Advocating "soft power" (
"Chinese leaders should make a vow to stop deploying missiles along China's southeastern coast, take back their threats of invasion and use the missile money to help all human beings," Lu said at a Buddhists' gathering, organized by the Buddha's Light International Association (國際佛光會), to celebrate the Buddha's baptism.
Lu also humorously urged all Taiwanese to express their love, in return, by "making sweet talk and writing love letters" to China.
Besides Lu, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (
In his address, Chang said that he hoped every citizen in the country would make an effort in "doing a good deed, speaking fine words and having a kind heart," as all Buddhists are taught to do, so that the society would be filled with nice people.
Meanwhile, Lu yesterday also suggested that the government build Pingtung County's barren islet of Little Luichiu (小琉球) into an exclusive resort, or what she called a "longevity island" (長壽島) for pensioners, as Taiwan's population of senior citizens was increasing.
"It will boost the islet's faltering economy, enhance the lives of its dwellers and provide our elder people with a place to go on vacation," Lu told 21 female centenarians yesterday while attending an event to celebrate the upcoming Mother's Day.
She also presented bouquets of pink carnations to each of the 21 mothers and wished them a happy Mother's Day.
Lu's suggestion was welcomed by Tsai Chia-chiang, Little Luichiu's administrator.
Tsai said that any proposal to create jobs on the islet would be accepted with pleasure by local people. He said that Little Luichiu, located west of Pingtung County, has suffered a mass exodus of residents because of the scarcity of jobs there.
Many of the island's former residents have moved to Taiwan proper to seek better lives, and only 12,000 people live on the islet now, he said.
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