President Ma Ying-jeou met with a delegation of prominent American public policymakers and consultants at the Presidential Office on the afternoon of October 8. The president, on behalf of the government and people of the ROC (Taiwan), extended a cordial welcome to the guests on their visit to Taiwan.
The president commented that most of those in the delegation are scholars from the Center for a New American Security. While the think tank was established just two years ago, it has enormous potential, he said. The president added that many of the senior scholars at the think tank have served in the United States government. President Ma furthermore said he believes that the guests will be a significant force in impacting American policy in the future.
President Ma remarked that he has aggressively sought to improve cross-strait relations since taking office last year. Many concrete achievements have been seen over the past one year and five months, he said, including the resumption of cross-strait negotiations that had been severed for 10 years, as well as the signing of nine agreements after three rounds of talks. The agreements cover, among other matters, the three links, mainlanders coming to Taiwan for tourism, food safety, and mutual judicial assistance between the two sides. These initiatives, he said, have helped to significantly reduce tension in the relationship between the two sides. In addition, as of September 1, the number of cross-strait flights each week stood at 270 and these mark the first scheduled flights between the two sides in 60 years. These aviation links are enabling closer contact among the people on either side of the Taiwan Strait, he said.
President Ma said that the cross-strait relationship has many levels. Presently, the political relationship has warmed and economic and trade interaction is increasing. The president said he hopes that the reconciliation between the two sides can be extended into the international arena. It is with this in mind that he has promoted the concept of flexible diplomacy, urging both sides to refrain from waging battle to woo the diplomatic allies of the other. He said that both sides have already exhibited goodwill in this regard. Over the past year-plus period, the ROC's relations with its diplomatic allies have been quite stable. In addition, relations are improving with many countries with which the ROC does not maintain formal ties, he said. At the same time, the ROC is making progress in participating in the international community, including breakthroughs in its representation in APEC, becoming a party to the World Trade Organization's Government Procurement Agreement, and attending the World Health Assembly. The president said he hopes that both sides will continue to further develop relations. President Ma stressed that the government's basic attitude in cross-strait relations is to prioritize the economic relationship, since the state of the economy has a direct bearing on the wellbeing of the public. For this reason, the government will put emphasis on ironing out a cross-strait economic cooperation framework agreement and other similar issues.
With regards to relations between Taiwan and the United States, President Ma remarked that over the past year-plus period, we have effectively enabled the Taiwan Relations Act, which was enacted 30 years ago by the United States, to be effectively implemented. The president said he deeply appreciates the assistance from the United States in this regard. Moreover, President Ma pointed out that mutual trust has been re-established between Taiwan and the United States. In dealings with America, the government emphasizes the principle of equality and mutual benefit, along with a "low key approach" and "no surprises." The president expressed his hope that the two sides will gradually resume their strong relationship of the past based on this foundation. President Ma also said he feels that the current state of the relationship between the United States, Taiwan, and mainland China is the warmest it has been in the past 60 years. Each side can pursue friendly relations with the other two countries, which he said is of enormous benefit to regional stability.