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Chen to praise the `Taiwan spirit' in address

At today's Double Ten celebration, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) will be the first non-KMT president to celebrate the 1911 founding of the Republic of China, a political entity to whose termination he was once committed.

The president will above all make a call for unity and stress the common origins and experiences of all the peoples of Taiwan. In that spirit he will call for national unity and political cooperation. He will also acknowledge the shortcomings in his own government's performance.

At the beginning of his speech the president will focus on the "Taiwan spirit."

As a pro-independence activist during past decades, Chen will laud the accomplishments of the people of Taiwan. He will invoke a spirit of unity among all the peoples of Taiwan, saying, "...our ancestors sailed from across the sea to Taiwan hundreds of years ago, and running through the blood of all, from the indigenous peoples to the frontierless e-generation, the Taiwan spirit is shared by all of our 23 million compatriots. The Taiwan spirit originates from the interaction and mutual influence of Han culture and Austronesian island cultures."

Chen will go on to mention the recent political transformation of Taiwan, symbolized by the transfer of power, saying that the public can be confident in the political achievement of the first transition of power.

He describes Taiwan as a "paradigm of democracy for all Chinese societies" and states: "The future will prove that peaceful transition of political power does not simply mean win or lose for any individual or political party. Rather it is a victory for all people and a victory of democracy."

The president will also acknowledge shortcomings in his own government's performance, saying that he knows that he must perform well and efficiently and he will say: "As a newly established government, we are keenly aware that there are still many things to be improved. I myself, the national leader, as well as all members of the new administration should exercise some self-examination and remain alert all the time."

The President will then appeal to all opposition parties to cooperate with the ruling party rationally and for the benefit of the whole country.

Returning to the theme of unity, he will refer to the belief of the Ami people of eastern Taiwan in the positive qualities of the natural environment and the "idea of creation, nourishment and tolerance."

He will say that as we reflect on the spirit of our ancestors, "we should always remember the virtues of self-confidence, trust in fellow countrymen and faith in the land. These are the most solid foundations upon which to build our home."

The KMT previously used Double Ten Day as an opportunity to laud its own accomplishments, denounce the Chinese Communist Party, and celebrate the ROC.

The DPP used to hold demonstrations in front of the Presidential Office calling for an independent Taiwan. They also refused to attend Double Ten celebrations. Today, the former demonstrators and boycotters will be masters of ceremonies at the very site of their past demonstrations.

Deputy Secretary-General to the President Chen Che-nan (陳哲男) said yesterday on this point: "We are hoping to change the annual Double Ten ceremony in order to make it more accessible to ordinary people and more Taiwanese, but we can only do this step by step."
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