Chen affirms commitment to cross-strait `status quo'

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday vowed to maintain the "status quo" in the Taiwan Strait, saying that it is his duty and mission to do so.

"The greatest contribution a general can make is to prevent a war from happening," he said. "As the country's leader, it is my responsibility and mission to safeguard perpetual peace in the Taiwan Strait and prevent any war from breaking out."

To that end, Chen said implementing genuine democracy and safeguarding democratic institutions are crucial.

"I and the Democratic Progressive Party [DPP] administration are the true believers in democratic values and defenders of peace," he said.

Chen made the remarks while receiving General Wiranto, chairman of the Institute for Democracy for Indonesia, at the Presidential Office yesterday afternoon.

The president said that Wiranto must have a deep understanding of Chen's resolve to maintain the cross-strait "status quo," because he was a defense minister and coordinating minister for security, legal and defense affairs.

Chen lauded Wiranto for playing an instrumental role in ending Indonesia's authoritarian politics and helping that country transform itself into a democracy. Wiranto was nominated by his party as a candidate in the last presidential election. He later endorsed Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and helped him garner 60 percent of the vote, ending an authoritarian regime.

Since Taiwan is the fifth-largest investor in Indonesia, Chen said that he would like to see the two countries resume ministerial-level economic meetings.

Taiwan invested US$13.6 billion in Indonesia last year, accounting for one-third of Taiwan's investment in 10 Southeast Asian countries combined. Last year, bilateral trade amounted to US$6.8 billion and Indonesia enjoyed a trade surplus of US$2.2 billion.

Chen also expressed the hope to see the two countries cooperate in the areas of tourism, labor, energy, intelligence, security, agriculture, technology, steel mining and the prevention of avian flu.

More than 300,000 Taiwanese visited Indonesia last year, 200,000 of whom went to Bali.

Meanwhile, Chen yesterday welcomed Nauruan President Ludwig Derangadage Scotty with a 21-gun salute. Scotty arrived in Taipei on Monday for a six-day state visit.

It marked Scotty's first state visit, and third personal visit, to Taiwan since the two countries resumed formal diplomatic relations last May.

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