On 25 September ROC first lady Wu Shu-chen went to Capitol Hill in Washington DC to give a speech and to receive a Democracy Service Medal from the National Endowment for Democracy. Thus she became the second ROC first lady-after Madame Chiang Kai-shek (Soong Mayling)-to charm US politicians and public.

In 1943 Mme. Chiang addressed a joint session of both houses of Congress to enlist American support for China's struggle against Japan. Widely reported in the media, her speech caused a sensation among both politicians and the public at large, and laid down the foundations for the subsequent support for China among American public opinion. Sixty years later, the world is a very different place and the Republic of China has transferred to Taiwan. For Wu Shu-chen to address US Congress members as ROC first lady is of great significance.

The medal was presented by Christopher Cox, chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee and an NED board member. Cox said that coming as Wu did from a wealthy background, she could have chosen an easier life. Instead she committed herself to the struggle for freedom, human rights and democracy. After the 1979 Kaohsiung Incident, she supported her husband Chen Shui-bian in embarking on a political career; a decade later, when Chen was arrested, she won election to the legislature. She later helped her husband to victory in the 2000 presidential elections. Wu had shown an abiding commitment to democratic reform, and had earned a special place in the history of Taiwan's democratization. She exemplified Taiwan's singular democratic spirit.

In her speech, Wu Shu-chen said that the award was the greatest honor she had received in her life. Friendship between Taiwan and the US had a long history, but remained as fresh as ever. When the US Congress had enacted the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, it had pledged to assist Taiwan in defending itself, and had expressed concern and expectations for Taiwan's commercial development and human rights. For this she was extremely grateful. She stressed that in the wake of political reforms, Taiwan had experienced its first ever peaceful transition of power after the 2000 presidential elections, and was now "a fully and solidly democratic country."

Wu Shu-chen visited the US in response to invitations from non-governmental organizations, Congress members and leaders of the overseas Chinese community. During her stay, she gave speeches at the National Arts Club in New York and the American Enterprise Institute in Washington. In her 20 September speech at the NAC, entitled "Let the Moonlight of Democracy Shine on Asia's Future," she described Taiwan's democratization and its ambitions to join the international community. This set the tone for her visit.

Wu said that to exclude democratic Taiwan, which does all it can to fulfill its international obligations, from the United Nations, is unfair. Taiwan's people have freedom, but as a country Taiwan does not have the freedom to participate in international organizations or to associate with other democratic countries. In addition to the freedoms it already enjoys, Taiwan seeks freedom of choice and, as President Chen Shui-bian has said, it has the right to follow its own democratic path.

"Without Taiwan's participation, democracy in Asia cannot be said to be complete. Without democracy, Taiwan could not be a beacon of light and hope for mainland China, which still lies under the dark shadow of totalitarian rule. Only when the peoples of all Asian countries can enjoy a life of democracy and freedom will Taiwan's democracy and freedom be truly safe," said Wu.

Wu Shu-chen's autumn visit to the US was timed just after the end of the UN General Assembly. Once again, the Taiwan question did not make it onto the assembly's agenda. But every time Wu spoke in public, she made sure to plead for Taiwan's admission to the UN. She did not rehearse grand theories, but simply stated clearly that there was no reason for the now democratic Taiwan to be excluded from the UN.

In the 26 September edition of his weekly "e-paper," President Chen Shui-bian said that although Wu Shu-chen was visiting the US as first lady, her personal elegance and charm transcended the aura of that role. As a participant in and witness to Taiwan's political democratization, she could explain to the world Taiwan's people's thirst for the pursuit of happiness and justice, and give concrete expression to Taiwan's democratic achievements. For this he gave her his heartfelt and affectionate thanks. The president said that as her visit progressed, he was paying closer attention than usual to TV news reports, hoping to judge from Wu's fleeting appearances on the screen whether she was safe and well. But clearly he had been overanxious, for what he saw was the Wu Shu-chen he is so familiar with-kind, outspoken, self-confident and genuine, and displaying all the straightforwardness, frankness and sincerity that is typical of the Taiwanese.

Taiwan's media all gave high marks to the first lady's diplomatic charm offensive. A China Times editorial said that Wu Shu-chen's emotive tone had softened Taiwan's image and the international community's understanding of the Taiwan-US relationship. The paper hoped that Wu Shu-chen's wish for the ROC's president and first lady to one day be able to visit the US together will soon be realized.

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After arriving in Washington DC, ROC first lady Wu Shu-chen visited the National Museum of American History, where she was photographed alongside portraits of former US first ladies such as Jacqueline Kennedy and Nancy Reagan. (courtesy of Central News Agency)