Speaking in Panama's parliament yesterday, President Chen Shui-bian (陳
Chen said Beijing's malice would not only further separate the people on both sides of the strait, but also become a barrier to world integration.
Chen, leading a diplomatic delegation spending three-days visit in Panama, raised his voice during a speech at the host state's parliament, saying that "all Taiwanese will never accept Beijing's `one China, two systems' (一
Meanwhile, Chen and Panama President Mireya Moscoso expressed confidence in their ability to maintain solid diplomatic relations and continue enhancing economic ties.
After meeting privately with Moscoso for more than an hour, Chen told lawmakers accompanying him on the trip that ties between Panama and Taiwan remained strong.
"Everyone rest assured there are no problems with relations between Taiwan and Panama," Chen said.
Moscoso echoed Chen's comments during a banquet, saying that "respect, reciprocity, cooperation and the mechanism of a free market" helped to keep ties strong.
Before making an appearance in front of Panama's legislature, Chen laid a garland at the bronze statue of Panama's founding father at Independent Square.
While Chen paid his homage, roughly 10 Panamanians held cloth banners with the Chinese words: "Panama supports the peaceful reunification of both sides of the Strait." Later, when Chen arrived at the legislature, the same demonstrators showed up again with more banners, with slogans such as: "Support `one China, two systems.'"
Commenting on the demonstrators in his parliament speech, Chen said "those Panamanian demonstrators may not understand what the meanings of the slogans on their banners are, and if they did, they must not realize what all Taiwanese really think."
Chen said that almost all Taiwanese refuse to accept "one China, two systems" because those words mean the end of Taiwan sovereignty and the beginning of rule by China.
"Taiwan, just like Panama, is an independent country, rather than a province of any country," Chen said. If there was a country that asked Panama to become a part of it, what would you say to that?"
Chen also said that Beijing had tried hard to stop Panama from allowing Chen to make his speech in the legislature. "However, the Speaker of Legislative Assembly Laurentino Cortizo tells me that all political parties will unanimously consider the state's interest in giving me support," Chen said. "And now I am standing here and making my speech."
Chen remarks won a warm response from the legislators, who gave Chen a standing ovation.
Local overseas Taiwanese groups told reporters China had mobilized Panamanians to demonstrate because Chinese and Taiwanese refused to take part in the demonstration.
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