President Chen's
Journey of Democratic Diplomacy and Friendship
Lung-chu Chen
President
Chen Shui-bian left on August 13 for a thirteen-day "Journey of democratic
diplomacy and friendship." His journey includes the Dominican Republic,
Nicaragua, Costa Rica in Central America, and The Gambia, Burkina Faso,
Chad in Africa. A contingent of over 200, including government officials,
legislators, business and labor leaders, reporters, have accompanied the
President. According to President Chen, the journey means that Taiwan is
"standing up and reaching out" and that "we want to see the whole world
and let the world see us."
Although some people have criticized the president for leaving the country
at a time when many domestic issues require attention, Taiwan, as a
sovereign independent State, must reach out, and the president is its best
representative. At a time when the international community are still fresh
in memory about March 18 and May 20, President Chen's timely journey
abroad will help cement ties with friendly nations, disseminate the
message of Taiwan's democratic achievements in a peaceful transfer of
power from one ruling party to another, and share with all humankind
Taiwan's democratic experience.
Although the Chen government has repeatedly extended good will to China,
China has not responded in kind and persisted in trying to contain and
isolate Taiwan internationally. For example, China plans to hold a
"Sino-African Cooperation Forum¡XMinisterial Conference 2000" in
mid-October in Beijing. It has invited all eight African countries that
have had diplomatic relations with Taiwan to attend as observers, as part
of its campaign to put Taiwan in total isolation diplomatically. The more
coercive China tries, the more Taiwan should reach out.
President Chen's diplomatic journey is an uphill fight under China's ever
intensifying pressures. But, in order to survive and develop, Taiwan has
no choice but reach out to the world community. Taiwan must stand up
courageously, reach out with its democratic diplomacy, and make friends.
We wish President Chen's journey of democratic diplomacy and friendship a
great success. |