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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A33322-2004Mar29_2.html (這個連結將於十四天後失效) Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian Let me give you some examples to explain. In order to reach and establish effective governance, there is a need for us to engineer this constitutional reform. For example, in our constitutional reform efforts, we will try to deal with whether to adopt the presidential system in use in the U.S. or the Japanese cabinet system. We will also deal with the issue of having a five-branch government for division of power or a three-branch government. We will also deal with the issue of legislature reform, introducing a single-district, two-vote system, and also cutting the number of legislative seats in half. We also intend to deal with the government system by having a two-tier government system instead of the existing three-tier system, especially because the provincial government has been temporarily suspended. There is an urgency to deal with this question. In our new constitution, we will also lower the voting age from 20-years-old to 18-years-old. And also, we will gradually change the compulsory military service to voluntary military service. A new constitution would also incorporate the protection of basic human rights. For example, the right to peace, and also incorporating the three laws related to labor rights, including solidarity rights, justice rights and also the right to negotiation. In the new constitution, we will also dedicate one chapter to the issue of the indigenous peoples' rights, because we believe that the relationship between the government and the indigenous ethnic groups is a relationship of a new partnership and a relationship of quasi-country-to-country relations. Namely, there is one country within a country. These issues do not have any bearing on the independence or unification issue, nor will the constitutional reform effort violate our "five no's" commitment and pledge. Q: Is there any way you could think of to define "one China" that would be acceptable to the people of Taiwan? For example, what if "one China" were a federation in which the People's Republic of China and Taiwan were equal members? Would that be acceptable to the people of Taiwan possibly? A: The "one China" principle defined by the Beijing authorities is that of peaceful unification, and the "one country, two systems" formula. And their emphasis is that after unification there will be "one country, two systems," and the core of the emphasis lies in "one country." Under this principle, the so-called "one country" actually is "one China," and the People's Republic of China is the sole representative of the "one China." So the so-called "one country" is "one China," which means the People's Republic of China. Under such a principle, Taiwan becomes part of the People's Republic of China. And the Beijing authorities see Taiwan's presidential election this time as one of its local elections. That is why the vast majority of the 23 million people of Taiwan cannot accept the definition laid out by the Beijing authorities regarding the "one China" principle. Nor is it acceptable to our people when we see actions taken by the Beijing authorities in support of their "one China" principle. That is why in my inaugural speech in 2000, I especially said both sides of the strait should face and deal with the issue of a future one China together. In other words, for us, "one China" is an issue. This issue can be discussed. But the so-called "one China" does not exist now. Perhaps it will in the future. So we should all be able to sit together and deal with the future one China issue together. But in the short term, I don't think there can be an answer to this issue. For the 23 million people of Taiwan, whether our country is called Taiwan or the Republic of China, it doesn't change the fact that we are an independent, sovereign country. We are not a local government of another country. So this is the status quo. We want to maintain this kind of status quo. We certainly don't want Taiwan's current status quo to be changed unilaterally. I believe Taiwan or the Republic of China is an independent, sovereign country. Even Mr. Lien and Mr. Soong in this campaign did not dare deny it. They don't dare say we are not a country. I think we have reached an internal consensus that insists on Taiwan being an independent, sovereign country. I think only Beijing cannot accept the fact that the Republic of China or Taiwan is an independent country. I have observed a very interesting phenomenon. The Beijing authorities refuse to recognize the existence of the Republic of China. However, they dread that we may one day change our name. I see a great inconsistency in this phenomenon. Q: You've mentioned the "one country, two systems" formula in regards to Taiwan several times. What lessons do you draw from the recent moves of the Beijing government toward Hong Kong? A: As we have observed the events in Hong Kong over the past year, I think our observation only further strengthens the conviction of the 23 million people of Taiwan in rejecting the "one country, two systems" formula. We have observed major problems with "one country, two systems" in Hong Kong. For example, 500,000 people took to the street in protest of Article 23 of the Basic Law in Hong Kong because they felt their freedom and democracy had been infringed upon. In Taiwan, we have full democracy, and our freedom and democracy are fully protected. We do not wish to return to the era of authoritarianism. We don't want our freedoms to be restricted or taken away. It is impossible for us to envision going backward. We do not want to lose the freedom and democracy that have been hard won by our people. -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 140.112.214.124