Returning to Taiwan yesterday, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said his trip to Latin America has raised Taiwan's international profile in the face of rival China's ever-tightening diplomatic embargo.
"With communist China repeatedly squeezing the Republic of China's living space, the visit let the international community understand the historical significance of Taiwan's rotation of political parties and its democratic value," Chen said.
Chen and his entourage were met at CKS International Airport by several high-ranking officials after their visit to five diplomatic allies -- including Panama, El Salvador and Honduras -- as well as stopovers in New York and Houston.
"Taiwan must stand up, and the Republic of China must go out [into the world]," Chen said. "Taiwan not only must be able to see the whole world, the whole world must also be able to see the Republic of China."
Chen also said Taiwan's democratic experience was the nation's greatest asset in its dealings with the international community.
He also expressed his gratitude to the US administration, members of Congress and friends of Taiwan for the reception he was given while in transit in the two US cities.
The trip was a major diplomatic success for Chen, who was given a warm welcome during his US stopovers, which included meetings with US legislators and other prominent politicians.
In New York, Chen met with Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and visited the New York Stock Exchange. While in Texas, he donned a Stetson and cowboy boots presented to him by Tom DeLay, a Republican congressional leader, and tucked into a steak.
But in addition to Taiwan's democratic achievements, Chen also spoke about the economy.
"We must use our democratic achievements to enhance engagements with countries around the world, use our economic vitality to attract investment and sustain economic growth, join regional organizations to upgrade our international competitiveness," Chen noted.
In Texas, he also played up to a large crowd of supporters, waving the flag of Chen's DPP, which has in the past espoused the nation's formal independence from China.
However, despite the high-profile nature of his stays in the US, Chen was careful to steer clear of comments that could have angered Beijing, which had strongly opposed Washington's granting of a transit visa to Chen.
The trip was also in stark contrast to the treatment Chen received during a similar trip last year when the Clinton administration imposed severe restrictions on him and prevented him from meeting with US politicians.
During his 16-day visit to El Salvador, Guatemala, Panama, Paraguay and Honduras, Chen vowed to boost bilateral investment and trade and received assurances from the allies of continued diplomatic support.
Without taking any rest, Chen began to perform his official duties after returning to Taipei.
He held a lunch meeting with legislators from the DPP administration yesterday and was scheduled to meet with senior executives from both state-run and private banks later in the afternoon to discuss ways to increase lending to blue-chip companies and stimulate the sluggish domestic economy.
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