Chen tells Japan's people Taiwan has to fight alone

Taiwan wants to make friends with as many countries as possible, but it will rely on itself in the end, President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said in an interview published yesterday.

Speaking to the Japanese daily Asahi Shimbun, Chen said he regretted that Japan switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing three decades ago, adding that though Taiwan was angry with Japan's decision, it has since dedicated itself to economic and democratic development.

Regarding China's claim that freedom, democracy and human rights are values of the West, and that Asia has its own values, the president said that freedom, democracy and human rights are universally accepted values, adding that if Taiwan has been able to move to adopt these principles, why can't China?

On the new leadership of China after the Communist Party congress, which starts today, when President Jiang Zemin (江澤民) is expected to hand over the reins of the nation to Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), the president said Beijing's leaders were not elected by the free will of the people, and that the new leaders were designated during the era of patriarch Deng Xiaoping (鄧小平).

Those who are leading the country do not know the true value of democracy, the president said, adding that China does not respect the free will of its 1.2 billion people and will likewise not respect the free will of the 23 million people on Taiwan.

Chen expressed the hope, however, that China would change its policy toward Taiwan.

He also criticized the way Japan has been treating Taiwan, saying that for 30 years, it has leaned toward China and ignored Taiwan.