President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday announced his decision to take part in tomorrow's demonstration condemning China's military threat, but said he would not lead the march nor deliver any speeches.
The announcement puts to rest days of will-he, won't-he-style speculation.
"I cannot and will not be absent on March 26; I will take my whole family to take part in this historic sacred moment," Chen said.
PHOTO: CNA
"I will not stand at the forefront or make a speech, but will march with and stand alongside the people of Taiwan and shout `we want democracy, love and peace' to the other side of the Strait."
However low-key Chen's participation might be, it nevertheless, marks the first time Taiwan's head of state has marched in a street demonstration.
"A-bian [Chen] would like once again to urge the general public to encourage your family members, to call on your friends, to bring along your pets and creativity and take part in this 326 March for Democracy and Peace," Chen said, speaking at a reception for representatives of the Taiwan Democratic Alliance for Peace at the Presidential Office. The group, the organizers of the rally, made the visit to extend an invitation to the president.
The demonstration, which organizers hope will bring more than a million people onto Taipei's streets, is being staged to show Taiwanese people's anger at China for passing its "Anti-Secession" Law, which the Chinese government claims provides justification for an attack on Taiwan if its seeks formal independence.
The march has been divided into 10 different routes which will converge at Ketagelan Boulevard in front of the Presidential Office.
Chen did not yesterday reveal on which of the 10 routes he would march. For security concerns, Presidential Office officials were tight-lipped as well.
Calling China's enactment of its Anti-Secession Law "a challenge to the universal values of freedom, democracy and human rights" Chen said the people of Taiwan know very well that Taiwan's democratic and economic achievements are likely to be shattered by the undemocratic and non-peaceful strategies that China favors.
Recalling that more than 2 million Taiwanese had last Feb 28 showed the world their collective resolve by holding hands to form a "Great Wall of Taiwan democracy" to protest against China's missiles aimed at Taiwan, the president said tomorrow's protest would again show the world Taiwan's true voice, and safeguard Taiwan with democracy and peace.
With that said, Chen delineated his state of emotions by alluding to Bob Dylan's song Blowing in the Wind.
"How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man? How many seas must a white dove sail before she sleeps in the sand? How many times must the cannon balls fly before they're forever banned? The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind," read the lyric.
Modeled after the style, Chen asked: "How many rugged paths full of thistles and thorns must the people of Taiwan walk down before it is called a real democracy? How much time must people on both sides of the Strait take before they embrace ever-lasting peace? How much longer must China continue its saber-rattling and intimidating words before they can wake up and walk toward peace? The answer, great Taiwanese people, will blow in the wind on March 26."
Chen said he is convinced that "democracy and peace are the best remedy in dealing with dictatorship and force," and that "democracy and peace are the most powerful assets Taiwan has to win international support."
"There will be one day when the 1.3 billion people of China will stand on the side of democracy and peace," Chen said.
Meanwhile, Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), freshly returned from her 12-day overseas visit to Latin America yesterday morning, said she would seek the president's opinion before deciding whether or not to attend tomorrow's demonstration.
Presidential Office Secretary-General Yu Shyi-kun said yesterday if he were not needed to accompany the president, he, as a native of Yilan, will join his hometown people on the sixth route tomorrow.
also see stories:
Legislators divided over Chen's decision to march
Mayor Ma denies some permits to march organizers
KMT slams Chen's decision to march; PFP less angry
US is unconcerned about Chen's joining protest: Joseph Wu
Auckland rang in 2026 with a downtown fireworks display launched from New Zealand’s tallest structure, Sky Tower, making it the first major city to greet the new year at a celebration dampened by rain, while crowds in Taipei braved the elements to watch Taipei 101’s display. South Pacific countries are the first to bid farewell to 2025. Clocks struck midnight in Auckland, with a population of 1.7 million, 18 hours before the famous ball was to drop in New York’s Times Square. The five-minute display involved 3,500 fireworks launched from the 240m Sky Tower. Smaller community events were canceled across New Zealand’s
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) yesterday said it is closely monitoring developments in Venezuela, and would continue to cooperate with democratic allies and work together for regional and global security, stability, and prosperity. The remarks came after the US on Saturday launched a series of airstrikes in Venezuela and kidnapped Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who was later flown to New York along with his wife. The pair face US charges related to drug trafficking and alleged cooperation with gangs designated as terrorist organizations. Maduro has denied the allegations. The ministry said that it is closely monitoring the political and economic situation
UNRELENTING: China attempted cyberattacks on Taiwan’s critical infrastructure 2.63 million times per day last year, up from 1.23 million in 2023, the NSB said China’s cyberarmy has long engaged in cyberattacks against Taiwan’s critical infrastructure, employing diverse and evolving tactics, the National Security Bureau (NSB) said yesterday, adding that cyberattacks on critical energy infrastructure last year increased 10-fold compared with the previous year. The NSB yesterday released a report titled Analysis on China’s Cyber Threats to Taiwan’s Critical Infrastructure in 2025, outlining the number of cyberattacks, major tactics and hacker groups. Taiwan’s national intelligence community identified a large number of cybersecurity incidents last year, the bureau said in a statement. China’s cyberarmy last year launched an average of 2.63 million intrusion attempts per day targeting Taiwan’s critical
‘SLICING METHOD’: In the event of a blockade, the China Coast Guard would intercept Taiwanese ships while its navy would seek to deter foreign intervention China’s military drills around Taiwan this week signaled potential strategies to cut the nation off from energy supplies and foreign military assistance, a US think tank report said. The Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) conducted what it called “Justice Mission 2025” exercises from Monday to Tuesday in five maritime zones and airspace around Taiwan, calling them a warning to “Taiwanese independence” forces. In a report released on Wednesday, the Institute for the Study of War said the exercises effectively simulated blocking shipping routes to major port cities, including Kaohsiung, Keelung and Hualien. Taiwan would be highly vulnerable under such a blockade, because it
RSS