Taipei Times: In his inauguration address, President Chen Shui-bian (
Graham Watson: I think the very fact that you had a change in government will affect the views of Europeans toward Taiwan. I regret to say that Taiwan is not very well known among Europeans. And when they think of Taiwan, they think of a rather old fashioned one-party state. The very fact that you changed government will make Europeans realize that here in Taiwan there is a flourishing democracy of 23 million people. His [President Chen's] commitment to human rights, in particular where he talked about Taiwan ratifying the International Convention for Civil and Political Rights, and the introduction of a "Taiwan Bill of Rights," will be welcomed. It will convince Europeans that Taiwan is ahead of the game, that there is a clear cultural difference between Taiwan and the PRC. I think Europe will realize how far the history of Taiwan and the history of the PRC have diverged.
TT:What advice do you have for the new government on communicating Taiwan's new image to Europeans?
PHOTO: GEORGE TSORNG, TAIPEI TIMES
GW: When you are on the other side of the world, the traditional image of a country takes a long time to change and I think it will take some time for people to recognize this is a different country. For example, however much difference former President Lee Teng-hui (
Second, the DPP has identified a very important aspect of Taiwan's development ... [of looking at] individuals, tourism and Taiwan businesses to promote non-official diplomacy.
In my view, a relaxed and self-confident Taiwan promoting itself in this way will have far greater success than a country that's constantly worried about tension. I think in the end, that is the way of highlighting the hypocrisy of countries like my own, which recognizes a brutal communist dictatorship in the PRC but refuses to recognize a flourishing democracy [like Taiwan].
TT: But what is Europe's interest in Taiwan when it has problems like Kosovo in its own back yard?
GW: Let me give you a few examples from my constituency in the southwest of England. First of all, we have a good opportunity for exporting goods to Taiwan and attracting investments. We have many areas of business where we have a common interest. My constituency is almost entirely surrounded by water, thousands of people in my constituency sail boats. Taiwan makes the best bi-satellite system in the world [used for navigation], which has saved thousands of lives in my constituency.
TT: Do Europeans know the difference between the ROC and the PRC?
GW: If I could give a piece of advice to the Taiwanese government, it would be to drop the expression ROC. Who knows what the Republic of China is and who cares? Everybody knows you as Taiwan. You are recognized as a modern democratic economy and modern society. Stick with Taiwan, drop ROC.
Graham Watson is a member of the European Parliament representing the Somerset and North Devon constituency. He is the leader of the UK Liberal Democrats in the European Parliament and the initiator of legislation passed this month in the EP calling for more support for Taiwan. Watson also arranged President Chen Shui-bian's visit to Brussels during his campaign for president.
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