that the executive branch's decision to cut ties constituted de-recognition of Taiwan, but the US Congress then formulated the TRA, which constituted re-recognition of Taiwan by the legislative branch.
President Ma further pointed out that in the past 36 years Taiwan-US relations have blossomed. He specifically pointed to bilateral cooperation in security, which is even closer than it was before diplomatic ties were severed in 1979. Currently, 142 countries and areas, including the United States, provide ROC nationals with visa-free courtesies or landing visas, 88 more than the 54 countries offering that kind of treatment before he took office. By doing that, the international community has affirmed the character of our citizens. The president also mentioned that the nation's founding father, Dr. Sun Yat-sen, urged the abolishment of unequal treaties, and after much sustained effort, the ROC signed new, equitable treaties with the United Kingdom and the United States in 1943, restoring equal status. Providing ROC nationals with visa-free courtesies or landing visas also highlights the fact that the international community's attitude toward Taiwan citizens has progressed from giving basic equality of treatment to offering open respect and hospitality, for which the president praised the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
President Ma then expressed his gratitude to the Massachusetts Legislature for their concern for the victims of the recent powder explosion at the Formosa Fun Coast water park in northern Taiwan. He stressed that the government will continue to deal with the aftermath, and called for assistance from other countries.
Also attending the banquet were AIT Chairman Burghardt, Congressmen Blake Farenthold and Frank Guinta, Massachusetts Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, Boston City Council President Bill Linehan, ROC's former Premier Jiang Yi-hua (江宜樺), National Security Council Secretary-General Kao Hua-chu (高華柱), Minister of Foreign Affairs David Y. L. Lin (林永樂), Minister of Economic Affairs John C. C. Deng (鄧振中), ROC Representative Shen, Minister of the Overseas Community Affairs Council Steven S.K. Chen (陳士魁), Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England President Hung T. Goon (阮鴻燦), New EN.LON China Federation President Chen Yuli (陳毓禮), CCBA of New York President Eric Y. Ng (伍銳賢), ROC Legislators Chan Kai-Chin(詹凱臣), Lu Hsueh-Chang (呂學樟), Lee Guei-Min (李貴敏), and Wang Yu-Min (王育敏).