Before National Day, President Chen Shui-bian repeatedly hinted that he would have important things to say during the celebrations on that day. On October 10, with domestic and foreign observers paying close attention, President Chen duly put forward a proposal for restoring cross-strait dialogue "based on the 1992 Hong Kong meeting." He also called for "arms control" and the joint creation of a "Code of Conduct across the Taiwan Strait" The president also talked about problems of ethnicity and national identity in Taiwan, calling on all groups to accept one another and show mutual respect.
President Chen opened his National Day address by greeting listeners in Mandarin, Taiwanese, Hakka, and Aboriginal languages. Then, taking the winning of Olympic gold by Taiwanese athletes as a starting point, he recalled Taiwan's long hard road to development and the current tough challenges it faces in global society. He stated that in facing up to international competition, Taiwan should be more unified. The country should not be obsessed with gain or loss in elections, because that will cause the whole nation to remain stagnant and society to be divided; now, he said, there is a new opportunity for rebuilding solidarity.
"In today's society, issues of identity and ethnicity are a serious matter that cannot be denied or deliberately overlooked," Chen stated. Being in charge of the government, he and the Democratic Progressive Party are willing to lead the way in reflecting on these problems and finding effective solutions. In September the DPP passed a resolution on ethnic diversity and national unity, which represents opinion at the highest levels and which the entire party is bound to follow. Also, the Executive Yuan plans to convene a conference on ethnicity and cultural development. These concrete steps symbolize the beginning of mutual understanding, Chen said, rather than an end to the ruling party's own introspection.
Chen also emphasized that the autonomy of Taiwan is something in which all ethnic groups participate and toward which all contribute. Each and every individual, regardless of ethnicity, is a master of Taiwan. Whether he or she identifies with the Republic of China or with Taiwan, both are loyal expressions of national identity, and should not be a cause of divisions or distortions. That is because of the "indisputable fact" that "the ROC is Taiwan, and Taiwan is the ROC."
Chen also spoke about returning to the UN. He noted that General Assembly Resolution 2758 never gave the People's Republic of China the right to "represent the people of Taiwan" in the UN or related organizations. Thus that resolution should not be misused as an excuse to keep Taiwan out of the UN system. International society should not allow the 23 million people of Taiwan to continue to be "politically isolated" and remain international nomads without due acknowledgement.
As for cross-strait issues, which are the topic of greatest concern to observers, President Chen said that the threat of armed force creates "shadows of terror" and "forces of darkness" hanging over cross-strait relations. In fact, Chen stated, Taiwanese are very happy to see reform move forward in China and to see China rise up in a stable fashion. Taiwanese also wish the PRC success in holding the 2008 Beijing Olympics, hoping that it will be a successful event conducted in accordance with the Olympic spirit of peace and equality. But international society should pay close attention to whether China's rise is a matter of "peaceful awakening," or a hegemony of belligerence and aggression.
Chen also reiterated remarks he made in his inaugural address on May 20: The leaders of the new century on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should have the foresight to see that the main trends today are regional integration and global partnership, and start with a fresh perspective to collectively deal with future problems in cross-strait relations. If the two sides, acting with positive intentions, can build an environment of "peaceful development and freedom of choice," then for the future no type of political arrangement will be excluded. Chen also declared that the governments and peoples on both sides certainly have different views on many issues, and that there are many misunderstandings as a result of inability to communicate. In order to resume dialogue and rebuild mutual trust, he declared himself willing to take the first steps to seek a plan, based on the 1992 Hong Kong meeting, that would be "not necessarily perfect but acceptable" as a preparatory measure to move another step closer to dialogue and negotiations.
President Chen emphasized that any conflict in the Taiwan Strait could cause irreparable harm to the peoples on both sides, so the two sides should consider taking practical steps in "arms control." Looking to the long term, the two sides should formally end the state of hostility, institute military confidence-building measures, concurrently review cross-strait armaments policies, and even work together to give shape to a "Code of Conduct across the Taiwan Strait," to guarantee permanent peace in the strait in concrete terms.
In closing, Chen promised that after the year-end Legislative Yuan elections he will, with the greatest sincerity, invite the leaders of all political parties to form a "Committee for Cross-Strait Peace and Development," to seek cross-party cooperation on constitutional reform and national policy.
Though President Chen's National Day remarks expressed a friendly desire to resume dialogue, the PRC response was cool. On the other hand, the US government expressed strong support for Chen's proposals, calling them constructive and creative and saying they could ease cross-strait tensions. The US also called on the two sides to take this opportunity to resume dialogue and seek a peaceful resolution to cross-strait differences. It will take hard work and wisdom on all sides to break through the current impasse and create a win-win situation.
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