President Chen Shui-bian (
Chen made the remarks while addressing the inaugural meeting of the DPU, a non-governmental organization with representatives of 26 nations around the Pacific Rim that is dedicated to promoting the value of democracy worldwide. Taiwan took the lead in forming the union.
The DPU, which is based on the principles of "democracy, peace and prosperity," was formally established yesterday in Taipei. Seventy-one guests attended a two-day forum to exchange opinions regarding the principles.
The guests included the presidents of Costa Rica and Guatemala, as well as other high ranking government officials, professionals, academics and representatives of major NGOs.
While saying that the establishment of the DPU provides a new impetus for the realization of a democratic, peaceful, and prosperous Pacific century, Chen said that it is regrettable that China remains a missing part of the DPU.
"I would like to remind all of you that the so-called `rise of China' is based on many complex factors, such as China's huge market and economic appeal, its expanding military capabilities, the potential for socio-economic turmoil, the political center's ability to stay in control and the issue of whether political democratization can be liberalized steadily. China's rise is not one-dimensional," Chen said.
Chen said that no one wishes to see China collapse because the international community would not be able to bear the consequences of such a collapse.
He said that the rise of China must be accompanied by "peaceful awakening" and "the beginning of democracy." DPU members must come together to shoulder the mission of transforming China into a positive force in the Pacific Community of democracies.
The inauguration of the DPU coincided with the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II with Japan's surrender.
Vice President Annette Lu (
"With Japan's surrender 60 years ago, five decades of colonial rule in Taiwan was brought to an end. Now, China, which was invaded by Japan, threatens not just Taiwan but every corner of the Pacific Ocean with its aggressive expansion of military power. Taiwan has suffered its share of tragic historical absurdity," she said.
Given these experiences, Lu said that Taiwan is honored to be able to stand at an important historical crossroads with leaders of Pacific Rim countries who desire a brighter future for the Pacific.
"We believe that without democracy, there is no peace; without democracy and peace, there is no genuine prosperity," Lu said.
Dr Abel Pacheco de la Espriella, the president of Costa Rica, called on the DPU's 26 nations to eliminate the abuse of marine resources so that sustainable development can be achieved.
The president said that the nations should work hand in hand to eliminate injustice in the society and create a fair and equitable future for their people.
President of Guatemala Oscar Jose Rafael Berger Perdomo stressed the importance of democracy Sunday, saying that democratization helps create jobs and distribute wealth more equally.
All countries should strive to build democratic political systems to allow the people to take part in the policy-making process, Berger said.
also see story:
Annette Lu undeterred by dry eyes, scratched cornea
The paramount chief of a volcanic island in Vanuatu yesterday said that he was “very impressed” by a UN court’s declaration that countries must tackle climate change. Vanuatu spearheaded the legal case at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, which on Wednesday ruled that countries have a duty to protect against the threat of a warming planet. “I’m very impressed,” George Bumseng, the top chief of the Pacific archipelago’s island of Ambrym, told reporters in the capital, Port Vila. “We have been waiting for this decision for a long time because we have been victims of this climate change for
MASSIVE LOSS: If the next recall votes also fail, it would signal that the administration of President William Lai would continue to face strong resistance within the legislature The results of recall votes yesterday dealt a blow to the Democratic Progressive Party’s (DPP) efforts to overturn the opposition-controlled legislature, as all 24 Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) lawmakers survived the recall bids. Backed by President William Lai’s (賴清德) DPP, civic groups led the recall drive, seeking to remove 31 out of 39 KMT lawmakers from the 113-seat legislature, in which the KMT and the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) together hold a majority with 62 seats, while the DPP holds 51 seats. The scale of the recall elections was unprecedented, with another seven KMT lawmakers facing similar votes on Aug. 23. For a
Taiwan must invest in artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to keep abreast of the next technological leap toward automation, Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) said at the luanch ceremony of Taiwan AI and Robots Alliance yesterday. The world is on the cusp of a new industrial revolution centered on AI and robotics, which would likely lead to a thorough transformation of human society, she told an event marking the establishment of a national AI and robotics alliance in Taipei. The arrival of the next industrial revolution could be a matter of years, she said. The pace of automation in the global economy can
All 24 lawmakers of the main opposition Chinese Nationalists Party (KMT) on Saturday survived historical nationwide recall elections, ensuring that the KMT along with Taiwan People’s Party (TPP) lawmakers will maintain opposition control of the legislature. Recall votes against all 24 KMT lawmakers as well as Hsinchu Mayor Ann Kao (高虹安) and KMT legislative caucus whip Fu Kun-chi (傅崐萁) failed to pass, according to Central Election Commission (CEC) figures. In only six of the 24 recall votes did the ballots cast in favor of the recall even meet the threshold of 25 percent of eligible voters needed for the recall to pass,
RSS