Chen, a longstanding supporter of independence, said the ultimate goal of the U.S.-based Formosa Foundation was to influence American policy on Taiwan “from a so-called ‘one China’ policy to a ‘one China’, ‘one Taiwan’ policy.”

“I believe that where there is a will, there is a way,” Chen told a group of goodwill ambassadors selected by the U.S.-based Formosa Foundation according to a statement from the Presidential Office.

“Current developments show there is a great distance from our ideals and this goal but if everyone upholds this and does not give up... there will be a day when we are successful,” Chen said.

Beijing claims Taiwan is a renegade Chinese province and uses its considerable clout to ensure most countries in the world do not recognize Taiwan as a separate state.

It shuns any contact with Chen’s government because of its pro-independence policies.

Chen’s remarks follow his controversial decision in late February to scrap a council devoted to unification with China, a move that angered Beijing.

Chen’s image in the media recently has been tarnished by a string of alleged corruption cases involving family members and a close aide.

The U.S. switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979. It does not recognize Taiwan as a separate state but unofficially remains the island’s most important ally, selling it weaponry to defend itself.

The foundation, founded by banker Wu Li-pei in 2002, aims to strengthen ties between Taiwan and the U.S..

The foundation has an ambassador program, which gives young Taiwanese goodwill ambassadors to visit the U.S.

Chen said this year the goodwill ambassadors visited 40 U.S. states and met with 159 congressman and congressional aides for lobbying and to exchange ideas.

“The goodwill ambassadors ... helped them understand our resolve to uphold Taiwan as a sovereign independent country and protect peace, stability and security in the Taiwan Strait,” Chen said, according to a Presidential Office statement.

The president said he also thought the young ambassadors had done their best to explain the difficulties Taiwan is facing in its bid to join the World Health Organization (WHO) and its efforts to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the U.S.

Chen also told the nine goodwill ambassadors in the meeting that he understood they were concerned over the issue of whether high-ranking Taiwan officials were allowed to make visits to Washington and thanked them for their concern.

China normally objects to high ranking U.S. visits from Taiwan officials, viewing Washington accepting these kinds of visits as tantamount to giving recognition to Taiwan’s government.