President Ma reaffirms Taiwan’s development path

2015-04-09

ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said April 8 that Taiwan’s development is on the right track, characterized by significant headway in the areas of economy, cross-strait peace and international relations.

“When I took office in May 2008, the nation was facing serious challenges,” Ma said. “The most urgent tasks involved finding a roadmap for the future, modus vivendi for peaceful coexistence in cross-strait relations and viable path forward in international relations.

“Our efforts paid handsome dividends, with the country making great strides in advancing freedom, democracy and economic prosperity, as well as winning global acclaim along the way.”

The president made the remarks during an address to the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club in Taipei City.

According to Ma, government policymaking laid the foundation for Taiwan’s robust economy. “Last year our economic growth hit a three-year high of 3.74 percent, marking the first time in 16 years that Taiwan’s economic performance topped the four Asian tigers,” he said, adding that exports also reached a record US$472.8 billion.

To better assist local companies tap global trade networks, Ma said the government tirelessly promoted trade liberalization and economic integration over the past seven years.

“Concrete results include the Cross-Straits Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement [ECFA] with mainland China in 2010. This landmark pact opened a window of opportunity for Taiwan to conclude an investment agreement with Japan in 2011, and trade pacts with New Zealand and Singapore in 2013.

“It also enabled us to resume talks with Washington under the Taiwan-U.S. Trade and Investment Framework Agreement in the same year.”

The president said 2015 is an especially critical year for Taiwan to go all out in seeking accession to regional trade blocs such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. “We will continue garnering support from signatories of both initiatives by furthering our economic and structural reforms.”

On the cross-strait front, Ma reiterated the government’s unwavering stance in maintaining the status quo of no unification, no independence and no use of force under the framework of the ROC Constitution and the 1992 consensus.

“I remain committed to the principle of putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people while promoting peaceful cross-strait ties,” he said. “This constructive development has contributed to increased people-to-people exchanges, with annual numbers of mainland Chinese visitors and students in Taiwan topping 4 million and 32,000, respectively, last year.

“Taipei and Beijing have also concluded 21 agreements over the past seven years, reaffirming the government is on the correct course in this regard.”

Concerning international affairs, the president touted the progress achieved through his viable diplomacy policy.

“Viable diplomacy is a pragmatic policy of dignity, autonomy and flexibility,” Ma said. “A total of 140 countries and territories, up from 54 seven years ago, have entered into visa-waiver programs with Taiwan.

“This is in addition to our participation as an observer in World Health Assembly and as a guest at 2013’s International Civil Aviation Organization Assembly.”

At the same time, the nation is increasingly seen as peacemaker in the international community, the president said. “Building on my East China Sea Peace Initiative proposed in August 2012, Taiwan has attained peaceful resolutions to decadeslong fisheries disputes with Japan and the Philippines.”

Going forward, Ma said he expects the nation to continue pursuing a path of peace and providing humanitarian aid. This role takes on special historical significance as 2015 marks the 70th anniversary of the country’s victory in Second Sino-Japanese War (1937-1945).

“While historical mistakes may be forgiven, historical truths must not be forgotten,” Ma said. “We will embrace a new era of viable diplomacy to leave the vicious cycle of the past behind, and allow our cross-strait and international relations to become part of a virtuous one.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=229085&CtNode=413)