Ma hopes China speeds up reforms

Chen Yung-feng, director of the Presidential Office's Public Affairs Office, held a press conference in the afternoon to expound the government's stand on some Internet surfers' plan of launching a Chinese “Jasmine Revolution” patterned after the series of revolts and uprisings in some Middle Eastern nations.

Chen said in a statement that President Ma always holds the stand that democracy and human rights are universal values that are extensions of the people-oriented thoughts and humanity in Chinese culture.

They are also the core value of people in Taiwan and a key barometer for the relationships across the Taiwan Strait, according to President Ma.

The president hoped that the mainland will be able to continue thriving and developing but concurrently quickening the progress toward political reforms to actively secure the human rights and treat dissidents well so that democracy and human rights will become the common language for people on the two sides of the people forever, Chen said.

Meanwhile, Chairwoman Tsai Ing-wen of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) also voiced concern and support for a message posted on the Internet two days earlier calling for a “Chinese jasmine revolution.”

Tsai, who made the remarks at a meeting of the DPP's legislative caucus, said the uprisings in the Middle East and the democratic movements in China, are significant events and represent important changes in international trends.

Taiwan's insistence on democracy and human rights are the country's most valuable assets and represent the foundations of the party's development, Tsai said.

In the face of the great challenges from China, the DPP will protect the values of Taiwan and support democratic revolutions across China and the Middle East, she said.

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

PrintEmail

Write a Comment

Terms

Enter your comments - 3000 characters max

Type in image code

Submit

 Receive China Post promos
 Respond to this email