[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 62 (Thursday, April 29, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2797-S2798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          QUEST FOR MODERNITY

  Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, as the co-chairman of the U.S. Senate 
Taiwan Caucus, I ask for unanimous consent to have printed in the 
Record the speech of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou, delivered, via 
video conference, before the faculty and students at the Fairbank 
Center for Chinese Studies at Harvard University.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                        The Quest for Modernity

   (Speech by Ma Ying-jeou, President, Republic of China at Fairbank 
               Center, Harvard University, Apr. 6, 2010)

       President Ma Ying-jeou took part this morning in a video 
     conference with the Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies at 
     Harvard University. The conference was moderated by Dr. 
     William Kirby, Director of the Fairbank Center. Harvard 
     University president Drew G. Faust opened the conference with 
     a videotaped talk in which she welcomed President Ma to the 
     video conference. After the moderator's opening remarks, 
     President Ma followed with a speech entitled ``The Quest for 
     Modernity.'' Thereafter, professors Steven M. Goldstein, 
     David Der-Wei Wang, William P. Alford each posed a few 
     questions to the president. This was followed by a Q&A 
     session in which the president fielded questions from members 
     of the audience. As the conference was drawing to a close, 
     President Ma gave a short closing statement.
       Prof. Kirby, Prof. Goldstein, Prof. Alford, Prof. Wang, 
     Prof. Su Chi, Ambassador Yuan, Director General Hung, Dear 
     faculty members, students, distinguished guests, ladies and 
     gentlemen: Good Evening!


                       I. Nostalgia about Harvard

       It heartens me to be once again addressing the excellent 
     faculty and student body of Harvard University. This moment 
     brings back a rush of nostalgia because it was here I became 
     a proud father for the first time before I even got my 
     doctoral degree. It was also at Harvard when I was cloistered 
     for long hours in the Law School Library, or debating with 
     fellow classmates and professors, that I was able to broaden 
     my understanding of the world, and hone my skills as a 
     scholar, intellectual and eventually a leader. I also feel 
     nostalgic on a deeper level. When I think of a long litany of 
     historic events, figures, and institutions: John Hay's Open-
     Door Policy, Boxer Rebellion, American Indemnity Scholarships 
     for China with all its recipients, like Hu Shih and Chien 
     Shih-Liang, Tsinghua University, Yenching University, May 
     Fourth Movement, Flying Tigers, Pearl Harbor, John Leighton 
     Stuart, 1949, Korean War, United States-Republic of China 
     Mutual Defense Treaty, Fairbank Center, the Quemoy and Matsu 
     Crisis, Cultural Revolution, Shanghai Communique, Taiwan 
     Relations Act, mainland China's Reform and Open Policy, U.S. 
     arms sales to Taiwan and so on, I cannot help but think of 
     the far-reaching impact that America has had on China's, and 
     later on Taiwan's, convoluted path to modernization. I cannot 
     help but think my time at Harvard was not only a personal 
     academic journey, but also a microcosm reflecting a people's 
     long search for a modern nation.


                    II. Wealth, Power and Democracy

       The late venerable Benjamin Schwartz, who as you know had 
     been a prominent member of the Fairbank Center, described in 
     the life of Yen Fu that the evolution of modern China has 
     been a journey in search of wealth and power. Given the rise 
     of mainland China's economic power and military strength over 
     the last thirty years, it seems that it has achieved those 
     goals to a considerable degree. However, I believe a society 
     that is truly modernizing should not be limited to wealth and 
     power but must also include the foundations for freedom and 
     democracy. For it is only through the active participation 
     and free choice of one's citizens that government truly 
     serves the welfare of the people; only then can a government 
     sustain, and a nation thrive. So I am proud to say that the 
     Republic of China on Taiwan has in fact achieved all these 
     three pillars. The ROC has since become a thriving nation 
     with a robust economy, viable military and a truly open and 
     vibrant democracy. With so much already achieved the roadmap 
     of my administration is quite straightforward: namely to 
     strengthen the foundation of these three pillars so as to 
     safeguard the future of Taiwan's posterity, and to share with 
     mainland China our values and way of life.


                      III. Coming out of Recession

       My administration came into office two years ago in the 
     midst of a global economic crisis, so it's not an 
     exaggeration that we definitely ``hit the ground running.'' 
     Since then we have worked relentlessly to revitalize Taiwan's 
     economy. By taking measures such as guaranteeing 100% bank 
     deposits, substantially lowering interest rate in seven 
     instances, investing 16 billion US dollars in domestic 
     infrastructure in 5 years, distributing 2.7 billion US 
     dollars worth of shopping vouchers, and providing emergency 
     assistance for the underprivileged, my administration has 
     successfully brought the economy out of the downturn after a 
     year and a half. Now we expect to create about a quarter of a 
     million jobs to bring the unemployment rate below 5% and GDP 
     growth up to 4.72% this year. Job creation will remain our 
     top priority, especially those in the green energy sector. 
     With carbon reduction in mind, we are now ambitiously 
     promoting innovation across all of Taiwan's most competitive 
     sectors. These include the country's traditional strongholds 
     such as IT, agriculture, and healthcare as well as other 
     emerging industries like green energy, biotech, tourism and 
     the cultural creative industries. However, the growing trend 
     towards regional integration among economic powerhouses in 
     East Asia, like Japan, mainland China, South Korea and the 
     ASEAN countries, is threatening to marginalize Taiwan's 
     heavily export-driven economy. As such, my administration has 
     been seeking to institutionalize economic relations with 
     mainland China and diversify our export markets and products 
     so that Taiwan will not only avoid being cut off from the 
     global economy but also enhance its international 
     competitiveness. Therefore, we have been pushing hard for an 
     Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with the 
     mainland that will serve as a critical structural platform 
     for economic interaction between the two sides. On top of 
     intellectual property rights protection and investment 
     guarantee, the framework will include an early harvest 
     package of goods and services to enjoy zero custom tariffs. 
     The negotiations are already underway and expect to conclude 
     in the next few months. We have also established government 
     programs that will cushion potential shocks to industries and 
     workers, especially small- and medium-sized enterprises. 
     Although some assert that signing the ECFA with mainland 
     China will compromise our sovereignty, this is definitely not 
     the case. The top priority of my administration has always 
     been the principle of ``putting Taiwan first for the benefit 
     of the people.'' The truth of the matter, ECFA will spearhead 
     Taiwan's return to the accelerated track for economic 
     integration in Asia-Pacific and beyond. This without a doubt 
     will strengthen Taiwan's capabilities to enhance its 
     competitive edge in the global market and brighten its 
     outlook for negotiating similar arrangements with other 
     countries.


         IV. Cross-Strait Rapprochement and Flexible Diplomacy

       In the pursuit of power my administration is not merely 
     seeking military strength but more importantly to build up 
     our soft power. In fact, the heart of my foreign policy is to 
     reestablish mutual trust with all our major international 
     partners, especially the United States. In achieving this 
     goal, my administration has worked incessantly to transform 
     the Taiwan Straits from a major flashpoint into a conduit for 
     regional peace and prosperity. Therefore, in order to resume 
     constructive dialogue with the mainland after a hiatus of 
     over a decade, we first announced in 2008 the policy of ``No 
     Unification, No Independence, No Use of Force'' so as to 
     maintain the status quo across the Taiwan Strait under the 
     framework of the Republic of China's 1946 Constitution. This 
     breakthrough was further advanced under the framework of the 
     92 Consensus of ``one China, respective interpretations'' 
     that was reached by the two sides in November 1992. That is 
     now deemed a feasible formula by government leaders across 
     the Taiwan Strait as well as many in the wider world 
     community. We have also adopted a policy of Flexible 
     Diplomacy and pursued a diplomatic truce with the mainland, 
     which has by and large ended the vicious cycle of diplomatic 
     warfare between the two sides. This will assuredly foster 
     responsible stakeholdership in both Taiwan as well as the 
     mainland. At the same time, we are working equally hard to 
     enhance Taiwan's meaningful participation in and contribution 
     to the international community. This will be achieved through 
     our strong initiative to develop Taiwan's green technology 
     and healthcare industries in conjunction with our foreign aid 
     policies. For example, under the Flagship Program for Green 
     Energy Industry, we will be building up Taiwan's industrial 
     base in green technology especially in Photo voltaic solar 
     cells and LED. This will not only benefit our people and 
     economy, but more importantly, Taiwan will be able to share 
     its resources and expertise with our allies and friends. On 
     my visit to our Pacific island allies last month, I was proud 
     to survey firsthand the work that Taiwan has done for some of 
     the countries in the area. For example, Taiwan

[[Page S2798]]

     has installed and provided solar energy technology to the 
     Solomon Islands in hopes of improving the environment and 
     livelihoods of their people. Taiwan has also set up an 
     impressive medical mission in the Marshall Islands to 
     treat the high prevalence of cataracts sufferers. In fact, 
     our government will boost the overall effectiveness of our 
     medical aid by initiating many more medical and public 
     health missions that will target specific conditions and 
     diseases common among the people of the Pacific island 
     allies and friends. At the same time, after Taiwan 
     effectively controlled the spread of the H1N1 Flu within 
     our own borders, with a mortality rate of 2 deaths per 
     million, which is only \1/3\ of the average for OECD 
     countries, I am proud to report that Taiwan will also be 
     giving away locally manufactured vaccines worth 5 million 
     U.S. dollars to other countries in need. Taiwan's search 
     and rescue teams were also one of the first on the scenes 
     when Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake earlier 
     this year. In addition to donating $16 million worth in 
     aid and funds, our government is also planning to set up 
     medical and vocational training centers to train for 
     hundreds of medical and skilled workers, and build 1,200 
     housing units. Also, as a sign of Taiwan's flourishing 
     civil society, World Vision Taiwan has collected countless 
     small donations from our people that will be sufficient to 
     feed and save more than 8,000 homeless Haitian children 
     and orphans. However, my administration realizes 
     humanitarian relief is only a small part of the long and 
     challenging road to full recovery. This is why we hope to 
     continue the work we have started in integrating the 
     advances we make in healthcare and green technology into 
     our foreign aid framework, so that Taiwan can truly make a 
     meaningful difference in the countries we help.


            V. The Universal Value of Freedom and Democracy

       However, coming back full circle, the search for a modern 
     nation cannot merely lie upon the pillars of wealth and 
     power. It is only under a true democracy that one's citizens 
     can live without fear according to the law, and share in the 
     burdens as well as benefits of good governance. Although 
     Taiwan has made impressive sociopolitical progress over the 
     last decades, it is still a young democracy. So, as firm 
     champions for democracy, my administration will work to 
     strengthen the democratic infrastructure of my country. 
     Already we are taking tangible steps to enhance Taiwan's rule 
     of law and protection of human rights in conformity with 
     international standards. In the past year, we have ratified 
     the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights 
     (ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social 
     and Cultural Rights (ICESCR), both administered by the United 
     Nations. In converting these covenants into domestic law, 
     they will certainly strengthen the human rights of our 
     citizenry and further consolidate our rule of law. 
     Furthermore, I came to power on the promise of combating 
     corruption in elections and government, whereby we have 
     already made meaningful progress. Without a doubt this goal 
     will continue to be a cornerstone of my presidency, which I 
     am determined to carry through in my capacity as the 
     President of the country. I will assuredly not waver from the 
     path in laying the foundations of a true democracy. In fact, 
     next year in 2011 will be the Centennial Anniversary of the 
     Republic of China. Against the background of thousands of 
     years of Chinese history, the last century was in some ways 
     merely a comma. But from a larger perspective, it was nothing 
     short of an exclamation mark, as it has been 100 years of 
     struggle; 100 years of experimentation and 100 years of 
     education before a people learned that they too have the 
     unequivocal rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of 
     happiness. This nation-building process undoubtedly was 
     achieved through the collective efforts of countless 
     dedicated individuals who traversed between tradition and 
     modernity that helped bridge the East to the West so many 
     years ago. Inevitably, this made it possible for a people to 
     aspire to the same democratic values as you cherish. From the 
     chaos arising out of the turn of the 20th century, to the 
     founding of the first republic in Asia in 1912 and its 
     evolution forward in 1949 when the Republic of China 
     Government moved to Taiwan, in 1987 when Taiwan lifted 
     martial law, launched its democratic transformation, and 
     subsequently allowed Taiwan residents to visit their 
     relatives on the mainland, in 1996 when people on Taiwan 
     directly elected its President for the first time, and in 
     2000 and 2008 when the Presidential elections further 
     consolidated Taiwan's democracy through two rotations of 
     power between political parties, the passage of these 100 
     years has irrevocably transformed the foundations of a 
     political culture. Distinguished faculty members and 
     students, ladies and gentlemen, as the elected president of 
     the Republic of China, I will continue to strive toward 
     forging Taiwan into an exemplary democracy; one that will be 
     a source of inspiration and emulation for generations to 
     come.
       Thank you.


                     President Ma's closing remarks

       Dear distinguished faculty, students and friends; it is my 
     great pleasure to hold this teleconference with you. Your 
     questions and comments are very good, and some are very tough 
     to answer, but in thinking and answering these questions you 
     force me to think deeper and strive harder on the challenges 
     that confront the road ahead.
       Although today's conference is near an end, I am heartened 
     by the thought that our friendship will continue to grow as 
     there is still so much we need to do, together. The 
     international system that the US forged out of the 
     devastation of World War II 65 years ago has today become the 
     enduring foundation of our global village. Being rule-based 
     and sufficiently flexible, this system encourages positive-
     sum international cooperation rather than zero-sum interstate 
     conflict. Hence, it changed the underlying dynamics of the 
     world order that made it possible for countries, big or 
     small, to prosper together. As a matter of fact, my idea to 
     seek rapprochement with the mainland find some similarities 
     with the ideas espoused by the American leaders in having 
     soft talks with the Soviet Union and to have detente. In 
     other words, to replace confrontation with negotiations; to 
     solve international disputes through peaceful means. It is 
     this very system that has interlocked the world into a 
     community of thriving interdependence, giving rise to the 
     possibility where foes can turn into friends, where every 
     country can be a winner and every contribution become part of 
     a greater picture.
       This is also the system from which I draw my inspiration to 
     lead my country, particularly in dealing with the mainland. 
     In taking a responsible stake in the world, and in seeking 
     rapprochement with the Chinese mainland, my administration 
     has committed the Republic of China on Taiwan to becoming a 
     dependable and valuable contributor to this international 
     system. In my visit abroad last month, I kept saying to our 
     friends or to the overseas Taiwanese and to members of my 
     delegations, that what I tried to do as far as my country's 
     foreign relations is concerned is to make Taiwan a 
     respectable member of the international community. I want 
     every Taiwanese when they walk in the streets of New York, of 
     Paris, of Sydney, of Beijing that they are respected. People 
     will say they are from Taiwan, and that Taiwan is a 
     respectful country in the world. Some in my domestic audience 
     may disagree with me, but I firmly believe that this is the 
     right path for Taiwan to avoid being marginalized from the 
     forward march of the rest of the world. However, we will not 
     merely concentrate on our own interests but equally apply our 
     resources in hopes of having a positive impact on the world 
     community. In fact, under this system that the United States 
     started over half a century ago, we, as a whole, ought to be 
     able to right what has gone wrong; to unite as one humanity 
     against the global crises that threatens all that we hold 
     dear, whether climate change, the global economic downturn, 
     the risk of pandemics, or the wars that endanger the peace of 
     our world. In the end, we are the only ones that can overcome 
     the challenges we face. And in such an important partnership, 
     I am confident Taiwan will be there to live up to its 
     responsibilities.
       Thank you.

                          ____________________