Word: chen
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...TIME: Your plan to transit in the U.S. through New York strikes some people as unnecessarily provocative. Chen: According to recent polls, more than 62% of the people believe that my transit through the U.S. will be beneficial for promoting Taiwan's overall diplomacy. It's strange how the PRC is interfering in the affairs of other countries. The U.S. is a sovereign and independent country and it should be able to provide the appropriate reception and service to visiting heads of state from other countries. Why should they have to consult with anyone else...
...TIME: Why not allow more mainlanders into Taiwan -- more tourists, more journalists? They'd be able to see what's happening in Taiwan and take that information back. Chen: We aren't opposed to that. Every day there are at least 100,000 people from the mainland engaged in various kinds of work or activities here. Even a country as large as Japan has to set limitations on tourists from the PRC -- a small place like Taiwan must also cautiously evaluate and consider opening up more fully. We need to draw up a comprehensive plan...
...TIME: What benefit, if any, would unification with the mainland bring to Taiwan? Chen: Lin Yi-hsiung, the former chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party, has repeatedly called on the PRC to explain the benefits of unification. But the people of Taiwan cannot accept being a local government or a province of the PRC. The will of the 23 million people against being swallowed up by the PRC or living the kind of life lived by people in the PRC is clear and determined...
...TIME: And if those 23 million vote for independence, Taiwan would become independent? Chen: As I said in my inaugural speech last May, the conduct of cross-Strait relations must respect the free will of the people. I must act in accordance with our constitution in maintaining Taiwan's national security, dignity and sovereignty...
...TIME: But it's not only the Chinese government that opposes independence. If you look at polls, China's 1.3 billion people also seem to feel very strongly that Taiwan should not be an independent state. Chen: Taiwan's future cannot be decided by any single nation, government or group on behalf of the Taiwanese people. Our future can only be decided by the masters of Taiwan...