President Ma Ying-jeou said Friday January 1, 2010 in his New Year's Day Message that the government will work hard in the new year to improve its shortcomings and lead the country to a brighter future.
On China-Taiwan issue, he stated:
My fellow citizens, the people of the two sides of the Taiwan Strait are all of Chinese ethnicity. We share a common heritage, language, history and culture. But the two sides have been separately governed for 60 years now. In that time, each side has operated under different political, economic and social systems. As our ways of life and experiences are vastly different, we require a certain period of time in which to connect and gain a better understanding of each other. At present, making political choices hastily, whether they be for immediate unification or immediate independence, would cause serious confrontation and tumult. No one would be the better-off, and neighboring nations would all be affected.
And so, for cross-strait relations, I have always called for adherence to the principle of "no unification, no independence and no use of force" under the framework of the ROC Constitution, and have sought to promote cross-strait interaction and cooperation within the parameters of the 1992 Consensus. This is not passively maintaining the status quo, but rather an active attempt to gain enough time in which to allow for the peaceful development of the cross-strait relationship. This will help the people of Taiwan and mainland China better understand one another and eliminate prejudices through greater communication and cooperation in the areas of trade and culture. With Chinese culture as the foundation, we can seek pragmatic and feasible solutions to cross-strait disputes.
My fellow citizens, since I took office in 2008, the government has resumed cross-strait talks, insisting all the while on parity and dignity. The ROC is a sovereign, independent nation, and Taiwan long ago became a democracy in which sovereignty lies in the hands of the people. We should have full confidence that Taiwan's future is, as a matter of course, in the hands of its 23 million people. Precisely because the Republic of China is a democratic country, cross-strait policy must be subject to both supervision by the Legislature and to public opinion. As to cross-strait agreements that concern the people's welfare, the government must be responsive to public opinion and increase communication with opposition parties and the people to seek out consensus and gain support.
During the fourth round of talks held 10 days ago between Chiang Pin- kung, head of Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation, and Chen Yunlin, head of mainland China's Association for Relations Across the Taiwan Strait, the two sides signed three agreements. Along with the nine agreements signed previously, altogether 12 agreements have been signed over the past 19 months. These agreements have yielded considerable results, for they cover regular direct cross-strait flights; direct postal services; allowing mainland Chinese tourists to visit Taiwan; financial cooperation; food safety; cooperation on fishing crew affairs; product testing and certification; inspection and quarantine of agricultural products; and joint crime-fighting and judicial cooperation. Each agreement enhances and safeguards the rights and interests of Taiwan's people and has nothing to do with sovereignty.
During each of the four rounds of talks, the government has always held to the principle of "putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people." The government will not do anything that is unfavorable to the people or will impair their ability to decide their own affairs. Additionally, the government has made the issues transparent and the content of the agreements public, and the process has been supervised by the Legislature. Numerous public opinion polls have shown that these agreements have the support of over half of the people. Over the past 19 months, steady progress has been made in cross-strait relations.
The mending of the cross-strait relationship has won the affirmation of the international community, thus restoring other nations' confidence in us and opening the door to closer and friendlier ties. On the international scene, Taiwan now symbolizes not only freedom, democracy and prosperity, but also peace. In the past, many countries stayed away from Taiwan, greatly apprehensive of getting caught up in cross-strait quarrels. Now that the cross-strait relationship has entered into a period of rapprochement, these countries have begun to discuss with us visa-free arrangements and agreements on the avoidance of double taxation. Today, more nations are supportive of Taiwan's participation in international organizations and related activities.
All of this has proceeded from cross-strait detente. However, this government will not indulge in wishful thinking by having the development of cross-strait ties determine our external relations. We will adopt a principle of seeking a proper balance between the two, so that cross-strait ties and foreign relations are mutually complementary and progress together, with neither subordinated to the other. Indeed, if Taiwan can get more international space, it will make us more willing and give us the courage to continue strengthening the cross-strait relationship, thereby creating a virtuous circle between the two sides. (Source: China Post, Jan 1, 2010).