158 quotes found
"People feel anxious, especially when we have to wonder whether the president, Taiwan's democratically elected president, will be addressed as president. If he (Ma Ying-jeou) cannot even defend his own title, what can he defend for us?"
"Taiwan is the Republic of China, the Republic of China is Taiwan."
"Many people think the DPP does not welcome Chinese tourists. This is definitely not true."
"Politics should be as simple as possible; it should respond directly to the needs of the people, it should help to solve the problems for the people and this is what I want to do for Taiwan."
"I would like to stress that, we would be happy to see normal cross-strait exchanges based on equality and dignity, openness and transparency, and no political talks."
"I also hope that Mainland China does not misinterpret or misjudge the current (cross-strait) situation, or think that Taiwanese will bow to such pressure. In a democratic society, this kind of pressure is felt by all. No administration in Taiwan can make a decision that runs counter to public opinion."
"If (Mainland) China's dream is a dream of democracy, Taiwan will provide all needed assistance in the process of realizing that dream."
"You can have different stances, but it's wrong to hit someone (Culture Minister Cheng Li-chun). What consequence would there be if the same behavior happened in the authoritarian era? The answer is exactly the reason we should cherish the democracy."
"The institute (Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology)'s researchers laid the foundation for its success by daring to brave the challenges they faced and learning from their failures."
"In the face of (Mainland) China's suppression, Taiwan's sincerity towards our friends (states with diplomatic relations with ROC) remains unchanged, as does our position regarding maintaining the peaceful and prosperous status quo in the Asia-Pacific region."
"I am saddened to see these scenes of violence against unarmed protesters (in Hong Kong) and hope that Taiwan can continue to serve as a beacon of democracy for those who seek freedom."
"I want to stress that the situation in Ukraine (being attacked by Russia) and in the Taiwan Strait are fundamentally different, not only because of the natural barrier of the Taiwan Strait, but also Taiwan's geopolitical and strategic status."
"If President Tsai (Ing-wen) refuses to accept the '1992 consensus' and refuses to acknowledge its existence, I implore her to provide a specific solution for discourse with (Mainland) China, and not just throw around hipster slogans."
"President Tsai Ing-wen is a signal lamp casting out China’s looming shadow, conveying to the world that Taiwan will not acquiesce to the Chinese Communist Party."
"We are so proud of your leadership — a woman president in one of the freest societies in the world. We will not abandon our commitment to Taiwan."
"Only the blue sky, green land alliance can make Taiwan better."
"The silent annexation is ongoing. The Democratic Progressive Party’s loss of power might be tolerable, but the loss of sovereignty in our time would be an irreversible mistake that would jeopardize future generations."
"Taiwan does not oppose that there is only one China in the world, but that does not mean Taiwan is part of China."
"We should never have a doubt about Taiwan's independent status. Taiwan has been an independent and sovereign country since 23 March 1996, the day of its first direct presidential election."
"There is no timeline for future political negotiations, but both of us (Taiwan and Mainland China) must develop and accumulate enough friendship and mutual trust."
"Both sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) are so lovely and so many of their people are behaving like heroes and heroines, and yet Taiwan's former ambition to 'recover the mainland' has become a thing of the past."
"Let's put all this (cross-strait conflict) aside. The best choice for both sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) at this moment is peace."
"We should rebuild a just and harmonious society, where amicability exists between labor and capital, the younger and older generations, men and women, as well as concerned parties in the recent debates about legalizing same-sex marriage."
"With hindered communication across the strait, I will lead the (Kuomintang) party to take on the responsibility to protect and ensure the personal well-being, rights, social and economic exchange, and cultural transmission for people on both sides (Taiwan and Mainland China)."
"Of course, we are against Taiwan's independence, but we don't think right now is the time to talk about reunification (with Mainland China)."
"The two sides of the Taiwan Strait, based on the 'one China' principle, agreed that either side can freely interpret what 'one China' means in a verbal form. This means that the mainland can claim that the People's Republic of China represents all of China, while we can also claim that the Republic of China represents the whole of China."
"If the Kuomintang has the opportunity to rule (Taiwan) again, then we would have met the conditions stipulated by the (Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area) law. Assuming talks between the two sides (Taiwan and Mainland China) are successful, a Kuomintang government would be within its rights to sign a cross-strait peace treaty."
"One hundred years ago, the trend of the times facing the Chinese Revolutionary League (Tongmenghui) was irresistible, the trend of reunification confronting us today one hundred years thereafter is, likewise, irresistible, because the anti-secession trend has taken shape."
"Since a trilateral negotiation between Chinese mainland, Japan and Taiwan cannot be realized at the time, the Taiwan government should hold a dialogue with the mainland so the two sides could jointly discuss issues related to defending China's inherent territory."
"We (Taiwan and Mainland China) may not share the same history, but we could have a common destiny and future."
"The tomb of late general Bai Chongxi will form the basis for a Muslim cultural area and Taiwan historical park."
"A government should do what it should be doing, and act when it should be acting in critical circumstances."
"Beijing should face up to the existence of the Republic of China, as it is the best connection linking Taipei and Beijing."
"The ultimate goal of laws is to educate the society to abide by the law and law by itself can only address the symptoms, but education can reach deep into our heart, which is far more effective to set the society on the right course. So, education is the fundamental solution. Although I am an educator, I am marching toward the same goal as a lawyer and there is no need to feel disappointed."
"In the face of our (KMT) unprecedented, crushing defeat (in 2014 Republic of China local and municipal election), we have no time for a power struggle."
"If we don't put forward such a proposal (signing a peace pact with Mainland China) and start negotiating with (Mainland) China, how can we know we will not achieve any results?"
"If I win (2016 ROC presidential election), I will promote peace development across the Taiwan Strait and let people enjoy the benefits."
"With a woman's selflessness and kindness, I look to end populism and political wrangling between the blue and green camps in the coming (2016 ROC) presidential election against Tsai (Ing-wen)."
"Since I'm shouldering this commitment, I will do it with courage and without fear. Being the president of the Republic of China is no simple task."
"People should remember history so they can truly cherish what they have now."
"I am accused of deviating from mainstream public opinion simply because I told the truth. Is this really the case?"
"This (KMT) party can forsake me, but I will not abandon this party."
"I will not hesitate to even sell my house. It (Kuomintang) is my party and I will save it myself."
"It's time that six decades of separation (between Taiwan and Mainland China) and previous generations' confrontation be ended. Let the current and the future generations choose common development and jointly create a situation of mutual benefits."
"I had no option to turn down the (Vice Premiership) appointment or make other choices as the country needs me at a time when it is facing the most trying challenge it ever has faced."
"I am always with all of you and everyone's old pal. But it's better not to call me old."
"The 930,000-odd voters that supported my rival over me and the greater number of voters (than in the 2010 election) who chose not to take part in this (2014) election or were unwilling to come to express support, whatever the reason - as the incumbent mayor, my city government team and everyone else will certainly review (this election) with humility."
"This is the time we have to make a decision (to replace Hung Hsiu-chu as the KMT candidate for 2016 ROC presidential election), and it is a decision we have to make."
"The KMT after 17 October (2015) will be a united KMT. As chairman, I cannot let the party become history."
"To safeguard the KMT’s reins of government and majority in the legislature, as well as the future of the public and the Republic of China, I must apologize (for breaking my promise to serve as New Taipei City mayor in full term) to each New Taipei City resident who supports me. I want to tell every Taiwanese and resident of the city that I am doing this (going for the 2016 ROC presidential election) because I have to protect the ROC we love, the democratic politics we have fought to preserve and our healthy democracy of checks and balances."
"I had previously stated on many occasions that I would not run in the 2016 presidential election. But at this crucial moment, it was a decision I had no choice but to make in order to improve the health of Taiwan's democracy."
"Then I remembered the phrase 'do not forsake your original intentions' — which was why I decided 17 years ago to run as a legislator and make changes to our society to make the lives of the next generation better and give Taiwan's future more hope."
"The development of Cross-Strait relations is not decided unilaterally by any one side. It depends on a consensus on both sides."
"I have learned to never give up, to take the necessary risks to win and to seek victory amid defeat. This is the spirit of Taiwan. We stick with it to the end and never quit."
"We should harbor a positive mentality to any cross-strait development and exchange."
"The Republic of China has always adhered to the path of democracy and freedom and will surely do so in the future."
"There is no right or wrong method (for party's primary election). As long as we choose the most appropriate method at the time, that is the right method."
"Only through dialogue and exchanges and mutual respect can we promote goodwill and resolve the estrangement between the two sides of the strait."
"(Shinzo) Abe is forever Taiwan's good friend."
"(Mainland) China is telling you (Taiwan) that that there is no safe place."
"The truth is, ever since (Mainland) China snapped up Panama (in June 2017), none of our (Republic of China) diplomatic allies in Latin America are considered safe."
"I'd like them (Mainland Chinese) to live here (Kinmen) too. I hope someday they can buy property here and their children could come to school here."
"The affections between people from Kinmen and the mainland (China) are as thick as blood. Our ancestors all come from the same place. Our daily lives, economy, culture and language are almost the same. That's key reason why we (Kinmen people) feel close to each other. Basically nobody in Kinmen supports Taiwan's independence. What's going to happen to Kinmen if Taiwan declares independence? As a result, it's easier for Kinmen to do business with the mainland. Beijing is also more willing to provide more preferential treatments to Kinmen as opposed to Taiwan (island). Kinmen is not big, so we must develop our economy along with Fujian province and the rest of (mainland) China. We hope we can do that because we have no other choices."
"In my political career, I have completed 'Mission: Impossible' three times (with regards to cross-strait relations)."
"There are no countries that have diplomatic relations with other countries simply because of democracy and freedom. They are all focused on national interests."
"Taipei is not only the nation's capital, but also the engine of its economy. Yet, in the past few years the city's economy has shrunk and has been surpassed by New Taipei City."
"We won't give up on any opportunity to rescue the victims. More than 90 rescue workers are still working in shifts searching for people who remain unaccounted for. Even if the golden 72 hours are slipping away and there is only a 0.1 percent chance (of saving them), we will continue to search for the five (mainland) Chinese tourists who remain missing."
"When coal-fired power generation is a necessity for Taiwan, the Linkou Power Plant, equipped with the most advanced generators and pollution control and abatement systems and burning the types of coal that have the fewest impurities, is the model we look toward."
"I will set a policy goal next year to make Taiwan a bilingual country, with English and Chinese being its official languages."
"Neither the (ROC) central government nor the local governments can shoulder the development of the nation's infrastructure or economy alone. It must be a joint effort."
"The time has come because more and more Taiwanese people have realized that Taiwan needs a new constitution."
"In the future, there will be no blue-green (KMT or DPP) partisanship in Kaohsiung. All-out efforts will be made to pump up the (city) economy."
"I am no ecstasy pill (like what did the DPP official Lin Hsi-yao said). It is the public (people of Kaohsiung) who can bear no more (about the lack of prospects in Kaohsiung under the DPP government)."
"I perfectly understand how big a decision Kaohsiung voters have made to elect me mayor because I have only lived here for a short time. I promise to build a clean government, and use whoever is good for the city, regardless of their political affiliations, and do all I can to make Kaohsiung rich and great."
"If a 93-year-old politician (Mahathir Mohamad) can create a miracle on 9 May (2018) by ousting a corrupt regime that had ruled Malaysia for 61 years, nothing is impossible in politics."
"There are too many political issues (in Taiwan), he (bread master Wu Pao-chun) is not the one to deal with them, just let him do a good job in the bread profession."
"Both sides of the Taiwan Strait (Taiwan and Mainland China) have their differences of opinion. I hope people on both sides could help, protect and give their blessings to a simple businessman (bread master Wu Pao-chun) who wishes to develop his business without becoming too involved in politics."
"Fortune's wheel turns every 30 years. And now, it is time for Kaohsiung to be the master and the focus of the Chinese community worldwide."
"What you (Mainland Affairs Council Minister Chen Ming-tong) have in mind are rigid restrictions, while what I have in mind is economic development. Rest assured, my city (Kaohsiung) will not touch anything related to diplomacy or national defense. Kaohsiung will only be an 'economic animal'."
"There are 'two undeniable' that are colliding with one another: "Do not doubt the Chinese Communist Party's determination to recover Taiwan" and "Do not doubt Taiwanese's determination to pursue democracy and freedom"."
"Kaohsiung is opening its arms to all cities, nations and territories of the world."
"Clearly, agricultural products and seafood from Taiwan are not promoted enough in Hong Kong."
"Your questions are very good (referring to the three questions asked by Post journalist questions regarding Beijing's "one country, two systems" governing principle, the "1992 consensus" on cross-strait relations and whether he would run for ROC 2020 presidential election). Have you tasted the fruit we brought from Kaohsiung? Haven't you? I have made it very clear that this trip (to Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland CHina) is a trip of economy and friendship. Thanks for your three questions."
"I'm bringing along my wife, my deputy mayor and my team to Hong Kong, under the watch of 10 city councilors. Am I really going to sell out Kaohsiung (to Mainland China)? I'm only here (in Hong Kong, Macau, Shenzhen and Xiamen) to sell fruits and fish products."
"Macau has its own development strategies while Kaohsiung also has its own development strategies. Anyway, we are amazed that Macau's current Gross Domestic Product per capita ranks second in the world after having risen from HK$10,000 or so to over HK$80,000 in the past two decades, and Kaohsiung will strive to catch up."
"Now I reiterate that I support the 1992 consensus ... I hope there will be more exchanges across the strait and people will become good friends."
"Today's Xiamen is a beautiful garden city, and we hope Kaohsiung will get better as well."
"Whoever can secure Taiwan's safety and make its citizens rich, then this is the one who will be a great president for Taiwan. Please support this person (in the 2020 Republic of China presidential election)."
"Fighting for the economy is not a slogan. Show the results. It's already been three years (since President Tsai Ing-wen took office). I don't care whatever reason or excuse you use, the point is how do the ordinary (Taiwanese) people feel? Too many Taiwanese people feel financially hard-hit. This is something people cannot be deceived about"
"I have witnessed for myself that Taiwan's progress has been idling for 20 years due to divisive and malfunctioning partisan politics. I could say the government of Taiwan is not dominated by public servants but by party servants."
"I love the Republic of China (ROC), and I am willing to take all the responsibilities as long as it can help boost the development of the ROC."
"Given the current situation, I cannot be included in opinion polls on the presidential election. As Kaohsiung mayor, I shoulder the expectations of Kaohsiung residents. If (KMT) party headquarters or the Central Standing Committee needs Han Kuo-yu in some way to make all kinds of arrangements, including opinion polls, I will respect their decision."
"For 2020 (Republic of China presidential election), Han Kuo-yu hereby announces that he is ready to take on any important position and willing to risk life and limb to defend the ROC."
"I have reiterated the four points time and again and very clearly: Defend the Republic of China; reject "one country, two systems"; love freedom and democracy; stand with peace and prosperity."
"This tree has a hole with water in it where mosquitoes could breed!"
"The (2020 Republic of China presidential) election is a choice between a peaceful Taiwan Strait or a Taiwan Strait filled with crisis."
"The people will make a most sacred and solemn choice (in the upcoming 2020 Republic of China presidential election) for the fate of our country in the next four years. We will choose whether to defend the Republic of China (ROC) or destroy the ROC."
"We shall strive to create another Taiwan Miracle, where Taiwan is safe and the people are rich."
"This is a sacred presidential election (in 2020). It's not just for a personal victory for Han Kuo-yu, and it's not just for our Kuomintang. It's for our country, the Republic of China. We need to wholeheartedly create a safe Taiwan, where the people are rich, a Taiwan miracle, an economic miracle."
"Our products are sold at higher prices and we lost (Mainland) Chinese tourists not traveling in group tours (to Taiwan). Without people coming in or goods going out, the (Taiwan) economy cannot grow."
"We believe the government should truly serve the people."
"I was concerned on a daily basis about solving Kaohsiung's financial difficulties and one day it occurred to me that Itu Aba Island falls under Kaohsiung's jurisdiction."
"Taiwan is one step away from becoming like North Korea: completely locked out of things. We need to break free from this situation. If there is no threat to national security, we need to open the doors wide open."
"(The current cross-strait policy under President Tsai Ing-wen) is like a runaway train. Tsai's cross-strait policy is simply 'hatred of (Mainland) China, self-harm to Taiwan.'"
"People who commit murder in Taiwan should be sent back to the country for trial, period.'"
"Thank you very much for the (Kaohsiung) mayor (elect Han Kuo-yu)'s support of my profession. I am a professional baker. The world of bread is simple and happy. I like and enjoy making friends with you through bread. I am honored that many young people are willing to enter this industry because of me. I have a responsibility to create a bigger market for young people. Finally, Wu Pao-chun is still Wu Pao-chun. I am a very simple baker."
"Although Han (Kuo-yu) and I belong to different political camps, we both possess ROC national identification cards. Like I once said, the distance between the pan-blue (Kuomintang) and pan-green camps (Democratic Progressive Party), however wide it is, is narrower than that between the pan-blue camp and the red camp (Communist Party of China)."
"If Han Kuo-yu is unfortunately elected (as) president (of the Republic of China) next year (2020), more visitors will arrive (in Taiwan) and exports will increase. People will become rich, but the People's Liberation Army will come in (to Taiwan). It will be a disaster for Taiwanese people and everyone will die together. Is that what you want?"
"Han (has managed to) mobilized the middle class and the lower middle class (in Kaohsiung) without paying money. Han Kuo-yu is the only candidate who has a really strong appeal to the lower middle-class voters."
"The KMT and Han should clearly explain what they support, what their China policy is and what their views on Taiwan's sovereignty are."
"It (referendum by Kinmen County residents which voted against the establishment of casinos in Kinmen) showed that Kinmen folks were thinking about development (of the county) in the long term, instead of being shortsighted and allowing themselves to be lured by profits (from casinos) close at hand."
"As a local government, Kinmen should avoid becoming embroiled in (cross-strait) political affairs, but the county needs to seize opportunities (with Mainland China) when the atmosphere is right. Fujian and Kinmen are neighbors and during the trip to the (Fujian) province, the (Kinmen) county government can put forward ideas on future exchanges and cooperation between the two sides, in the hope of concrete results."
"We have come up with several feasible measures (in promoting Kinmen in Fujian) and I'll do my best to let local people sense the enthusiasm of the Kinmen County government."
"If President Tsai refuses to accept the '1992 consensus' and refuses to acknowledge its existence, I implore her to provide a specific solution for discourse with (Mainland) China, and not just throw around hipster slogans."
"As for the role of the Taipei City Government, we (the city government) will do our best to listen to different opinions, and will not avoid the (228 Incident) issue."
"When the situation across the Taiwan Strait is tense, we have a need even more for communication and exchanges, and the two cities forum (Shanghai-Taipei City Forum) can be that kind of platform."
"Taipei is committed to becoming a friendly, diverse and inclusive city."
"As long as the public still needs my services, I shall do my best."
"This is not the first time a branch of the executive (Presidential Office) has refused to answer questions (regarding cigarette smuggling scandal) from the legislative body using that excuse and I am sure it will not be the last."
"It would be the "sin of our generation" if we fail to provide a good environment for our children."
"Transportation infrastructure should undergo a professional evaluation and should not be used as a bargaining chip for the election."
"If the social and financial situation in Hong Kong continues to unravel (due to the ongoing Hong Kong protests), then more institutions will flee the territory. Unfortunately, Taiwan is not as attractive as Hong Kong or Singapore as an alternative capital hub because of Taiwan's higher tax burdens and lower proximity to English-speaking economies."
"Now is a very good time for Taiwan to ask for WHO (World Health Organization) participation, because some countries still do not understand the relationship between Taiwan and China during the global 2019-nCoV outbreak. We should let them know that Taiwan is Taiwan, not China, and that by attending the WHO, Taiwan could contribute to global healthcare by sharing its excellent healthcare experiences."
"If I am elected (as the Kuomintang) party chairperson, the necessary discussion or debate are things that should be done. Every proposition, if I am the party chairperson, I would need to respect. The most important thing is to be able to form a consensus after discussions. The role of the party chair is to serve as a platform for how to let this project of reforming and transforming (Kuomintang) run smoothly."
"Kuomintang is an inclusive political party, and different opinions can be discussed."
"History (white terror in Taiwan) cannot be forgotten. There is no history that cannot be declassified, no truth that cannot be revealed."
"The support for Taiwan and friendship with Taiwan is pretty much the same. My job here has three main focal points – security, economic issues, and political and international participation."
"We also hope that the U.S., through its global influence, can encourage other like-minded countries to support Taiwan, take an interest in regional security, and support Taiwan’s international participation."
"This level of mutual trust is an extremely important foundation for Taiwan-U.S. relations. We are walking a tightrope and need to move very carefully. There will be times when we face setbacks, but in the end, we are still moving forward."
"There is a longer-term threat and that is, China hasn’t renounced the use of force to absorb Taiwan, and that is not a new threat. It’s been there for decades."
"The reality is that China has opposed almost every international initiative we have tried over the last four decades. They have also opposed efforts we have made to strengthen Taiwan's democracy. I mean, they tried to test fire missiles in the Taiwan Strait area when we had our first presidential election."
"Taiwan right now stands at the front lines of countering economic, political, and military coercion from the PRC. And the best way for supporting Taiwan is to engage with Taiwan on these fronts. And of course, on the economic side deepening our trade and investment relations with a stronger legal infrastructure, such as a trade agreement, would certainly help that effort."
"We are in a period of complicated politics and a geostrategic situation. Certainly the imperative is there to initiate negotiations. That is very much Taiwan's agenda. We certainly hope that the U.S. would share that view and also work with us to proceed with negotiations."
"As a governmental delegate, [I] should not take a side in a domestic election in the U.S. because it is after all the choice to be made by the American people."
"Our top priority is to maintain regional stability and peace in the Taiwan Strait and beyond. It is not a matter only for Taiwan but a common issue for the interests of other regional stakeholders."
"Taiwanese people have lived under military threat from China over several decades. It will continue to be a problem for the people of Taiwan as long as the Chinese do not renounce the use of force. However, we are in the dynamic process of enhancing our capabilities of curbing its threats. I see that we are in a position to deter the Chinese by making it their consideration of an invasion too costly to operationalize."
"It is clear that peace in the Taiwan Strait is a very important matter that has global consequences. Again, it would be in everyone's interest to see stability and peace maintained, to do what is possible to deter any kind of destabilizing moves and any unilateral changes to this to the stable situation in the Taiwan Strait on part of the PRC."
"Taiwan and South Korea maintain a deeply strong trade partnership. We are open to any opportunity to complement each other and make both of us more capable and competent. I am aware that South Korea has a great influence on the semiconductor industry. Thus, I think that both of us can cooperate as long as we share a common goal, which is technological advancement that will take humanity to the next level. A shared purpose between us is to invent technologies not to control and monitor citizens but to make quality of life better for all in cooperation with our partnering nations."
"This [Taiwanese] government, therefore, has always striven to maintain an ever-forbearing attitude with respect to the freedoms of speech, the press, publication and assembly in hopes of liberating Taiwan's people from the spiritual shackles that have bound them. The government has done so not only to enable the people to dare to speak, but to ensure the protection of every person's right to truly speak his or her mind and express views different from those of others."
"In the past, there was no freedom, so we struggled to get freedom. In the past, we were oppressed by the political system, so we opposed the system. But today's Taiwan is a democratic nation. Besides seeking freedom, we must also consolidate the rule of law, accept the responsibilities associated with that, and work together to sustain our system of democratic, constitutional government."
"It is our solemn duty and obligation to defend the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait. It is China that is attempting to use military force to invade Taiwan and to change the peaceful status quo in the Taiwan Strait."
"As the leader of this nation, I want to make Taiwan into a normal country. Even though Taiwan is an independent, sovereign country, it is not yet a normal and complete country. Why do I say that Taiwan is not yet a normal country? Because if it were, it would be a member of the UN family and also be the member of the World Health Organization. Why do I say that Taiwan is not yet a complete country? Because our current Constitution has never been approved by our people. The 23 million people of Taiwan really need a new Taiwan constitution that is timely, relevant, and viable."
"After I finish my term as president, I want to be a happy volunteer. As I have said before, our democratic reform is still ongoing and it must continue to be consolidated and deepened. But there is still a lot we could do regarding strengthening Taiwan-centric consciousness as well as realizing social equity and justice. I think I could be of assistance in this regard. Apart from being a happy volunteer, I also wish to make some contribution as a pusher and a cultivator and a gardener on Taiwan's road to democracy."
"With no clear national identity, our national security cannot be safeguarded, for there will be no basis upon which national interests can be defended."
"Taiwan's democracy embodies not merely a democratic experiment; it signifies an exemplary success. The standard of democracy achieved in Western nations is the result of years of trial and error. By comparison, Taiwan's new democracy, after weathering rough waters, has burgeoned into an even more precious accomplishment. Our experience also serves as a reminder that democracy does not come ready-made, nor is it a utopian ideal. There is no express train to transport us to the final destination. Democratic advancement occurs only through constant and gradual endeavor, one step at a time."
"Taiwan is not a part of someone else, not someone else's local government, and not someone else's province."
"As long as we are united as one, stand firmly in our stride, and master our own direction, I believe we will again open up our own road and carve out the future of Taiwan"
"Our Taiwan road is "a road of democracy, a road of freedom, a road of human rights, and a road of peace for Taiwan". Taiwan is our country. Our country should not be bullied, dwarfed, marginalized, and localized."
"Constitutionally, and presently, we consider the Chinese Communist Party a menacing party and a menacing regime. They have missiles targeting us and have incessantly threatened to invade us by force."
"We are two separate political entities. Of course, we must also explain it to other international friends. That is, Taiwan and China are two countries that are in a bit of trouble. In our respective constitutions, they also put the other's territorial sovereignty in their own constitutions. This is the biggest trouble for both of us. However, in fact, if we look at the two countries at present, whether they are sovereignty, culture, or the entire political system of the country, they are basically two completely different countries."
"In terms of global knowledge about Taiwan, more could certainly be done. And we would need it. Let's start with how we are called: our official name is still the Republic of China but now most of our population prefer to say that our name is Taiwan. As far as we are concerned, we would very much like to become friends or partners with a larger number of countries around the world, but it is not a simple matter. In our history, most of the time governments have focused only on the relationship with mainland China. We have changed this line, trying to diversify international relations."
"About a more pragmatic approach in relations with China, from my point of view I believe that real advantages for both of us, Taipei and for Beijing, can only come from a normal relationship and a balanced dialogue between country and country, between party and party. This is something that can only happen if Taiwan strengthens its democratic system and its international role."
"I believe that China needs to address its own internal problems, from Xinjiang to Tibet, and when they manage to fix them and they can be more stable the discussion between us will be easier."
"According to some, Beijing may need to try to recover Taiwan with greater urgency, while others think it should focus more attention on its internal problems. From my point of view, I believe that China should really focus on its own internal problems because otherwise it risks one day following the same parabola of Russia and maybe it will need to reorganize in several small regions with greater autonomy than now."
"It is often difficult to explain to people why democracy is important. Even in Taiwan, even if we are a young democracy, it is not a simple mission. It is enough to look at the previous local elections to understand that even here it happens that hope for economic growth is placed before democratic values."
"We are in a complicated situation but we are trying to maintain and increase our democracy and our values. We are rather isolated and unsupported within international society but our responsibility is to promote cooperation on practical issues, such as public health, climate change or human rights, but also on democratic values. The rest of the world should do the same with us."
"Taiwan will be a beautiful country. A normal country. We need time to change, the road is long but we will continue to follow it."
"We can only achieve victory for Pingtung (County) when working as a team."