President reiterates `no need for Taiwan to declare independence'
ROC Central News Agency
2007-08-22 18:22:41
Taipei, Aug. 22 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian reiterated his stance during a recent media interview that Taiwan is already an independent sovereign country and has no need to declare independence, according to the transcript of the interview released Wednesday by the Presidential Office.
In the interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), Chen noted that Taiwan's sovereignty does not fall under the jurisdiction of the People's Republic of China and that there is "one country on each side of the Taiwan Strait." "Taiwan being a sovereign independent country has been the reality for more than half a century and is still the status quo today, " Chen said, rejecting criticism that Taiwan will provoke Beijing and trigger a war across the Taiwan Strait by making such a claim.
Although almost every step taken by Taiwan to further its democracy is considered by China as moves toward "de jure independence, " the country must carry on with its course, whether China likes it or not, Chen said.
He pointed out that China has over the decades refused to acknowledge Taiwan's status as a sovereign independent country and is harboring the motive of annexing Taiwan and turning it into another Hong Kong or Macau by imposing the "one country, two systems" model. "But this is unacceptable to our people and there is no way we can sit and wait for our enemies to take us over," he said.
Chen said it is important for Taiwan to continue consolidating its democracy "because in democracy lies our most effective `theater missile defense' against China" and making efforts toward establishing Taiwan as a "normal country enjoying the same rights as other countries."
In this sense, he said, Taiwan "has the full right" to participate in the international community and world organizations, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations.
Despite the country's failure to become a full member of the WHO under the name of Taiwan this year, it will keep pressing forward with the goal and will also be applying for full membership in the United Nations using a similar format, he said. "We want to make sure that one day, the voice of our people will be heard in all corners of the world, if not today, then maybe tomorrow, " Chen said. "However long it takes, we will continue striving until we become a normal country that is accepted by international society."
On concerns that Taiwan's efforts to become a "normal country" could provoke a military attack from China, Chen said it is the "collective will" of the Taiwan people that speaks and that Taiwan "will not keep silent just because China doesn't like what it hears."
Citing results of an opinion survey conducted in March this year, the president said that 95 percent of the people support the country's application for WHO membership and that 77 percent support the application for U.N. membership under the name of Taiwan.
Asked if he is confident that the United States will defend Taiwan in the event of an attack from China, Chen said he believes the United States will fulfill its obligations as stipulated in the Taiwan Relations Act and come to Taiwan's aid "as long as Taiwan is not the one inciting a military conflict."
However, Chen added that Taiwan cannot rely on others to fight for the country and must work to beef up its defense capabilities, without the intention of engaging in an arms race with China. "We do not seek to engage in war. But we must be prepared for war if we wish to prevent it and work towards achieving lasting peace, " he said.
(By Y.F. Low)
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