Taiwan for peace and peace for Taiwan

Lung-chu Chen

    "Taiwan for peace and peace for Taiwan." That was the message the Taiwan delegation brought to the Hague, the Netherlands, last month. I was a member of the delegation. The occasion was the Hague Appeal for Peace abbreviated as HAP; it was heed in commemoration of the Centennial of the "General Act for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes." The HAP was attended by some 8000 people, representing thousands of nongovernmental organizations (NGO) around the world.

U. N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Nobel Laureates Bishop Desmond Tutu and Dr. Jose Ramon- Horta were among the many distinguished speakers. The HAP had four main themes: strengthening humanitarian and human rights laws and institutions, developing and linking disarmament efforts, advancing the prevention, peaceful resolution, and transformation of conflicts, and identifying the root causes of war and developing a culture of peace.

    One hundred years ago, the pacific settlement of international disputes was regarded as the joint responsibility of humankind. Today, as international interdependence deepens, how humankind live peacefully together in this global village has become a most pressing task. World peace is indivisible. In welcoming the new century, humankind must build a culture of peace, rather than a culture of war.

    Peace is not the mere absence of armed conflicts. The real peace must be built on justice. Only peace with justice can endure.

    To maintain world peace, everyone has a part to play. World peace requires the joint efforts of both governmental and non-governmental sectors. We citizens of the world must unite and mobilize. Representing a peace-loving island nation, the Taiwan delegation to the HAP expressed Taiwan's willingness and readiness to join in humankind's common quest for world peace. Calling international attention to the threats posed by China against Taiwan, the Taiwan delegation also appealed to HAP to urge China to abide by international Law in general and U. N. Charter principles in particular, and to renounce the threat or use of force against Taiwan. Taiwan and China will both benefit as two friendly, neighboring countries, thereby contributing to world peace.

    For Viewpoint, I'm Dr. Chen Lung-chu.