Chen says Taiwan keen to push democracy

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said yesterday that Taiwan is more than willing to contribute to the expansion and consolidation of democracy in the Asia-Pacific region and to the promotion of democratization in China.

Chen made the remarks at a two-day preparatory meeting for the first Democratic Pacific Conference, which will be held in Taiwan next March and has been promoted by Vice President Annette Lu (呂秀蓮).

Stressing that security is crucial to regional peace and development, Chen said last year's Sept. 11 attacks on the US and militancy in other parts of Asia have highlighted the necessity for Asia-Pacific countries to form an alliance to face international challenges.

"Facing changing and complicated international affairs, how to create a peaceful, democratic and flourishing environment through cooperation is the most crucial issue for all of the members of this global society," Chen said.

"Taiwan looks forward to cooperating with other Asia-Pacific democracies to promote democratic systems and values in the region," he said.

He also called for an early formation of an Asia-Pacific democracy alliance to facilitate cooperation in economic development and to prevent a recurrence of a financial crisis like the one that hit Asia in 1997.

The president argued that, despite Taiwan's achievements in democracy, freedom and economic development, the nation is still excluded from many international organizations because of pressure from China.

"We will never give up on entering the UN and other international organizations. We will try our best to play an active role in promoting cooperation, peace and development of global society," he said.

Speaking on the same occasion, Lu said that the Pacific region controls more than half of the world's economic resources. Countries in the region should strengthen cooperation for their mutual benefit and for the promotion of global peace and development.

Lu said that as freedom, democracy and human rights have become the prevailing trends for the 21st century, all Asia-Pacific countries, including China and North Korea, should enjoy these universal values.

Lu has long promoted the idea of a giant NGO for Pacific states to promote development.

In an interview with the Taipei Times in September, Lu said, "the reason such a union can't be formed is not because of language differences but because of the lack of common values. For example, 15 of 39 Asian countries are not democratic and four are still communist.

"If other countries take the lead in doing this, we will definitely be excluded. If we build a union or community based on common values, which China doesn't have, China will only be able to stand aside and watch," she said.

The first Democratic Pacific Conference is scheduled for March 1 to March 4 next year, with the participation of more than 300 academics and experts from Pacific Rim countries and Africa.