President bush gave a talk on freedom and democracy in Kyoto, Japan, November 16, 2005. He praised Japan and South Korea for their freedom and democracy, talked about public health problems, such as SARS and avian flu, and energy needs. In speaking of freedom, he mentioned Taiwan, a sensible issue to China. He said in part:
Free nations are peaceful nations, free nations do not threaten their neighbors, and free nations offer their citizens a hopeful vision for the future. By advancing the cause of liberty throughout this region, we will contribute to the prosperity of all -- and deliver the peace and stability that can only come with freedom.
Some Asian nations have already built free and open societies. And one of the most dramatic examples is the Republic of Korea. . .
Taiwan is another society that has moved from repression to democracy as it liberalized its economy. Like South Korea, the people of Taiwan for years lived under a restrictive political state that gradually opened up its economy. And like South Korea, the opening to world markets transformed the island into one of the world's most important trading partners. And like South Korea, economic liberalization in Taiwan helped fuel its desire for individual political freedom -- because men and women who are allowed to control their own wealth will eventually insist on controlling their own lives and their own future.
Like South Korea, modern Taiwan is free and democratic and prosperous. By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society. Our one China policy remains unchanged. It is based on three communiques, the Taiwan Relations Act, and our belief that there should be no unilateral attempts to change the status by either side -- the status quo by either side. The United States will continue to stress the need for dialogue between China and Taiwan that leads to a peaceful resolution of their differences. . .
As China reforms its economy, its leaders are finding that once the door to freedom is opened even a crack, it can not be closed. As the people of China grow in prosperity, their demands for political freedom will grow as well. President Hu has explained to me his vision of "peaceful development," and he wants his people to be more prosperous. I have pointed out that the people of China want more freedom to express themselves, to worship without state control, to print Bibles and other sacred texts without fear of punishment. The efforts of Chinese people to -- China's people to improve their society should be welcomed as part of China's development. By meeting the legitimate demands of its citizens for freedom and openness, China's leaders can help their country grow into a modern, prosperous, and confident nation. . .
At the end, he cited a Chinese poem which reads "the people should be cherished the people are the root of a country the root firm, the country is tranquil" and concluded:
Today the people of Asia have made their desire for freedom clear -- and that their countries will only be tranquil when they are led by governments of, by, and for the people.
John Gershman of Foreign Po9licy in Focus, http://www.fpif.org, commented on President Bush's speech. In response to Bush's quote, Bershman wrote a poem as follows:
President Hu Jintao of China and President George W. Bush met in Beijing on November 20. Leaders were comfortable and cordial. Mr. Hu told President Bush that he was willing to ease economic differences. But on the Taiwan issue, Mr. Hu will not compromise. He said "we will by no means tolerate Taiwan independence." There were no concessions to Bush administration to release some detained dissidents ahead of a presidential visit, a sort of gestures that Mr. Hu's predecessors did.