President Chen Shui-bian (
"Not only did we consolidate the friendship with our diplomatic allies, we also engaged in a wide range of substantive talks and were warmly received by non-allied countries. We've gathered an abundant harvest from this overseas visit, which has laid the groundwork for the expansion of Taiwan's future international participation," Chen said yesterday.
The president made the remarks immediately after his chartered plane touched down at CKS International Airport at 3:30pm yesterday.
PHOTO: CHU PEI-HSIUNG, TAIPEI TIMES
Thousands of Chen's supporters, as well as political bigwigs including Vice President Annette Lu (
Reversals
That warm reception came after a journey filled with dramatic reversals. Chen at the last minute rejected the US' offer to transit through Anchorage, Alaska after failing to secure longer, higher-profile visits to major US cities such as New York City or Los Angeles.
Instead, he made diplomatic advances by transiting through non-allied countries such as Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; Tripoli, Libya and Batam Island, Indonesia.
The president said the point of his journey was to safeguard the country's dignity and strive for diplomatic breakthroughs.
"As a president representing Taiwan, I can't let Taiwan's dignity be undermined. We did not disappoint Taiwan and make it lose face ... no matter how great the pressure is, we will never give up," the president said.
Chen emphasized that the transit spat between the US and Taiwan would not hurt the future bilateral relations.
"Although we did not transit through the US, both Taiwan and the US have continued to have smooth communication, and have engaged in direct and immediate dialogue to reach a high level of consensus on the direction of future work and our common interests," the president said.
"The foundation of Taiwan-US relations remains strong, and was not affected by temporary disturbances and outside suspicions," the president stated yesterday.
During his visit to Latin America, Chen made a state visit to Paraguay and attended Costa Rican President Oscar Alias' inauguration ceremony. He met with US first lady Laura Bush and several US congressmen who expressed their support for Chen amid his diplomatic struggles.
Libyan stop
The biggest advance of Chen's trip was a surprise visit on Wednesday to Libya. Chen confirmed yesterday that he met with Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, and that the two signed a memorandum of understanding to establish mutual representative offices and to expand bilateral commercial relations.
The president yesterday said that Qaddafi had personally given him two reasons why Libya resisted China's opposition and insisted on extending to Chen and his delegation the highest diplomatic courtesy.
First, the Libyan leader said that China itself engaged in a great deal of business activity with Taiwan, and therefore it was implausible for Beijing to try to stop Libya from having contact with Taiwan.
Second, China's military maintains relations with Israel, which is considered an enemy of the Islamic world. This has annoyed Libya and only furthered its determination to engage with Taiwan, Chen said Qaddafi told him.
Addressing a jubilant crowd of supporters outside the airport, Chen yesterday reaffirmed his determination to maximize the opportunities to increase the country's diplomatic space.
"My conclusion is: if Taiwan wants to stand up and step out in the international community, we have to make our own way. Where there is a will, there is a way ... because we are the uncrushable roses," said the president.
Defending huang
Chen yesterday also defended foreign minister James Huang (
"If the minister ever lied, I believe he did not do it on purpose. It is because he wanted to achieve a `mission impossible.' Besides, diplomats are accorded with the privilege to lie. Although there are voices asking him to step down, I've decided that he will not go," Chen said via broadcast intercom in his chartered plane shortly after its landing in Taipei.
also see story:
Taiwan, Libya ties not our business: US
LONG FLIGHT: The jets would be flown by US pilots, with Taiwanese copilots in the two-seat F-16D variant to help familiarize them with the aircraft, the source said The US is expected to fly 10 Lockheed Martin F-16C/D Block 70/72 jets to Taiwan over the coming months to fulfill a long-awaited order of 66 aircraft, a defense official said yesterday. Word that the first batch of the jets would be delivered soon was welcome news to Taiwan, which has become concerned about delays in the delivery of US arms amid rising military tensions with China. Speaking on condition of anonymity, the official said the initial tranche of the nation’s F-16s are rolling off assembly lines in the US and would be flown under their own power to Taiwan by way
OBJECTS AT SEA: Satellites with synthetic-aperture radar could aid in the detection of small Chinese boats attempting to illegally enter Taiwan, the space agency head said Taiwan aims to send the nation’s first low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite into space in 2027, while the first Formosat-8 and Formosat-9 spacecraft are to be launched in October and 2028 respectively, the National Science and Technology Council said yesterday. The council laid out its space development plan in a report reviewed by members of the legislature’s Education and Culture Committee. Six LEO satellites would be produced in the initial phase, with the first one, the B5G-1A, scheduled to be launched in 2027, the council said in the report. Regarding the second satellite, the B5G-1B, the government plans to work with private contractors
MISSION: The Indo-Pacific region is ‘the priority theater,’ where the task of deterrence extends across the entire region, including Taiwan, the US Pacific Fleet commander said The US Navy’s “mission of deterrence” in the Indo-Pacific theater applies to Taiwan, Pacific Fleet Commander Admiral Stephen Koehler told the South China Sea Conference on Tuesday. The conference, organized by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), is an international platform for senior officials and experts from countries with security interests in the region. “The Pacific Fleet’s mission is to deter aggression across the Western Pacific, together with our allies and partners, and to prevail in combat if necessary, Koehler said in the event’s keynote speech. “That mission of deterrence applies regionwide — including the South China Sea and Taiwan,” he
‘NARWHAL’: The indigenous submarine completed its harbor acceptance test recently and is now under heavy guard as it undergoes tests in open waters, a source said The Hai Kun (海鯤), the nation’s first indigenous defense submarine, yesterday began sea trials, sailing out of the Port of Kaohsiung, a military source said. Also known as the “Narwhal,” the vessel departed from CSBC Corp, Taiwan’s (台灣國際造船) shipyard at about 8am, where it had been docked. More than 10 technicians and military personnel were on deck, with several others standing atop the sail. After recently completing its harbor acceptance test, the vessel has started a series of sea-based trials, including tests of its propulsion and navigational systems, while partially surfaced, the source said. The Hai Kun underwent tests in the port from
RSS