Ma delivers 2016 New Year’s Day address

2016/01/05

President Ma Ying-jeou gave his 2016 New Year’s Day address in Taipei City, lauding the achievements of the government  over the past seven years as he began the last calendar year of his second term in office.

“I would like to express my most sincere appreciation to all the people for their trust in me and the opportunity to serve Taiwan,” Ma said. “Together we have accomplished unprecedented progress in expanding the nation’s international space, improving cross-strait relations and upholding social justice.

“As we celebrate these achievements, we need to keep in mind three major challenges so as to ensure sustainable development and prosperity for Asia’s first republic.”

According to the president, since he took office in May 2008, Taiwan has successfully established itself as a peacemaker and humanitarian aid provider under his viable diplomacy policy.

“Our relations with the EU, Japan, Southeast Asian nations and the U.S. are at their best in 30 years,” Ma said, citing visa-waiver, landing-visa or other visa privileges extended by 161 countries and territories to ROC passport holders, US$20.1 billion in U.S. arms sales and 28 agreements with Japan.

Further examples include the country’s expanded participation in key international activities, including the World Health Assembly since 2008, the World Trade Organization’s Agreement on Government Procurement in 2010 and the first appearance in 42 years in the International Civil Aviation Organization assembly in 2013.

“Equally important are government efforts transforming the Taiwan Strait from a flashpoint of confrontation to a path of peace,” the president said, adding that Taipei and Beijing have concluded 23 agreements, with Taiwan welcoming more than 18 million mainland Chinese tourists so far.

“Such enhanced mutual trust saw a major breakthrough when I met with mainland Chinese leader Xi Jinping, under the principles of reciprocity and dignity, for the first time Nov. 7 in Singapore to exchange views on cementing cross-strait peace and maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait,” Ma said.

Establishment of a communication mechanism to address controversies will ensure sustainable development of two-way relationship going forward, he added.

On the domestic front, Ma said the government has left no stone unturned in extending benefits for the underprivileged, promoting labor rights and strengthening public finances.

Efforts in these regard include passing a long-term care services bill last year; implementing National Health Insurance, pension and taxation reforms since 2010; as well as raising the minimum wages five times, the most than any previous administrations.

As the country gets ready for the new year, the president said the effective and pragmatic approach to addressing cross-strait relations by his administration should be continued.

“The hard-earned cross-strait peace stems from mutually beneficial exchanges and reconciliation,” Ma said. “The status quo built on the 1992 consensus is highly supported by society and helps maintain regional stability.”

While great strides have been made when it comes to spurring growth and employment while maintaining price levels in Taiwan, the president urged greater efforts in promoting industrial transformation through innovation and trade liberalization so as to ensure national competitiveness.

The president also spotlighted the daunting challenge of balancing the country’s energy needs while contributing to the global fight against the impact of climate change.

Given Taiwan’s high dependency on energy imports, it is not a wise decision to abandon nuclear power outright without adequate planning. Experiences from around the world show that carbon emission reductions should take priority, according to Ma. The ultimate goal is to gradually phase out nuclear power with alternative energies while maintaining reasonable electricity rates without power rationing, he said.

“We need to find an energy mix that best fits Taiwan’s needs,” the president said. “It is imperative the whole country approaches this serious issue in a pragmatic way as there is no room for misjudgment.”

Source: Taiwan Today (http://taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=240848&ctNode=2194&mp=9)