Chen promises to ‘do right thing’ for nation

Speaking to a group of staff at the Presidential Office, Chen said he had three wishes for Taiwan in the Year of the Dog.

Firstly, Chen said, he hoped Taiwan could unite and that goodwill and gratitude could replace criticisms and complaints. Secondly, he said, he hoped the nation would not experience any disasters and thirdly he hoped care and compassion for others could be found everywhere on the island.

The president said that in addition to getting together with family, giving thanks and feeling gratitude is another important part of the Lunar New Year.

“I hope everyone will have a generous and thankful mind in the new year,” Chen said.

Chen also said he found the thoughts of U.S. President George W. Bush inspiring, saying he was greatly impressed by the book “The Faith of George W. Bush” which he read during the Lunar New Year holiday period.

Chen said from reading the book he discovered the ideas “where there is faith, there is no fear” and “where there is no fear, there is strength,” mottoes for creating eventual success, the president said.

Chen, who was making a Lunar New Year address to Presidential Office staff, made no mention of his earlier controversial calls to abolish the National Unification Council and its guidelines for national unification. Instead he chose to emphasize that he found the American president inspiring.

Sources close to Chen said the president was only throwing out an idea for discussion when he said he was considering abolishing the council. Top government officials are also believed to be observing reactions to the president’s suggestion.

Abolishing the National Unification Council would violate a series of policy pledges Chen made in his first inauguration speech, known as his “five noes” policy.

The sources said Taiwan is also stepping up its communications with the U.S. as Washington does not understand why Chen made calls to abolish the council, which is in charge of plotting reunification with China.

At this stage, the sources said, Chen does not want to touch on the topic of abolishing the council again.

Meanwhile Chen’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) supports abolishing the National Unification Council and its guidelines for national unification, DPP spokesman Tsai Huang-liang said.

“The National Unification Council is a ghost left over from the era of martial law,” Tsai said.

Subscribe to The China Post and save 25%. Click here

SharePrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email