Taiwan ushered in a new political order yesterday with the inauguration of the ROC's 10th president, Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), during a grand ceremony in front of the Presidential Office in Taipei -- the former palace of the governor-general during the Japanese era and a symbol of the KMT's half century of rule since then.
The ceremony, which was watched live by thousands from around the nation and abroad, also featured a potpourri of choral and musical performances -- including a rendering of the national anthem sung by pop star A-mei.
In Chen's widely anticipated, closely guarded inaugural address that followed -- titled "Taiwan Stands Up: Toward the Dawn of a Rising Era" -- Chen brought up "one China" only as a "future" possibility for negotiations, which China blasted later as a sign that Chen "lacks sincerity."
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Reaction on the part of Taiwan's stock market also appeared to fall short of expectations. Share prices plunged 3.3 percent yesterday -- partly, according to some reports -- in reaction to the speech which held out the possibility of a "future one China."
The market plummeted 4.6 percent in an immediate reaction to Chen's speech, but recovered slightly at the close.
The Taiwan Stock Exchange weighted price index had fallen 299.42 points to 8,820.35 by the opening bell.
Other reports said the drop was also influenced by losses on the NASDAQ.
Taiwan's military, meanwhile, remained in a state of high alert which was called a day before the inauguration ceremony, but officials reported no unusual movements either in the Taiwan Strait or in China. They also dismissed earlier reports that quoted witnesses as spotting Chinese warships off Taiwan's east coast.
During the address, Chen made no bones about the historic nature of Taiwan's unprecedented road to democracy, culminating in its first peaceful transfer of political power between political parties.
"We are here today, not just to celebrate an inauguration, but to witness the hard-won democratic values, and to witness the beginning of a new era," Chen said.
Significantly, the new president acknowledged the roots of yesterday's achievement. "The alternation of political parties does not mean an all-out negation of the past," Chen said. "Mr Lee Teng-hui (李登煇) deserves our highest praise and heartfelt honor for his promotion of democratic reforms and for his excellent performance during his 12 years of leadership."
On the much-anticipated issue of cross-strait relations, Chen appeared ready to hold out hope for eventual considerations of reunification, but trod lightly over Beijing's insistence that he conform to its "one China" policy.
"We believe that the leaders on both sides possess enough wisdom and creativity to jointly deal with the question of a future 'one China,'" Chen said.
Instead, Chen highlighted the historical and cultural similarities between Taiwan and China.
He also repeated his so-called "four no's:" no to declaring independence, to changing Taiwan's formal name from the Republic of China, to enshrining "state-to-state" in the Constitution, or endorsing a referendum on formal independence.
Notably, he also said he would not abolish neither the National Reunification Council or the National Reunification Guidelines, both established by Lee Teng-hui in 1991.
Significantly, however, Chen preceded his "four no's" with the following condition: "as long as the CCP regime has no intention to use military force against Taiwan."
The condition, said analysts, could be a deliberate volley meant to turn the tables on Beijing's own threats of force.
But the vast majority of Chen's address focused on Taiwan's domestic problems -- most notably to rid the country of "black gold" politics. He also suggested -- in a move hailed as a victory by rights groups here -- that an official human rights commission be established as part of efforts to "bring the Republic of China back into the international human rights system." Ending his 45-minute speech, Chen raised his voice and exclaimed: "Long live freedom and democracy! Long live the people of Taiwan!"
The inaugural address capped a series of events and festivities that included a farewell speech by outgoing president Lee Teng-hui, a formal oath of office by both Chen and his vice president, Annette Lu (呂秀蓮), as well as the transfer of power to Chen's new Cabinet.
Reaction to the address from China, meanwhile, was predictably harsh. An official statement accused Chen as having "avoided the crucial issue of accepting the one China policy; the attitude is evasive and vague. Obviously, his 'goodwill reconciliation' lacks sincerity."
Although the statement noted that Chen had promised not to push for independence, it added: "He should not have applied any conditions, he should not have failed to recognize 'one China' and the reality that Taiwan is a part of China, and by referring to 'one China' in the future tense."
Later, however, authorities from the State Council's Taiwan Affairs Office issued a second statement indicating dialogue was possible, pointing to the 1992 compromise over "one China" -- where both sides agreed to accept the principle but not define its exact meaning.
It said dialogue could be held on the condition that Taiwan "make a clear-cut commitment that they will not advocate the `two- states theory' and will adhere to the consensus reached between the ARATS and Taiwan's Strait Exchange Foundation in 1992 stating the two sides will express in their own way orally that both sides across the straits stick to the 'one China' principle."
In Taiwan, reaction among major political parties was mixed -- although generally praising Chen's domestic agenda, many felt he had failed to set out a clear course to improve cross-strait ties.
Such reactions were muted, however, by the fact that the leaders of both the KMT and the People First Party (PFP) -- Lien Chan (連戰) and James Soong (宋楚瑜) -- were out of the country for yesterday's events.
But top China negotiator Koo Chen-fu (辜振甫) said Chen's remarks were a direct expression of island's sincerity and goodwill towards China.
"He (Chen) has promised to handle the idea of `one China' properly and I believe he will announce the details of how he will do this in the near future," said Koo.
Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, the vice chairman of the Mainland Affairs Council, Lin Chong-pin (林中斌) echoed Chen's comments, appealing to China for patience to understand the new government's goodwill.
"We do not expect Chinese Communist officials to immediately understand the deeper meaning of what Chen has said in his address," Lin said.
Yesterday morning's colorful festivities in front of the Presidential Office were also matched last night by a cocktail party where an estimated thousand invitees -- including many foreign guests -- were joined by members of the incoming Cabinet in heralding the new government.
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