During his first National Day speech, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday again urged China to reopen dialogue with Taiwan under the "spirit of the 1992 meeting," saying that Taiwan sincerely seeks eternal peace with China, but said that the final decision on the island's future should be determined by the 23 million people on Taiwan.
"I hope leaders from both sides can put aside their differences and resume a dialogue and communication as quickly as possible," Chen said at the Presidential Office while hosting the government's Double Ten celebrations. "Only then can we break the deadlock to achieve a win-win situation for both," Chen said.
"We have to reaffirm, moreover, that the resolution of cross-strait issues and the decision on Taiwan's future should respect the free choice of all 23 million living on Taiwan," Chen said.
The "spirit of 1992," that Chen has been referring to during the past four months is embodied by the "agreement to disagree" at the 1992 meeting in Singapore, when each side agreed that there was only one China "with each side having its own interpretation" of the definition of "one China."
Later, in another speech to thousands of people attending the Double Ten Day celebrations in front of the presidential palace, Chen spoke of the "spirit of Taiwan."
"Beginning from the time when our ancestors sailed across the sea to Taiwan hundreds of years ago, and running through the blood of all of us, from the indigenous peoples to the frontierless e-generation, the spirit of Taiwan is shared by all of our 23 million compatriots," Chen said.
"The spirit of Taiwan originated from the interaction and mutual influence of the Han culture and Austronesian island cultures. It was successfully forged through all of our hardships and dreams," Chen said.
"Although we came from different places, and although there were once differences between the Hoklos, the Hakkas, the indigenous peoples and more recently arrived residents, we are now all merged in the spirit of Taiwan, sharing both our fortunes and mishaps. No matter if we are called Taiwanese, Chinese or global citizens, we will not confine our vision of the future nor forget where we stand."
Stressing the significance of the accomplishment that was made with the recent transfer of power from the KMT to the DPP, Chen asked the public, especially the opposition, to unite with the new government to fight for the people's interests instead of battling for partisan concerns.
"We are confident that the future will prove that a peaceful transition of political power does not simply mean win or lose for any individual or political party," Chen said. "Rather, it is a victory for all people and democracy."
He ended his speech by declaring that Taiwan should act both as a "realizer of democracy" and a "protector of peace." Chen then lead the assembled crowd in chants of "long live" democracy, Taiwan, and the Republic of China.
The chants did not include "long live the Three Principles of the People" (三民主義), the slogan of the former KMT administration extolling the ideology of Sun Yat Sen (
The Double Ten Day festivities and Chen's address contrasted with previous, often militaristic, celebrations of the KMT era by highlighting the theme of "Young Taiwan." The crowd was entertained by performances of dancing dragons, marching bands, and rifle-touting soldiers in shiny chrome helmets.
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