First Lady Wu Shu-chen (
Earlier this month, the European Parliament passed a resolution for enhancing partnership between Europe and Asia. The resolution contains nine articles that are friendly to Taiwan, which are worthy of our praise. In addition to calling on the two sides across the Taiwan Strait to maintain peace and security in East Asia, the articles also urge China to remove all missiles along the coast across from Taiwan and stop the arms race, demand that Taiwan becomes a member of the Asia-Europe Meeting, support Taiwan's bid to join the WHO and call on EU countries to issue visas to Taiwanese government officials, allowing them to make private visits.
The gradual diplomatic advancement Taiwan has made in European and American countries has everything to do with the President Chen Shui-bian (
When I was stationed in the US, I made friends with many US Congressmen of different political stripes, think tank scholars and people from various circles. They said the only consensus reached between the Democratic and Republican parties on the Taiwan Strait is that Taiwan is a free, democratic society, especially after the nation went through the first democratic power transfer. To consolidate democracy, safeguard freedom and promote human rights is not only the shared expectation of the Taiwanese people, but also the important foundation on which we can win over the support and sympathy from the international community.
The above-mentioned European Parliament resolution reiterated that the EU's Asia policy continues to be based on the universal values of the rule of law and freedom, with an objective of improving the economy, society, culture, law and order, human rights and people's livelihood in Asian countries. This policy is identical to the democratic and human rights diplomacy advocated by the Chen administration, proving the appropriateness and necessity of setting universal values as the nation's diplomatic guiding principles. The European Parliament's request that Taiwan be brought into the Asia-Europe Meeting is aimed at promoting political democratization in Asia.
Last year, Liberal International awarded the 2001 Prize for Freedom to President Chen, and first lady Wu accepted the prize and gave a speech on behalf of Chen in Strasbourg, France. This highlights the international community's recognition of Taiwan's achievements in democracy and freedom. The significance of Wu's upcoming US trip is in publicizing Taiwan's democratic development and human rights efforts since Wu's entire life bears testimony to democracy and freedom in this land.
At the Sanchih meeting held for top policymakers on Sept. 8, Chen announced that anti-terrorism and democracy are the two pivots in the nation's security strategic plan. It once again proves that the DPP's diplomatic policy not only takes into consideration the interests of realpolitik, but also pursues the value of idealism.
Lee Ying-yuan is a former deputy representative at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the US and is now the DPP candidate for Taipei mayor.
Translated by Jackie Lin
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