President Chen Shui-bian (
Instead, he urged all participants to help him boost Taiwan's international stature under the banner of "dignity and security." "Let all Taiwanese stand up and join forces in boosting the island's international stature," Chen said at the opening ceremony of the World Taiwanese Congress (WTC).
PHOTO: CHU YU-PING, TAIPEI TIMES
To that end, Chen told the assembly his administration is giving top priority to pursuing economic growth and ethnic harmony and stamping out graft and corruption.
The WTC, founded in Washington DC four months ago by some 60 overseas Taiwanese groups, is dedicated to promoting Taiwan independence. Chen, who won the presidency exactly one year ago, emphasized he has tried hard to preserve Taiwan's sovereignty, dignity and security.
"I dare not forget for one moment my responsibility as head of state, following the electoral victory March 18 last year," the president said, in an apparent bid to seek understanding for his silence on the sovereignty issue.
China repeated on Friday it would not resume dialogue with Taiwan before Chen's administration recognizes the "one China" principle that binds Taiwan as an inseparable province of the communist state.
The president, while willing to cease talk of independence, has said unification is not the sole solution to end the cross-strait entanglement.
He lauded WTC members for their unbending effort over the years to safeguard Taiwan's interests. "Overseas Taiwanese have made important contributions to Taiwan's democratic reform," Chen said. "I believe that the conclusions to be reached by the WTC will be both insightful and edifying."
To avoid sounding provincial, the president delivered part of his speech in Mandarin.
"Whatever our backgrounds and wherever we are, let's strive hand-in-hand for the good of our common mother -- Taiwan," Chen said.
The president quickly left the venue, where pro-independence activists took turns to criticize opposition political parties for what they said was erratic kowtowing to Beijing and also picking on the Chen administration.
They heaped praise on Tokyo-based National Policy Advisor Alice King (
King, who early this month raised many eyebrows for defending the Japanese comic book On Taiwan (
She urged the public to get a copy of the controversial book, saying its author, Yoshinori Kobayashi, has decided to give away royalties from the sale and use them for improving Taiwan-Japan ties.
"Buy Kobayashi's books and help better bilateral relations."
King reiterated she would not resign, although she admitted her blunt speech may have added to Chen's predicament, as opposition lawmakers have pressed for her dismissal.
The president shook hands with King without saying anything during their brief encounter.
In earlier comments, Chen said he did not agree with the opinions of some officials but would respect their freedom of speech.
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