President Ma Ying-jeou urged Beijing to acknowledge the existence of the Republic of China on Taiwan and to move toward freedom and democracy. His comment comes a day after his Chinese counterpart called for a China-Taiwan reunification by peaceful means, according to the Central News Agency.
The Republic of China must be referred to “not in the past tense, but in the present tense,” since it has flourished in Taiwan for more than six decades, radiating its vitality to every corner of the earth, and will continue to do so in the future, President Ma said in his centennial National Day (October 10) address in Taipei.
He also called on China to “courageously move” toward becoming a free democracy thereby reducing the gap between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait. The Central News Agency reported that Chinese President Hu Jintao said on October 9 that Taiwan and China should heal the wounds of the past and work together.
However, President Ma said that “in commemorating the National Revolution of 1911 and the establishment of the Republic of China thereafter, one must not deliberately cut out certain parts of history, but bring to light the actual facts of history and face the existence of the Republic head-on.”
”And had it not been for the retrocession of Taiwan from Japan to the Republic, the setbacks encountered by Republic of China’s armed forces in the civil war against the Communists on the mainland might have spelled the death to the Republic more than six decades ago, with no chance for a transformative rebirth or the possibility of developing the two sides along a different trajectories,” he added.
For more than 60 years now, the Republic of China has “safeguarded the viability of Chinese culture” and the Republic of China has proven to the world that “democracy can take root, blossom, and bear fruit in a Chinese society,” the president said.
“Today, as we celebrate the Republic of China’s centennial National Day, we take great pride in the Republic and in Taiwan’s democracy. The vitality and the way of life in Taiwan today have become benchmarks for Chinese communities worldwide.”
President Ma expressed the hope that “Taiwan and mainland China will be able – based on a clear-eyed appreciation and acceptance of reality – to find a common ground,” while respecting differences and building a peaceful relationship.
The president said the Republic of China “is more than the name of a nation; it also stands for a free and democratic way of life, and serves as a model for those living in other ethnic Chinese societies who yearn for freedom and democracy.”
In his 20-minute speech, the president said Taiwan will continue opening up new business opportunities with other countries and economies apart from China, the Central News Agency reported. He described China as Taiwan’s largest trading partner and the largest contributor to Taiwan’s yearly trade surplus.
”We must make wise use of Taiwan’s advantages to expand our presence in the mainland market, and we must accelerate efforts to conclude free trade agreements or economic cooperation pacts with other countries,” he said.