[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 77 (Monday, June 19, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1045-E1047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN
______
HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN
of new york
in the house of representatives
Monday, June 19, 2000
Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to bring to the attention of my
colleagues the May 20, 2000, Inaugural Address of President Chen Shui-
Bian of Taiwan. President Chen has laid out a solid vision of Taiwan's
future and his speech deserves wide dissemination.
The United States is pleased with the flourishing on Taiwan of a
fully-fledged, multi-party democracy which respects human rights and
civil liberties. It is hoped that Taiwan will serve as an example to
the PRC and others in the region in this regard and will encourage
progress in the furthering of democratic principles and practices,
respect for human rights, and the enhancement of the rule of law.
The Congress looks forward to a broadening and deepening of
friendship and cooperation with Taiwan in the years ahead for the
mutual benefit of the peoples of the United States and Taiwan.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, I want to wish President Chen, Vice
President Lu, and the people of Taiwan the very best in the future.
Mr. Speaker, I submit President Chen's Inaugural Address for
insertion in the Record.
Inaugural Address of President Chen Shui-bian, May 20, 2000
Leaders of our friendly nations, honored guests and
compatriots from Taiwan and abroad; This is a glorious
moment; it is also a moment of dignity and hope.
I thank our honored guests, who have come here from afar,
as well as those friends from around the world who love
democracy and care about Taiwan, for sharing this glorious
moment with us.
We are here today, not just to celebrate an inauguration,
but to witness the hard-won democratic values, and to witness
the beginning of a new era.
On the eve of the 21st Century, the people of Taiwan have
completed a historic alternation of political parties in
power. This Is not only the first of its kind in the history
of the Republic of China, but also an epochal landmark for
Chinese communities around the world. Taiwan has not only set
a new model for the Asian experience of democracy, but has
also added a moving example to the third wave of democracy
the world over.
The election for the 10th-term President of the Republic of
China has clearly shown the world that the fruits of freedom
and democracy are not easily come by. Twenty-three million
people with an unwavering will have allayed enmity with love,
overcome intimidation with hope, and conquered fear with
faith.
With our sacred votes, we have proven to the world that
freedom and democracy are indisputable universal values, and
that peace is humanity's highest goal.
The outcome of Taiwan's Year 2000 presidential election is
not the victory of an individual or a political party. It is
a victory of the people, a victory for democracy, because we
have, while at the focus of global attention, transcended
fear, threats and oppression and bravely risen to our feet
together.
Taiwan stands up, demonstrating a firmness of purpose and
faith in democracy. Taiwan stands up, representing the self-
confidence of the people and the dignity of the country.
Taiwan stands up, symbolizing the quest for hope and the
realization of dreams.
[[Page E1046]]
Dear compatriots, let's always remember this moment; let's
always remember to value and feel gratitude for it, because
the fruits of democracy did not come out of the blue. It was
realized by going through many perils and dangers, and by
experiencing countless hardships. If not for the fearless
sacrifice of our democratic forebears, if not for the
unswerving faith of the tens of millions of Taiwanese people
in freedom and democracy, we could not possibly be standing
on our beloved land today and celebrate a glorious occasion
that belongs to all the people.
Today, it is as if we are standing before a fresh new gate
in history. In the process of democratization, the Taiwanese
people have created a brand-new key to our shared destiny.
The new century's gates of hope are soon to open. We are
humble but not submissive. We are full of self-confidence but
not the slightest bit of self-satisfaction.
Since that moment on March 18 when the election results
came to light, I have accepted the mandate of all Taiwanese
people in a most earnest and humble frame of mind, and have
vowed to devote all my efforts, understanding and courage to
assuming the heavy responsibility of this country's future.
I personally understand that the significance of the
alternation of political parties and the peaceful transition
of power lies not in that it is a change of personnel or
political parties. Nor that it is a dynastic change. Rather,
it is the return of state and government power to the people
through a democratic procedure. The people are the true
masters of the country, which no individual or political
party can possess. From the head of state to the rank-and-
file civil servant--the government exists for all the people
and serves all the people.
The alternation of political parties does not mean an all-
out negation of the past. We should be fair in evaluating the
contributions made by those in power throughout the ages. Mr.
Lee Teng-hui deserves our highest praise and heartfelt honor
for his promotion of democratic reforms and for his excellent
performance during his twelve years of leadership.
Taiwan society has rallied and participated energetically
in the election. Despite the diverse views and stances, all
individuals share the same intent--to come forward for the
sake of their political ideas and the country's future. We
believe that the end of an election is the beginning of
reconciliation. After the curtain falls on emotional
campaigns, rationality should prevail. Under the supreme
principles of national interests and the welfare of the
people, those in power and in opposition should both fulfill
their duties by the people and realize the ideals of fair
competition in party politics, as well as the checks and
balances of democratic politics.
A democratic society with fair competition, tolerance and
trust is the strongest impetus for a
``A government for all people'' and ``rule by the clean and
upright'' were my promises to the people during the election
period. It is also an important key for Taiwan society in
stepping over its fault lines and exalting to a higher level
in the future.
The spirit of a ``government for all people'' lies in the
fact that ``government exists for the people.'' The people
are the masters and shareholders of the state. The government
should rule on the basis of majority public opinion. The
interests of the people are absolutely above those of any
political party or individual.
I have always taken pride in being a member of the
Democratic Progressive Party, but from the moment I take my
oath and assume the president's post, I will put all my
efforts into fulfilling my role as a ``president for all
people.'' As in the formation of the new government, we
employ people according to their talents and do not
discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, gender or party
affiliation. We will also place the welfare of the populace
as our primary goal in future.
The topmost initiatives of my promise to ``rule by the
clean and upright'' are to eliminate ``black gold''--the
involvement of organized crimes in politics--and to eradicate
vote-buying. For a long time, the Taiwanese people have been
deeply repelled by money politics and the interference of
organized crime. A grassroots vote-buying culture has also
robbed the people of their right to elect the wise and the
able. These have tainted the development of Taiwan's
democracy.
Today, I am willing to promise hereby that the new
government will eliminate vote-buying and crack down on
``black gold'' politics, so that Taiwan can rise above such
downward sinking forces. We must give the people a clean
political environment.
In the area of government reforms, we need to establish a
government that is clean, efficient, farsighted, dynamic,
highly flexible and responsive, in order to ensure Taiwan's
competitiveness in the face of increasingly fierce global
competition. The age of ``large and capable'' governments has
now passed, replace by ``small and effective'' governments,
which have established partnership relations with the people.
We should accelerate the streamlining of government functions
and organization and actively expand the role of public
participation.
This will not only allow the public to fully utilize their
energy but also significantly reduce the government's burden.
Similar partnership relations should also be set up between
the central and local governments. We want to break the
authoritarian attitudes from the days of centralized, money-
controlled power. We want to realize the spirit of local
autonomy, where the local and central governments share
resources and responsibilities, where ``the central
government will not do what the local governments can do.''
Whether in the east, west, north or south, or whether on
Taiwan Proper or on offshore islands, all will get balanced,
pluralistic development, and the gap between urban and rural
areas will decrease.
Of course, we should understand that the government is no
panacea for all problems. The driving force for economic
development and societal progress comes from the people. Over
the past half-century, the Taiwanese people have toiled hard
to create an economic miracle that has won global applause,
and to lay the foundation for the survival and development of
the Republic of China. Today, facing the impact of the fast-
changing information technologies and trade liberalization,
Taiwain's industrial development must move toward a
knowledge-based economy. High-tech industries need to be
constantly innovative, while traditional industries need to
undergo transformation and upgrading.
The future government should not necessarily play the role
of a ``leader'' or ``manager.'' On the contrary, it should be
the ``supporter'' and ``service-provider'' as expected by
private enterprises. The responsibility of a modern
government is to raise administrative efficiency, improve the
domestic investment environment, and maintain financial order
and stock market stability, so as to allow economic
development to move toward full liberalization and
internationalization with fair competition. By observing
these principles, the vitality of the public will naturally
bloom and create a new phase in Taiwan's economic miracle.
Apart from consolidating our democratic achievements,
promoting government reforms, and raising economic
competitiveness, the new government's foremost objective
should be to adhere to public opinion and implement reforms,
so that the people on this land can live in more dignity,
more self-confidence and better quality.
Let our society be not only safe, harmonious and
prosperous, but also meet the principles of
The 21st Century will be a time when ``the right to a
quality life'' and ``refined lifestyles'' are much
emphasized. The government will have to bring up solutions
for all issues relating to the people's lives, such as social
order, social welfare, environmental protection land
planning, waste treatment, cleaning up rivers and community-
building. It will also have to implement these solutions
thoroughly.
At present, we need to immediately improve social order and
environmental protection, which are important indicators of
the quality of life. Building a new social order, we will let
the people live and work in peace and without fear. Finding a
balance ecological preservation and economic development, we
will develop Taiwan into a sustainable green silicon island.
The integrity of the judiciary is a staunch line of defense
for democratic politics and social justice. An impartial,
independent judicial system is a safeguard for social order
and a defender of the people's rights. At present, we still
have a long way to go in our judicial reforms. Our
compatriots should continue to give the judiciary their calls
to action and their ardent expectations. At the same time, we
should also restrain our administrative authority and give
the judiciary room to operate independently and without
interference.
Human resources are Taiwan's most important resources.
Talent is the foundation of the country's competitiveness,
while education is a long-term plan for empowering the
people. We will seek a consensus among the ruling and
opposition parties, academia and the public to carry on with
educational reforms and build a healthy, proactive, lively
and innovative education system, which will allow Taiwan to
cultivate first-class, outstanding talents amid the fierce
international competition. We will let Taiwan move gradually
toward a ``learning organization'' and a ``knowledge-based
society.'' We will also encourage people to take up lifetime
learning to fully develop their potential and creativity.
Grassroots community organizations have now been developing
around the country, working to explore and preserve the
history, culture, geography and ecology of their localities.
These are all part of Taiwan culture, whether they are local
cultures, mass cultures or high cultures. Due to special
historical and geographical factors, Taiwan possesses a
wealth of diversified cultural elements. But cultural
development is not something that can bring immediate
success. Rather, it has to be accumulated bit by hit. We must
open our hearts with tolerance and respect, so that our
diverse ethnic groups and different regional cultures
communicate with each other, so that Taiwan's local cultures
connect with the cultures of Chinese-speaking communities and
other world cultures, and create a new milieu of ``a cultural
Taiwan in a modern century.''
The September 21 earthquake that occurred last year brought
to our land and our compatriots an unprecedented catastrophe,
the pain of which is yet to heal. The new government will
brook no delay in the reconstruction of disaster areas,
including industrial and spiritual recovery. We will work to
[[Page E1047]]
ensure that care is extended to every victim and rebuild
every destroyed place. Here, we would also like to express
our highest respect again for all individuals and non-
governmental organizations that have selflessly contributed
to the rescue and reconstruction work after disaster. Amid
the fierce power of Nature, we have seen Taiwan's most
beautiful compassion, strongest faith and greatest trust. Our
compatriots have been injured and wounded during the
September 21 earthquake, but with the spirit of a ``volunteer
Taiwan,'' Taiwan's new family will stand up resolutely on its
feet once again.
Dear compatriots, 400 years ago, Taiwan was called
``Formosa''--the beautiful island--for its lustrous
landscape. Today, Taiwan is manifesting the elegance of a
democratic island, once again attracting global attention, as
the people on this land create a new page in our history.
We believe that the Republic of China, with its democratic
achievements and technological and economic prowess, can
certainly continue to play an indispensable role in the
international community. In addition to strengthening the
existing relations with friendly nations, we want to actively
participate in all types of international non-governmental
organizations. Through humanitarian care, economic
cooperation, cultural exchanges and various other methods, we
will actively participate in international affairs, expand
Taiwan's room for survival in the international arena, and
contribute to the welfare of the international community.
Besides, we are also willing to promise a more active
contribution in safeguarding international human rights. The
Republic of China cannot and will not remain outside global
human rights trends. We will abide by the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights, the International Convention for
Civil and Political Rights, and the Vienna Declaration and
Program of Action. We will bring the Republic of China back
into the international human rights system.
The new government will request the Legislative Yuan to
pass and ratify the International Bill of
We firmly believe that in any time or any corner of the
world, the meaning and values of freedom, democracy and human
rights cannot be ignored or changed.
The history of the 20th Century left us with a major
lesson--that war is a failure of humanity. Waged for whatever
purpose or whatever imperious reasons, war is the greatest
harm to freedom, democracy and human rights. Over the past
one hundred plus years, China has suffered imperialist
aggression, which left indelible wounds in her history.
Taiwan's destiny has been even more arduous, tormented by
brute force and the rule of colonialist regimes. These
similar historical experiences should bring mutual
understanding between the people on both sides of the Taiwan
Strait, setting a solid foundation for pursuing freedom,
democracy and human rights together. However, due to long
periods of separation, the two sides have developed vastly
different political systems and lifestyles, obstructing
empathy and friendship between the people on the two sides,
and even creating a wall of divisiveness and confrontation.
Today, as the Cold War has ended, it is time for the two
sides to cast aside the hostilities left from the old era. We
do not need to wait further because now is a new opportunity
for the two sides to create an era of reconciliation
together.
The people across the Taiwan Strait share the same
ancestral, cultural, and historical background. While
upholding the principles of democracy and parity, building
upon the existing foundation, and constructing conditions for
cooperation through goodwill, we believe that the leaders on
both sides possess enough wisdom and creativity to jointly
deal with the question of a future ``one China.''
I fully understand that as the popularly elected 10th-term
President of the Republic of China, I must abide by the
Constitution, maintain the sovereignty, dignity and security
of our country, and ensure the well-being of all citizens.
Therefore, as long as the CCP regime has no intention to use
military force against Taiwan, I pledge that during my term
of office, I will not declare independence, I will not change
the national title, I will not push forth the inclusion of
the so-called ``state-to-state'' description in the
Constitution, and I will not promote a referendum to change
the status quo in regards to the question of independence or
unification. Furthermore, the abolition of the National
Unification Council or the Guidelines for National
Unification will not be an issue.
History has illustrated that war will only create hatred
and enmity, with absolutely no benefit to the development of
mutual relations. Chinese people emphasize the difference
between statesmanship and hegemony, believing in the
philosophy that a government which employs benevolence ``will
please those near and appeal to those from afar,'' and ``when
those afar will not submit, then one must practice kindness
and virtue to attract them.'' Such Chinese wisdom will remain
universal words of value.
Under the leadership of Mr. Deng Xiaoping and Mr. Jiang
Zemin, the mainland has created a miracle of economic
openness. In Taiwan, over a half century, not only have we
created a miracle economy, we have also created the political
marvel of democracy. On such a basis, as long as the
governments and people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait can
interact more, following the principles of ``goodwill
reconciliation, active cooperation, and permanent peace,''
while at the same time respecting the free choice of the
people and excluding unnecessary obstacles, both sides of the
Strait can make great contributions to the prosperity and
stability of the Asia Pacific Region. Both sides will also
create a glorious civilization for the world's humanity.
Dear compatriots, we hope so much to share the moving scene
of this moment with all Chinese-speaking people around the
world. The wide Ketagelan Boulevard before us was bristling
with security guards only a few years ago. The building
behind me used to be the Governor General's Mansion during
the colonial era. Today, we gather here to extol the glory
and joy of democracy with songs of the earth and the voice of
the people. With a little reflection, our compatriots should
be able to appreciate the deep and far-reaching meaning of
this moment:
Authoritarianism and force can only bring surrender for one
time, while democracy and freedom are values that will endure
forever. Only by adhering to the will of the people can we
pioneer the paths of history and build enduring architecture.
Today, as a son of a tenant farmer and with a poor family
background, I have struggled and grown on this land and,
after experiencing defeat and tribulation, I have finally won
the trust of the people to take up the great responsibility
leading the country. My individual achievements are minor,
but the message is valuable because each citizen of Formosa
is a ``child of Taiwan'' just like me. In whatever difficult
environment, Taiwan will be like a selfless, loving mother,
who never stops giving us opportunities and who helps us
achieve our beautiful dreams.
The spirit of the ``child of Taiwan'' reveals to us that
even though Taiwan, Penghu, Kinmen and Matsu are tiny islands
on the rim of the Pacific, the map of our dreams knows no
limits. It extends all the way to the end of the horizon, as
long as our 23 million compatriots fear no hardship and move
forward hand in hand.
Dear compatriots, this magnificent moment belongs to all
the people. All grace and glory belongs to Taiwan--our
eternal Mother. Together, let's extend our gratitude to the
earth and respect to the people. Long live freedom and
democracy! Long live the people of Taiwan! We pray for the
prosperity of the Republic of China, and for the health and
happiness of all compatriots and all honored guests!
____________________