[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 147 (Thursday, November 14, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2019-E2020]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     TAIWANESE VICE PRESIDENT LU'S NATIONAL DAY ADDRESS TO THE PRC

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 13, 2002

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on October 1st, 2002, Taiwanese Vice 
President Annette Lu delivered a congratulatory speech marking the 53rd 
anniversary of the foundation of the People's Republic of China. For 
the attention of my colleagues, I am submitting the full text of Vice 
President Lu's speech into the Congressional Record:

        New Century, New Thinking, New Cross-Strait Perspectives

                  (By H.E. Vice President Annette Lu)


      1. Congratulations on the National Day of the People's China

       Today is the National Day of the People's Republic of 
     China. I presume that the whole country is joyfully 
     celebrating this occasion. Via broadcast of the Voice of 
     America, on behalf of the people of Taiwan, I want to wish 
     prosperity to your country. Since its foundation, the PRC has 
     made great strides, especially in the areas of economic and 
     infrastructure development following twenty-years of open 
     door and reform policies. These accomplishments are truly 
     admirable,
       Besides congratulations to all of you, I also have some 
     expectations and suggestions on this day. China should not 
     forget its responsibility to contribute to peace and 
     development in the Asia-Pacific region. We should seek to 
     become good neighbors and not resort to force, but seek 
     peaceful co-existence and cooperation.


       2. ``One China'' and ``Three Chineses'' (three zhonghuas)

       The Beijing regime has long proclaimed that Taiwan must 
     accept its ``One China'' principle that Taiwan is a part of 
     China and that only the PRC can represent China. The people 
     of Taiwan cannot accept this, the biggest obstacle to 
     normalization of cross-Strait relations at present. Since its 
     establishment in 1949, the PRC has never exercised 
     jurisdiction on Taiwan, while Taiwan has its own government, 
     land and people. It is an undisputable fact that for half a 
     century; neither side belonged to the other. Asking Taiwan to 
     accept the ``One China'' principle is tantamount to asking 
     Taiwan to surrender, which is totally unacceptable.
       We believe that a different ``Chinese'' concept may be in 
     line with New-Era thinking. Facing the impact of 
     globalization, from the so-called ``Chinese'' have already 
     emerged three categories or totally different concepts: these 
     are ``Political Chinese'', ``Economic Chinese'' and 
     ``Cultural Chinese''.
       ``Political Chinese'' refers to the political structure of 
     ethnic Chinese at the present historical stage, which 
     includes ``The People's Republic of China'' under communist 
     rule and Taiwan's ``Republic of China'' under free democratic 
     rule. ``Economic Chinese'' is the ``Greater Chinese Economy'' 
     advocated by various scholars, it includes economies composed 
     of ethnic Chinese in China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and 
     Singapore. ``Cultural Chinese'' comprises culturally related 
     Chinese societies and groups as well as Chinese benevolent 
     associations all over the world.
       Obviously, these three ``Chineses'' occupy different areas 
     and are essentially different.
       Pursuit of economic gains may have enhanced trade and 
     exchanges of human resources and capital between Taiwan and 
     China, enabling growing economic interdependence between 
     them. However, politically, Mainland China still adheres to 
     communism, and also deploys missiles aimed at free and 
     democratic Taiwan.
       Both sides of the Taiwan Strait share origins but are 
     politically different and even nervously against each other. 
     This is because they hold different views over values of 
     human rights, democracy and freedom. While both sides share 
     economic interests, it would be impractical and inhumane to 
     talk about political integration if the gap in the human 
     values we believe in cannot be narrowed.


                           3. China vs Taiwan

       Among the 192 countries in the world, China ranks as the 
     6th largest trading nation. Taiwan is the 16th. However, 
     Taiwan has 23 million people and is small in size, and China 
     has 1.3 billion people. Taiwan's democracy is well developed, 
     and people have many channels to participate in politics. 
     They have the right to run for all elected offices, including 
     that of president and heads of township. However, because of 
     Beijing's unrelenting suppression attempts, Taiwan has been 
     excluded from the international stage, which greatly 
     alienates the people of Taiwan. Many countries want to 
     establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan, but dare not to 
     do so due to China's pressure. The ROC was one of the 
     founding members of the United Nations and a permanent member 
     of its Security Council, but both memberships were taken over 
     by the PRC in 1971. Beijing's authorities have barred Taiwan 
     efforts to participate in the UN ever since and does its best 
     to insult Taiwan in the international community at every 
     turn. May I ask how can the people of Taiwan like China if 
     the PRC persists in its attempts to suppress Taiwan?
       Although we advocate that Taiwan does not belong to the 
     PRC, we think that our two peoples across the Taiwan Straits 
     can work together. In recent years, many Taiwanese business 
     people have made wide-range investments in China creating 
     employment opportunities, foreign exchange reserves, and 
     introducing know-how and management skills. This helps 
     energize the economic development of China and upgrade its 
     quality control. 70% of IC products in Mainland China are 
     actually manufactured by Taiwanese. The people of Taiwan are 
     willing to help you, but your government has never ceased to 
     attempt to suppress Taiwan and deployed missiles along your 
     Southeast coast to intimidate Taiwan. How do Taiwanese people 
     think of this odd behavior?


               4. New Thinking on Cross-Strait Relations

       Some say that time is on China's side in relation to 
     enduring cross-Strait issues. However, I still think that the 
     matter regarding Taiwan and China is not a matter of time, 
     nor a matter of unification or independence. China and Taiwan 
     are like a lion and a kitten. How to turn the claws-
     brandishing lion into a gentle and auspicious lion that can 
     make the kitten (Taiwan) want to embrace it takes great 
     wisdom and kindness on both sides across the Taiwan Strait. 
     In short, to co-exist peacefully, we need to help each other 
     while maintaining a safe distance at the same time. 
     Consequentially, the lion and the kitten can each live their 
     own lives without provoking each other, and they can also 
     help each other at times.
       It is my belief that if cross-Strait relations are to 
     develop properly, the relations between Taiwan and China 
     cannot be considered merely economic. Taiwan is a democratic 
     island nation, while China is a one-party authoritarian 
     inland nation. We believe that there should be more ideology 
     deconstruction and better communication

[[Page E2020]]

     between two sides, then and only then may we find some common 
     ground. So, how should the two sides treat each other? 
     President Chen Shui-bian openly announced that the 
     interaction between the two sides must be based on three 
     premises of ``peace, equality and democracy'', among which 
     peace across the Taiwan Strait is the most important. Leaders 
     across the Strait should first put aside the political 
     dispute and start with seeking peaceful co-existence and 
     mutual interest, and use this kind of new thinking to begin a 
     new era in cross-Strait relations.
       As to how to resolve the cross-Strait impasse regarding 
     sovereignties, leaders of both sides should realize that in 
     the new century, where globalization and the emphasis on 
     knowledge are the mainstream, people all over the world are 
     realizing that overly stressing territory and sovereignty has 
     become out-dated, and that a country should be ruled by its 
     people rather than its government.
       Since May 20, 2000, President Chen has on many occasions 
     expressed goodwill toward the Chinese government as well as 
     his sincerity to reopen negotiations. Nevertheless, Beijing 
     is still not willing to face reality, and even further 
     attempts to suffocate Taiwan's international living space. In 
     the meantime, it continues to use the ``One China'' principle 
     as a premise to boycott cross-Strait negotiations and create 
     barriers in cross-Strait communications. This is indeed a 
     pity.
       The new century has arrived. Looking toward the future, 
     human rights, democracy, peace, love land technological 
     development are universal values in the 21st century. 
     Governments and people across the Strait should adopt the new 
     thinking to be able to think globally and act first in the 
     Asia-Pacific region. We should jointly seek co-existence, 
     prosperity and sustainable development across the Taiwan 
     Strait.
       Today, as 13 billion people in China happily celebrate the 
     53rd anniversary of the founding of the PRC, I sincerely wish 
     prosperity to the country and wellbeing to all its people. I 
     would also like to urge leaders across the Strait to jointly 
     work on creating peace for the world.

     

                          ____________________