When the choir started to sing the Taiwanese tune "If I open the door in my heart (
"I am thrilled now that Taiwan has cast away the shadow of the authoritative rule over the past five decades," Su said, while sitting in a chair at the rally outside the presidential office.
Whereas in the past students, military officers and civil servants were mobilized to join the presidential inauguration rallies, tens of thousands of people -- such as Su -- took part in yesterday's rally on their own initiative, to witness for themselves the first-ever transfer of power between political parties in Taiwan.
"I feel honored to witness the inauguration here," said Lin Chen-chien (林珍簡), a Keelung resident who took an early morning train to Taipei for the occasion.
An aboriginal Bunun tribe choir kicked off the ceremony with a traditional tribal song -- "Informing the good news (報訊歌)".
Other Aboriginal songs, a Hakka tune, a Taiwanese song, poetry recitals, as well as other musical pieces warmed up the atmosphere before president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and vice president Annette Lu (呂秀蓮) joined the rally.
"Hello Mr. President!" the crowd shouted as Chen walked out of the presidential office toward the outdoor platform, surrounded by floral decorations.
Pop singer Chang Hui-mei (
What followed next was an unprecedented oath to the public by Chen and Lu.
Both emphasized their determination to abide by the constitution in performing their duties in order to enhance the welfare of the people and to ensure national security.
Chen's 50-minute long inauguration address proved the focal point of the rally, which was greeted with generous applause from those in attendance.
Chen outlined his plan to guide the country through its transition, touching upon his reform agendas such as a crackdown on corruption and organized crime.
He also mentioned his vision of a cross-strait relations based on goodwill, urging leaders from both sides of the strait to work toward "reconciliation".
And amid the newly composed choral piece "God Bless Our Land, Formosa! (
"Chen's speech was well considered in every aspect, and it should not induce any negative response from China, I guess," said Lin.
Shih Ming-teh (
"It's been my long-desired wish to witness the peaceful transfer of power within my lifetime," Shih said. "And today the people in Taiwan can show to the world that we are a people capable of carrying out a democratic system."
Such an experience could enable some Asian leaders, especially those in Singapore and China, to think twice about their claim that democratic systems are not suitable for people under the influence of Han culture, Shih said.
NO-LIMITS PARTNERSHIP: ‘The bottom line’ is that if the US were to have a conflict with China or Russia it would likely open up a second front with the other, a US senator said Beijing and Moscow could cooperate in a conflict over Taiwan, the top US intelligence chief told the US Senate this week. “We see China and Russia, for the first time, exercising together in relation to Taiwan and recognizing that this is a place where China definitely wants Russia to be working with them, and we see no reason why they wouldn’t,” US Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines told a US Senate Committee on Armed Services hearing on Thursday. US Senator Mike Rounds asked Haines about such a potential scenario. He also asked US Defense Intelligence Agency Director Lieutenant General Jeffrey Kruse
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. “Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank. Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan,
China’s intrusive and territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region are “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive,” new US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo said on Friday, adding that he would continue working with allies and partners to keep the area free and open. Paparo made the remarks at a change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, where he took over the command from Admiral John Aquilino. “Our world faces a complex problem set in the troubling actions of the People’s Republic of China [PRC] and its rapid buildup of forces. We must be ready to answer the PRC’s increasingly intrusive and
STATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questions The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20. Lai is expected to face many domestic and international challenges, and should clarify his intended policies with the public’s representatives, KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said when making the proposal at a meeting of the legislature’s Procedure Committee. The committee voted to add the item to the agenda for Friday, along with another similar proposal put forward by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The invitation is in line with Article 15-2