Liberty Times: If you compare your first two visits to Taiwan [in 1999 and 2001] with this visit, do you feel that Taiwan has changed? Was there anything that left a particularly deep impression?
Dalai Lama: The main difference between this and the previous two visits was that this visit was the result of an invitation from the typhoon-disaster areas. I came to pray for the disaster areas, so this was a different experience. Personally, I felt sadness after arriving in the disaster area. On the other hand, I was able to travel to Taiwan and to pray with fellow believers and [Buddhist] masters. From this perspective, I also felt quite happy.
In the beginning, when I had just arrived in Taiwan, some media outlets were a bit hesitant and there were also some negative reports and some protests [laughs]. On one hand, I felt that these protesters were a bit silly, but on the other hand, they made me happy because they were able to take advantage of Taiwan’s freedoms. Afterwards, I told them it would be even better if they could bring that freedom to China [laughs].
A few days after I arrived in Taiwan, media coverage became more and more positive, maybe because they understood better why I was there. After I returned to India, [a representative of] Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council said in a public talk that “the Dalai Lama’s visit had no impact on cross-strait relations.” I felt comforted and happy to hear that.
LT: In the past, politicians rushed to meet you, but this time they all avoided you. What do think about that? Do you feel the atmosphere in Taiwanese society has changed?
DL: I didn’t feel there was anything strange about it and I didn’t think there were any surprises. Cross-strait relations have been strengthened lately and because of this, Taiwan has also received some concrete benefits. In addition to economic benefits, the public’s fear of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has also been somewhat alleviated. For example, China’s firing missiles at Taiwan, that used to be one fear, but that is also disappearing gradually.
Politicians, of course, we all know that politicians have their concerns because they want to protect their own interests and to strengthen cross-strait ties, and I can understand that.
LT: Some people in Taiwan have grown even more fearful of the current situation and they feel China wants to speed up the annexation of Taiwan and that President Ma Ying-jeou’s (馬英九) administration keeps talking up China. Do you have any advice on the Taiwan government’s cooperation with the CCP and their exchanges?
DL: I’ve said all along that Taiwan’s future should be decided by the Taiwanese people, so those Taiwanese that you just mentioned, those who are more concerned because of these exchanges, they should make themselves heard in public. They should also mention this in public debates. The public must discuss these things, this is very important.
Often when I meet with foreign friends, whether they are in government or non-governmental organizations, whether in the US or in Europe, I repeatedly tell them that it is very important to build a special relationship between Taiwan and China, but when building this special relationship, they must protect Taiwan’s democracy. This is a necessity. I also tell these people from free countries that protecting Taiwan’s democracy and freedom is the duty of their countries. I say this repeatedly.
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