During the last day of his visit to the Solomon Islands yesterday, President Chen Shui-bian (
Praising the Solomon Islands for its decision to encourage and promote domestic reconciliation and stabilize society through cooperation and communication, the president noted that "the Solomon Islands did it, and Taiwan can do it too."
"A divided nation can not stand," Chen said. "Only when reaching out the hands of reconciliation can a country and its people benefit."
PHOTO: CNA
The Solomon Islands, one of Taiwan's allies in the South Pacific region, was rent by severe ethnic unrest and government malfeasance from 1999 to 2003. In June 2003, its prime minister, Sir Allen Kemakeza, sought the assistance of Australia in reestablishing law and order. Peace was restored and ethnic militias were disarmed in that following month after an Australian-led multinational force arrived.
"The Solomon Islands' social and political fracturing led its people to pay a historic price," Chen said.
"Yet ... together, its leaders and people decided to push for consultations, cooperation and dialogue for the common good and interest of the country and people's longing for stability," Chen said.
"Dialogue is the most effective way to resolve differences and seek consensus, and reconciliation is the cornerstone in constructing a nation's unity and substantial development," Chen said.
He added after what they went through in years of violent division, the people of the Solomon Islands know this lesson well.
Referring to the Solomon Islands' national flag, which is green and blue with a diagonal yellow line, Chen said the design of the national flag was a source of inspiration to him and the Taiwanese people.
"For other foreigners, they might not know the significance of [the Solomon Islands'] national flag," Chen said. "Yet to the people in Taiwan, it is rather inspirational."
Chen told his audience that in Taiwan, the colors green and blue represent the ruling and the opposition parties.
"Although on the national flag there is a yellow gap in the middle, to us, we believe that the yellow represent not a gap but a bridge that lies between the political parties and is the important bridge in unifying the nation," Chen said.
The challenge that faces Taiwan now is how to further consolidate its democracy, he said.
According to the Solomon Islands' parliament speaker Sir Peter Kenilorea, Chen is the first foreign leader to address their parliament.
Noting the high attendance of parliament members across party lines at the special meeting, Chen said he was very touched and that the turnout showed the Solomon Islands' firm support and friendship toward Taiwan and its people.
Kemakeza asserted his country's recognition of Taiwan as a sovereign nation and pledged firm commitment in supporting Taiwan's bid to join world bodies such as the UN and the World Health Organization (WHO).
Following Chen's speech, a joint communique was signed between Chen and Kemakeza, pledging to strengthen bilateral ties and cooperative projects.
UPGRADE: The Kang Ding-class frigate is replacing its Chaparall missiles with Tien Chien II and Hua Yang VLS, which would provide it with long-range, 360° air defense Taiwan plans to produce 1,200 to 1,376 Hai Chien II missiles (海劍二, Sea Sword II) — also known as TC-2N — to serve as the standard air defense system of the navy’s surface combatant fleet, a source said yesterday. Last week, the Hai Chien II, the naval version of the Tien Kung II missile (天劍二, Sky Sword II), completed a live-fire test in waters off the National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology’s Jiupeng facility (九鵬) in Pingtung County’s Manjhou Township (滿州). The MIM72 Chaparral and other dated air defense missiles that currently arm Taiwanese ships have inadequate range to combat Chinese
REASONS FOR TRAVEL: An assistant professor said that proposed amendments to penalize drivers if they used drugs overseas would not deter people from traveling People who operate a motor vehicle under the influence of marijuana would have their driver’s license revoked, even if they used the substance while overseas, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications said yesterday, citing proposed amendments to the Road Traffic Management and Penalty Act (道路交通管理處罰條例). The amendments would also authorize the government to revoke the licenses of people determined to have used Category 1 or Category 2 narcotics, even if they were not operating a vehicle while under the influence of drugs, as well as ban them from taking the license test for three years, the ministry said. People aged 18 or
Shih Hsin University President Chen Ching-he (陳清河) yesterday issued a public apology for comments made in his commencement speech last week, stating that he has asked the school to suspend his duties and halt his wages for two months as a show of contrition. At the commencement ceremony on May 30, Chen said, “If you don’t manage your time well, or your own emotions, or your health, then I am telling every one of you — put a quick end to ‘you,’ because the world has no need for ‘you.’” The comments have sparked significant controversy online, and Chen through an open
Johanne Liou (劉喬安), a Taiwanese woman who shot to unwanted fame during the Sunflower movement protests in 2014, returned to Taiwan last night after being deported from the US. She is to stand trial in Taiwan for charges involving embezzlement, fraud and drug crimes. The Criminal Investigation Bureau (CIB) said it took her into custody at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport and would first question her before transferring her to the New Taipei District Prosecutors’ Office. She was arrested upon disembarking a flight from San Francisco that landed shortly before 7pm. Liou absconded to the US in 2019 after jumping bail
RSS