President Chen Shui-bian (
"The government and the public, myself included, are dedicated to playing the role of a responsible contributor to, and defender of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait," he said. "The promises I made to the US government and to [US President George W. Bush] still stand."
Chen made the remarks yesterday morning while receiving the new American Institute in Taiwan Director Stephen Young at the Presidential Office.
Chen likened Taiwan-US relations to those between himself and Young, saying they would "grow ever closer," and promised that there would be no more "surprises."
Chen said that the pledge he made in his first inaugural address in 2000 was originally "three noes," rather than five, and that he had discussed the matter with Young.
"I believe you still remember that the pledge I proposed in 2000 originated from many of our private discussions and exchanges of opinions," Chen said, without elaborating.
While some have alleged that the US government was upset by Chen's decision to cease the functions of the National Unification Council and guidelines, the president said communication between the two countries over the past month had been "candid, reasonable and responsible," adding that he treasured the process.
Chen also welcomed Young's appointment, saying he was glad that neither US-Taiwan relations nor his placement were affected by the National Unification Council controversy.
Calling Young his "best buddy and brother," Chen said yesterday was one of the happiest days of his life because he had waited five years for Young to return to Taiwan.
"On July 9, 2001, I conferred a special medal on you before you left your position as the deputy director of the American Institute in Taiwan," Chen said. "You are the institution's first deputy director ever to receive the honor."
When he learned of Young's new assignment, Chen said that it took him about 30 seconds to approve the appointment.
With Raymond Burghardt serving as the new chairman of the institute's board, Chen said he believed both Young and Burghardt would help to enhance the relations between the two countries.
It's the sixth time Young has come to Taiwan. Young first came to Taiwan at the age of 12 with his father, who served as a military adviser to the army in Kaohsiung from 1963-1965.
Two months after Young moved to Kaohsiung in 1963, then US president John F. Kennedy was assassinated. At the time, Chen was in his first year of junior-high school. Chen said he remembered that his first homework assignment in his Chinese composition class was about the death of "JFK."
Young returned to Taiwan a second time in 1981, which the president noted was the year when the trial surrounding the "Kaohsiung Incident" concluded, and when Chen first entered the political arena as a Taipei City councilor.
Young came to Taiwan for the third time in 1989 when Chen was first elected as a legislator. And when Young returned to Taiwan a fourth time in 1998, Chen had been elected Taipei mayor.
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