I decidedtotakeanotherroutebyservingasthedefenselawyerforthosepoliticalprisoners.
In 1986, withmartiallawstillineffect, I and 17 othermembersfoundedthefirstoppositionpartyinTaiwan—theDemocraticProgressiveParty—topushforTaiwan's democratizationastheonlypathtoendpoliticalpersecution.
Overthelast 26 years, theDPPfoughthardagainsttheKMT's one-partyrule.
manyinTaiwan, includingmyself, riskedtheirlives, and a goodlife, toslowlyopenthedoorfordemocracy.
ThankstothehelpofourAmericanfriends, democracybecame a reality.
I considermyselffortunate, andfeelveryproud, notonlytowitnessbutalsotoplay a roleinthehistoricalprocess.
I valuewhatwehaveinTaiwannow, and I willdowhateverittakestodefendourdemocracy.
Today I wouldliketoexplaintoyouhowtheDPPlooksatsomeimportantissues,
includinghowtodeepenTaiwan's democracy, howtoproceedwithmanagingcross-straitrelations, andhowtostrengthenourrelationswiththe U.S.
Here I wouldliketorefertothree "Rs" asmycoreconcepts: responsibility, reconciliation, andre-balance.Responsibility—beyondjustanopposition 29 00:05:48,400 --> 00:06:01,000 Since I becametheDPPChairman a yearago, I havetriedhardtomaketheDPPmorethanjustanoppositionparty,
butrather a responsibleforcethatproposesalternativepoliciesandstrivestooutperformthegoverningparty.
LastyearwhenTaiwan's economywasat a lowpoint, theDPPproposed a policypackagetostimulateTaiwan's economy.
AstheDPPChairman, I cannotshyawayfromthisresponsibility. Inthisregard, I adheretotheprincipleofreconciliationtoleaduptothenormalizationofcross-straitrelations.
Notlongago, Richardsentme a copyofhisrecentbookUnchartedStrait. Thereisoneargumentinthebookwithwhich I cannotagreemore: the U.S. shouldnotabandonTaiwan, butneedstostrike a balanceindealingwithTaiwanandChina.
I havealwaysbeenpragmaticandadheretotheprinciples.
MytrackrecordasPremierspeaksforitself. In 2006 to 2007, expandedcharterflightsandtourismwerebothnegotiatedinMacau. Whatwasagreeduponin 2008 wasactuallybasedonthosenegotiationsundertheDPPgovernment.
Lastyearwhen I ranforthechairmanship, I made a pledgetoestablish a ChinaAffairsCommittee.
EventhoughourpolicyprinciplesaresoundandinlinewithTaiwan's majority, thereseemstobe a gapinperception.
I knowthisiswhatweneedtoovercomeiftheDPPistomake a come-back.
Here I wouldliketohighlighttheDPP's corevalueonChinapolicy:
Taiwanis a sovereigncountry, withitsnationaltitletheRepublicofChina. ThisisthestatusquooftheTaiwanStrait; anychangetoitmustbeapprovedbythepeopleofTaiwanthroughdemocraticmeanssuchasreferendum. Thisiswhatwecalltheprincipleofdemocraticprocedure.
Thisprincipleisengravedinour 1999 "ResolutionRegardingTaiwan's Future." Itisalsowhat I calledthe "Taiwanconsensus" threeyearsago.
Ontheotherhand, Taiwanshouldengage a risingChinawithself-confidence. TaiwanshouldnotonlypursueinteractionanddialoguewiththeChinesegovernmentbutalsotheChinesepeople.
Thereisnosuchthingas a "magicformula" thatcanresolveallcross-straitdifferences.
NowthedifferencesbetweenTaiwanandChinaaretoowideintheareasofpoliticaldevelopmentandmilitarybalance. Improvementofrelationsshouldcomefrom a stepbystep, hardeffort. Theycannotbecapturedin a four-characterformula. Theprocessrequiresustodeliberateattheintra-party, domestic, andcross-straitlevels.
Taiwanese, andcertainlytheDPP, havealwaysconsideredTaiwan's relationswiththe U.S. asthecountry's mostimportantrelationship.
Nomatterwhathashappenedinthepast, mypartyneedstolookandmoveforward. Itisbasedonthisbeliefthat I decidedtore-establishourmissioninDCtostrengthenrelationswiththe U.S.
The U.S. isTaiwan's mostimportantdemocraticpartner, andalsooursecurityandeconomicpartner.
I wasontheCapitolHillyesterdaymeetingwithSenateandHouseleaders. I expressedtheheartfeltappreciationbytheDPP, andallpeopleinTaiwanindeed, fortheTaiwanRelationsAct.
Democracyandsecuritydonotfallfromheaven. Theycomewith a cost.
I wouldliketourgeyoutolookatmytrackrecordagainwhen I wasservingasTaiwan's Premier. Despitealldifficulties, thedefensebudgetreached 2.7% ofGDPin 2007, and 3% in 2008.
Inthistriptothe U.S., I broughtwithmethenewestblue-booksondefensetoshowourAmericanfriendsthat, eventhoughweareinoppositionnow, theDPPisserious, and I amserious, aboutTaiwan's defense.
I guaranteeyou: thefutureDPPgovernmentwillbefullycommittedtoTaiwan's self-defense.
Forsure, weasknotwhatthe U.S. candoforTaiwan, butaskwhatTaiwancandotoearnthe U.S. support.
Withthat, I wouldliketocalluponourAmericanfriendstore-balancerelationswithTaiwanwhileengagingChina, andtohelpTaiwanintheareasofsecurityenhancementandtraderelations.