To show the government's goodwill toward China, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday made his debut appearance on a radio program to be aired in China. In the program he appeals to leaders of both nations to create "a historic miracle through reconciliation."
The broadcast, scheduled to be aired Dec. 1, will be carried on the Central Broadcasting System (CBS) and will be the first time that a Taiwanese president has ever spoken directly to the Chinese people.
The president says on the program that both sides should converse more about economics than politics and that the two should have more communication and less misunderstanding.
He asked that the two states rely on mutual confidence rather than on intimidation to make their points with one another.
Chen also expressed his willingness to "make a voyage of reconciliation to China" given that "both sides share the same blood and a similar cultural heritage."
Until recently, CBS was a branch of the military responsible for propaganda programming aimed toward China's audience.
Just three years ago, a statute was passed making the station a non-profit government sponsored organization. The station is now headed by Chou Tien-rey (
The president's talk starts with his humble family background and moves on to his career in politics -- including his rise from attorney to national leader.
Expressing his strong desire to break the deadlock in cross-strait relations, Chen said his two greatest dreams since assuming power have been to have relations normalized and to see "the two heads of state shake hands.
"I know China's leaders harbor deep misunderstandings toward me. But time will prove that dealing with me and our government is the key to ameliorating cross-strait relations," said Chen.
In the talk, the president tells Beijing that regardless of the differences in political ideology, the two share so many other things in common that it is unnecessary to focus on the distinction of political beliefs.
"My ancestors, just like those of many other Taiwanese, are of Chinese origin and share similarities in culture, religion and history with Chinese residents. Why abandon so many similarities and merely focus on political differences?" said Chen.
The president reckoned that integration should start on the economic and cultural fronts, and that political integration could be achieved after mutual trust takes shape.
"Some issues just can't be resolved immediately, but they can be solved in 50 to 100 years. Why rush to solve them now?" he noted.
Addressing the recent entry of the two nations into the WTO, Chen described it as "the best chance for the two heads of state to shake hands and to create historic miracles."
"Although my ancestors hailed from China, I love Taiwan because it has been our motherland for three hundred years. I am and will always be proud of being a son of Taiwan," said Chen.
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