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APEC delegate ready to deliver nation's message

Senior presidential adviser Lin Hsin-yi, right, yesterday receives applause from government officials at the Government Information Office (GIO) after he was appointed Taiwan's representative to the APEC summit. PHOTO: CNA

Senior presidential adviser Lin Hsin-yi (林信義) said yesterday that he will take advantage of his five-minute speech during the APEC economic leaders' meeting to deliver Taiwan's message to its allies.

"I have been thinking what kind of message I should deliver during that five-minute slot at the meeting. I have decided to make a difference this year," Lin said during a press conference at the Government Information Center yesterday.

Lin said he will tell the other parties at APEC what Taiwan has achieved during the past year and what Taiwan can contribute to the international community.

He will also mention the unreasonable political oppression that Taiwan has suffered -- that it has been forced to use the title "Chinese Taipei" to register, and that the president was not allowed to attend the event.

"The spirit of APEC is about creating communication channels between different countries to resolve differences and conflicts so freedom and fairness can be maintained," Lin said.

Lin, who had attended the 2000 APEC Joint Ministerial Meetings in Brunei and the 2001 APEC in Shanghai, during his term as the economic affairs minister, said while he felt honored to have been used more than once as an envoy on behalf of President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), he felt upset at the same time.

"I would be more than happy if the president was allowed to attend the event himself," Lin said. "I hope the president can attend [APEC] in person next year."

Saying the president has not asked him to deliver any message to Chinese President Hu Jintao (胡錦濤), Lin said he is however looking forward to having further conversations with Hu whenever the chance arises.

"I will tell him what the Taiwanese people are thinking and what Taiwanese people need if I have a chance," he said.

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan (唐家璇), then Chinese foreign minister, refused to allow Lin to speak on the issue of Taiwan's representation at a press conference in Shanghai back in 2001.

Asked what he will do if the same thing happens again this year, Lin did not answer the question.

"I think everybody will remain rational," he replied.

Apart from economic and political issues, Department of Health Minister Hou Sheng-mou (侯勝茂) said that Taiwan's remarkable achievement in avoiding bird flu will also be introduced to its allies during the meeting.

"I dare to say that in Asia, Taiwan can be a role model for its allies in terms of health-related issues," Hou said.
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