Remark for "DEMOCRACY, PEACE & CONFLICT IN EAST ASIA", An Academic Workshop at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Thursday, March 30, 2000 Presented by Director-General Sheng-tsung Yang, Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago
On March 18, 2000, the Republic of China on Taiwan conducted the second popular presidential election in its history, in an orderly and successful process that underscores the maturity of our democracy. Three major candidates were locked in stiff competition for the presidency and the level of popular excitement was very high. Nearly 13 million voters of its 22 million population turned out for this historic election, a turnout rate of more than 82 percent, which was six percent higher than in the previous presidential election of 1996. Voter participation in our national and local elections remains among the highest of any democracy worldwide, thanks to serious competition among political parties.
Mr. Chen Shui-bian of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), a former mayor of Taipei City, was elected by a plurality of near 5 million votes (39.3%). James Soong was in second place, with 4.6 million votes (36.8%), who is independent candidate and former Taiwan Provincial Governor. Vice President Lien Chan the ruling Nationalist Party, Kuomintang (KMT) candidate was in third place, with a little more than 2.9 million votes (23.1%), According to the ROC constitution, a plurality of popular votes is necessary for election. We do not use an Electoral College system, and no run-off is required.
Our people have accepted the results of this free and fair process and will respect and support the new leader. Between now and Presidential Inauguration Day on May 20, a peaceful and orderly transition of authority will be underway in accord with our democratic constitution, the first transfer of government between political parties in my nation・s history. It is an unprecedented experience for us and we expect it to proceed smoothly, as befits a constitutional democracy like ours.
President-elect Chen, received a law degree at National Taiwan University, and later served the country as a Taipei City councilor, national legislator, and most recently as mayor of Taipei City. Mr. Chen comes from a humble family in southern Taiwan; he had high academic achievement as a student; and had struggle for social justice and political reforms during the ROC・s transition period to democracy. Mr. Chen gained the public attention in defending political dissidents arrested after the Kaohsiung Incident on Taiwan in 1980. Afterwards, he became an active member of the ROC・s first opposition party, the DPP, when it was formed in 1986.
Vice President-elect Annette Lu, a longtime DPP member, is currently Taoyuan County executive. She has been an activist on democratic reforms and women・s rights for more than two decades, and as Vice President she will hold the highest official position of any woman in the Republic of China・s history.
Surely the election of Mr. Chen and Ms. Lu to my country・s two highest offices erases any doubt anywhere about the sincerity and success of my government・s democratization efforts over the past thirteen years. As President Clinton remarked following our election, it ：clearly demonstrates the strength and vitality of Taiwan・s democracy；. Indeed, the current ROC government has clearly left its lasting legacy for future generations to enjoy.
Today, representative government and the rule of law are stable and constitutionally guaranteed institutions in my country. Competitive elections, responsive political leadership, and free speech have given true moral authority to the Republic of China as a government ：of the people, by the people, and for the people； advocated by both Abraham Lincoln of the United States and Sun Yat-sen, founder of the ROC.
The Taiwan・s presidential election 2000 emerges a new democracy. First, the government tolerates opposition; secondly, the government is willing to transfer power to that opposition after a fair election. the United States had the test in 1801 election when the ruling party of John Adams and Alexander Hamilton lost election in the popular vote to Thomas Jefferson Anti-Federalists.
In Taiwan・s presidential election 2000, the ruling Nationalist Party, Kuomintang (KMT) lost the election due to internal split. The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) won the popular vote by 39.3%. Now, after election, the ruling KMT is willing to transfer power to the DPP peacefully.
Looking into the future, our working relationship with the people of the United States will not change with a new ROC presidential administration. Close cooperation will remain a top priority for us. Since the people of Taiwan share the same political and economic principles as Americans, we both have every expectation of sustaining a close partnership for generations to come.
My Countrymen sincerely appreciate the broad support and concern which the United States leadership, the American news media, and so many public-spirited citizens still express toward Taiwan, even though diplomatic relations were severed long ago. All Americans should realize that the bilateral partnership is stronger today than ever before. Trade rose from $7.3 billion annually in 1978, to $54.3 billion last year, as Taiwan has become America・s seventh-largest trading partner in the world. In fact, every year the U.S. exports to Taiwan almost fifty percent more than the amount of goods it exports to the Chinese mainland. Direct investment, joint ventures, and other forms of commercial interaction help drive this dynamic partnership between my country and the United States, and the trend of cooperation is certain to continue in the years to come.
The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 provides the basis in U.S. law for every aspect of our bilateral cooperation; and it has been reaffirmed repeatedly as fundamental U.S. policy to ward Taiwan by Congress and every American presidential administration over the past two decades. It provides the permanent foundation for the broad range of economic, cultural, and other relations between the United States and Taiwan, helping our people to meet the many challenges they face today.
The future success of cross-Taiwan Strait contacts and cooperation, as well as the very survival of freedom on Taiwan and the hope for establishing democracy and human rights in Mainland China, will depend on a continuing strong relationship between the United States and Taiwan. For many years, the United States has made essential defensive weapons available to the ROC under the Taiwan Relations Act; and this remains critical to our survival. In the new century, cooperation in technology and security between the ROC and the United Stated will remain one of the most important factors for maintaining stability across the Taiwan Strait. For only when a free and democratic system has been implemented on both sides of the Taiwan Strait will the peace and security of Asia be assured.
Ladies and gentlemen: as the Republic of China moves forward into a new phase of its history with a new government, I truly believe the people of the United States and the ROC can look ahead to bright new horizons of partnership in almost every field of human endeavor. Together we can work to promote the many values and principles we share in common. Fundamentally, the cause we all support is the preservation of peace, prosperity, and the endurance of mankind・s freedom in the new century.
Thank you very much.Last Update: April 13, 2000