News

2011.0201

王院長英文演講稿-The Critical Power in Taiwan: The Role of Legislative Yuan in National Development

Dr. Anthony Saich, Director of the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation; Dr. Julian Chang, Executive Director of the Rajawali Foundation Institute for Asia; Dr. Steven M. Goldstein, Director of the Taiwan Studies Workshop; Professors and Researchers; Members of the Press; Ladies and Gentlemen:G<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:23">ood </ins>afternoon!<o:p></o:p> <o:p>  </o:p> It is an honor and a pleasure to address Harvard’s internationally renowned John F. Kennedy School of Government, which has produced countless distinguished scholars since its establishment. Today I will be sharing with you <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s achievements in democratic development. I want to thank the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Kennedy</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">School</st1:placetype></st1:place> for providing this opportunity, and all the distinguished guests for coming today. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Throughout history, the driving force behind the development of both the material and spiritual aspects of human civilization has been the pursuit of prosperity and progress. In order to <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:25">improve </ins>their living standards, human beings have sought to improve <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:26">every  </ins>aspect<strike>  </strike>of their li<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:26">v</ins>e<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:26">s</ins>, including their political, economic, social, educational and cultural systems. However, due to geographical and historical differences, human civilization has taken<strike> </strike><ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:26">many paths</ins> based on <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:27">the varieties of </ins> time and <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:27">place</ins>. At one point in time, <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:27">the </ins>human civilizations of different regions began to inspire one another with a wide variety of responses<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:27">, including</ins> conflict, exchange, integration or cooperation. Interaction has produced a rich diversified range of results. I believe that the most significant development in the spiritual development of human civilization is the respect for democracy, freedom and human rights. Although countries have diverse values and political systems, these values have gained <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:28">greater </ins>acceptance throughout the world. Humans have advanced from <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:29">simply </ins>pursuinga full stomach to promoting human dignity and honorable ideals. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:29">In the midst of </ins>the spread of democracy, freedom and human rights, the Republic of China (ROC) became the first democracy in the ethnic Chinese world, as well as the first democratic republic in <st1:place w:st="on">East Asia</st1:place>. Embracing both the social values of the East and the democratic <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:30">values </ins>of the West, the ROC will celebrate its centennial this year. My country has brought about an economic miracle and democratic achievements that have caught the attention of the entire world. Over the last century, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> has <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:31">undergone</ins> a number of struggles and transformations. The <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:31">primary </ins>driving force behind <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>’s development and promotion of democracy, economic development, freedom and human rights is <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s Congress, the Legislative Yuan.   <o:p></o:p> <span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 150%; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 新細明體; mso-font-kerning: 1.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: ZH-TW; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s legislative reform<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:35"> has achieved great success </ins>despite <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:35">the many </ins>obstacles<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:35"> to its fruition</ins> <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:33"><o:p></o:p></ins> Over the past century, the Republic of China has encountered numerous challenges, including internal strife and external aggression<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:39">, and the government has endeavored to realize the ideals and aims of constitutional democracy as prescribed by Dr. Sun Yat-sen</ins>. After the Kuomingtang (KMT) relocated the central government to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> in 1949,<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:37"> </ins><ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:39">Since the 1950s, my country promote</ins><ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:40">d</ins><ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:39"> self-governance by holding local elections. </ins><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:40">produced</ins>an “economic miracle” <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:37">in the 1970s </ins>that received <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:37">worldwide </ins> <del cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:39"> </del>In 1972, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> held its first election to expand the Legislative Yuan and in July <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:41">of </ins>1987, martial law was lifted In September of the same year, the first opposition party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) was <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:43">founded</ins>, reflecting the vitality and passion of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s pluralistic society. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> In order to deepen democratization, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> held its first direct  and comprehensive legislative election in 1992. Through this democratic process, a large number of DPP members were elected to the Legislative Yuan, forming a <del cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:44"> </del>counterbalanc<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:44">e</ins><ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:44"> to</ins> the ruling KMT party. This election remains one of the most significant milestones in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s pursuit of <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:44">pluralistic </ins>democracy Elections allow citizens to experience democracy by <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:45">choosing</ins> their choice of leaders. The role of the Legislative Yuan is to give the people a voice in government policy. The election of 1992 fulfilled the role of the Legislative Yuan and laid a solid foundation for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s democratic development. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> During the process of democratization, a wide array of difficulties and challenges had to be overcome. However, both the ruling and opposition parties faced <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:46">these</ins> obstacles rationally<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:46"> in order to</ins> realize <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:46">the goal of </ins>democra<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:46">cy</ins><ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:47"> as smoothly as possible </ins>Professor Samuel Huntington<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:47"> postulated that</ins>, in order for a country’s democratic conditions to be <del cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:48">“</del>consolidated<del cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:48">”</del>, power needs to change hands twice through peaceful elections. Compared to some of the other emerging democracies that have experienced bloodshed and major setbacks along the path of democratization, we have been fortunate<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:48">, and</ins> the people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> take pride in their democratic achievements. The legislative election<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:48">s</ins> of 1992 paved the way for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> to hold the direct presidential election of 1996, and experience its first change in power in 2000, <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:48">as well as </ins>its second one in 2008, all of which took place peacefully. Thus, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> can now be considered a <del cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T20:04">“</del>consolidated<del cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T20:04">”</del> democracy. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Throughout our democratization, the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place> has <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:49">been</ins> a role model<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:49">,</ins><del cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:49"> </del>exert<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:49">ing</ins> a profound influence on our democratic evolution. <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:49">M</ins>any Taiwanese have received higher education in the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region></st1:place>. After graduating, many have returned to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> to work or teach, bringing with them not only strong academic credentials, but also American culture, social norms and democratic ideals. It was natural for them to <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:51">convey</ins> the democratic values and political philosophy of the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region><ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:51"> back in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place></ins>. They <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:51">have </ins>helped, and continue to help, foster cordial relations between our two countries. Likewise, they have had a strong impact on <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s younger generations. In <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:51">this way</ins> democracy has taken root and has borne fruit in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>. With a newly formed identity, the younger generations of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> have <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:52">not only</ins> put these ideals into practice<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:52">, they have also</ins> helped consolidate them. This development serves as concrete proof that the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> share the values of freedom and democracy.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The Legislative Yuan’s role in the development of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>’s economy and relations with mainland <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p> The Legislative Yuan not only has earned a place in the history of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>’s democratization, bu<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:53">t </ins>also has played a role in the restructuring and stabilization of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>’s economic development and its relations with mainland <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place>. For example, the financial crisis of September 2008 had a negative impact on <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:54">the entire world</ins>, and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> was no exception. Accordingly, the Legislative Yuan rendered the government staunch support to help the people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> weather the storm. The legislators made their best efforts to boost <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s economy and stabilize the job market. In addition, the Legislative Yuan formulated<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:54">,</ins>amended<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:54"> and</ins> passed legislation aimed at ensuring the welfare of the people, <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:54">legislation </ins>such as the Statute for Industrial Innovation, the Special Statue for Distributing Consumption Vouchers to Revitalize the Economy, and the Special Statute for Expanding Investment in Public Works to Revitalize the Economy. These measures empowered the government to take even stronger measures to stimulate <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s economy. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> As for cross-strait relations, the Legislative Yuan has fulfilled its obligation to oversee the government<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:55">,</ins>conduct<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:55">ing</ins> rounds of deliberations on the accords signed with mainland <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>, such as the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) of August 2010. The ECFA is a milestone in the economic and trade cooperation between <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region> and mainland <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">China</st1:place></st1:country-region>. I am delighted to see the Joint Statement between the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region> and mainland <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place> issued after the talks between President Obama and Secretary General Hu Jintao on January 19 were completed. In the Joint Statement, President Obama expressed, “The Untied States applauded the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait…The United States supports the peaceful development of relations across the Taiwan Strait and looks forward to efforts by both sides to increase dialogues and interactions in economic, political and other fields, and to develop more positive and stable cross-Strait relations.” This statement testifies that the ECFA passed <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>’s Legislative Yuan is in line with the shared interests of both sides of the <st1:place w:st="on">Taiwan Strait</st1:place>. It also makes concrete contributions to the development of long-term interaction among the <st1:country-region w:st="on">United States</st1:country-region>, mainland <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> and <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> The Legislative Yuan serves as a channel for the people to express their opinions <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:56">as well </ins> as an overseer of government policy. Therefore, the Legislative Yuan can <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:56">use</ins> its <del cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:57">i</del><ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:57">nfluence </ins>to make the implementation of government policy more efficient. The Legislative Yuan, <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:58">along </ins>with the trust and power of the people of <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>, has shown support <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:58">for </ins>the government’s accords signed with mainland <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place>, and has instructed the government to carry out various economic and trade cooperation projects. For example, the sixth round of <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:58">negotiations with <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region></st1:place></ins> held in December 2010 focused on healthcare, medicine and investment protection. All of these issues are of great concern to the people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Cross-strait accords cannot be completed exclusively by the Executive branch<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:59">;</ins><ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T18:59">s</ins>uch<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:00">agreements </ins>also require that the legislature gain an understanding of and respect <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:00">for </ins>public opinion. <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:01">In </ins>so doing, the Legislative Yuan can better implement government policies and cross-strait regulations, as well as complete the deliberations. From this example, one can see that the Legislative Yuan and the people are like two sides of a coin. On one hand, the Legislative Yuan echoes public opinion. On the other hand<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:05">,</ins> it safeguards the rights of the people and protects their interests by watching over the government. In another example from 2008, I met <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:06">Mr. Chen Yunlin, </ins>the Chairman of the Association of Relations Across the Taiwan Strait (ARATS). During our meeting, I explicitly expressed our hope that <st1:city w:st="on">Beijing</st1:city> would dismantle <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:06">its</ins>missiles target<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:06">ing</ins> <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>, and stop hampering <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s participation in the international community. As the President of the Legislative Yuan and an upholder of public opinion, I am confident that these two aspirations are shared by all the people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>. Only if mainland <st1:country-region w:st="on">China</st1:country-region> extends goodwill with respect to these two concerns <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:07">can</ins> the people of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place> look at cross-strait cooperation and reciprocity in a positive light. This illustrates that, as the ultimate <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:07">protector</ins> of democracy, the Legislative Yuan needs to fulfill its responsibilities and spare no effort to safeguard <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s security and democracy.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>’s foreign relations and cross-strait relations<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:07"><o:p></o:p></ins> <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:08">In its </ins>pursui<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:08">t of</ins> democracy, the Republic of China (<st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region></st1:place>) <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:08">strives</ins>to strike a balance <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:08">between</ins> domestic issues, cross-strait relations and external relations. Decisions must be based on the goal <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:09">of</ins> promot <ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:09">ing</ins> the welfare of the people, social stability and national security. <st1:country-region w:st="on">Taiwan</st1:country-region>’s political and economic stability and development have attracted a great amount of attention from the rest of the world<ins cite="mailto:立法院" datetime="2011-01-19T19:10">, and </ins>