Taiwan's identity should not be sacrificed: foreign minister
ROC Central News Agency
2007-12-28 19:55:37
Taipei, Dec. 28 (CNA) Although Taiwan-U.S. relations have had their ups and downs over the past seven-and-a-half years and although differences between the two countries have grown greater as a result of Taiwan's U.N. bid under the name of Taiwan, Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang said Friday at a Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) year-end press conference that overall, Taiwan-U.S. relations remain "sound, stable, close and friendly."
Describing the differences as "structural problems, " Huang said they emerged under the Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) rule rather than that of the preceding Kuomintang regime because while the DPP acknowledges the importance of improving cross-Taiwan Strait relations, it thinks establishing Taiwan's identity is even more significant and will not sacrifice that to improve relations with China.
He said a well-established Taiwan identity and consolidated democracy should be regarded as assets rather than liabilities in Taiwan-U.S. relations, adding that they are also key elements to safeguarding peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, and constitute the best self-defense mechanism against the threat posed by China. "Although our American friends may not be accustomed to these `structural changes' in the short term, such changes are in fact in line with the interests of both Taiwan and the U.S. in the long run," according to Huang.
He added that despite China's repeated claims to a "peaceful rise, " what China is doing to Taiwan at present completely diverges from the spirit of peace and that of the 2008 Olympic Games. He urged the Chinese authorities to handle bilateral relations prudently and improve the human rights situation in China, as they will be examined closely by the international community.
(By Rachel Chan)
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