I.Foreword
Honorable chairman and legislators, ladies and gentlemen: good afternoon!
I was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs during the cabinet reshuffle of September 10 this year, and it is a great privilege for me to have been invited to report to the Committee on the diplomatic work of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). All of the legislators in the Committee have long supported and promoted Taiwan’s diplomacy, as well as provided invaluable suggestions to MOFA. You have also made significant contributions by participating in parliamentary diplomacy. I would therefore like to extend my deep respect and appreciation to each of you.
To cope with the current diplomatic challenges and promote the wellbeing of the 23 million people of Taiwan, the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has wholeheartedly gone about implementing a policy of “flexible diplomacy” since President Ma assumed office in May last year. Based on the principles of “dignity, autonomy, pragmatism, and flexibility”, this policy aims to allow us to forge ahead with our diplomatic work and find a modus vivendi for Taiwan’s diplomacy.
Flexible diplomacy has met with great success over the past year and a half. It has not only effectively rebuilt Taiwan’s credibility and created a positive image for the nation internationally, but it has also greatly improved our substantive relations with other friendly nations, as well as broadened Taiwan’s international space. It is fair to say that our efforts have borne fruit.
MOFA will use this solid foundation to coordinate with other government departments and continue to fully implement the policy of flexible diplomacy. Based on the principle of “putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people”, MOFA will be pragmatic in its diplomatic work, so as to create an external environment that is even more conducive to Taiwan’s overall development. I will now report to you on the present opportunities and challenges for flexible diplomacy, the results achieved to date, as well as MOFA’s current policy guidelines. Your suggestions and advice are welcome.
II.Current Opportunities and Challenges for Flexible Diplomacy
Flexible diplomacy has created more opportunities and possibilities for the diplomatic work of the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and has paved a flexible path for Taiwan’s diplomacy. However, given the current international and domestic circumstances, Taiwan is still confronted with many challenges. The present situation is therefore best characterized as being replete with both opportunities and challenges. We must actively seize the opportunities and make every effort to overcome the challenges at the following levels:
1. International: Flexible diplomacy has defused tensions across the Taiwan Strait, bolstered Taiwan’s diplomatic relations and international space through pragmatic means, and earned considerable recognition from the international community. It has also helped restore mutual trust between Taiwan and other countries, such as the US and Japan, as well as create additional avenues for Taiwan’s future diplomatic work. However, there have not been any fundamental changes to the international reality that has affected Taiwan over the past several decades, which is to say that the nation is still faced with an unfavorable international situation that presents many difficulties and challenges that cannot be overcome over night.
2. Regional: Flexible diplomacy is helping Taiwan to further strengthen its substantive relations with countries in the Asia Pacific region, thus raising the prospect of Taiwan playing a more active role and yielding greater influence in the region. However, the trend of rapid regional economic integration means that Taiwan must also rise to the challenge of participating in various regional integration mechanisms, so as not to become marginalized.
3. Cross-strait: Flexible diplomacy is continuing to help ease cross-strait tensions. Once the fierce diplomatic rivalry between Taiwan and mainland China has fully abated, Taiwan can normalize its diplomatic work and raise its professional standards. However, the question of how Taiwan and mainland China can seek co-existence and co-prosperity in the international arena, and achieve a triple-win solution among Taiwan, mainland China, and the international community, remains a common challenge for both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
4. Domestic: That flexible diplomacy has won majority support among people in Taiwan is the most important driving force and basis for MOFA’s continued promotion of the policy. Nevertheless, all parts of society today have higher demands and expectations for Taiwan’s diplomacy than in the past. It is an undeniable fact that there are also people in Taiwan who remain concerned that mainland China has not completely stopped suppressing Taiwan in the international arena, and that flexible diplomacy is just wishful thinking on the government’s part. Taiwan and mainland China have competed with each other on the diplomatic front for decades, and it is indeed a daunting task to attempt to reach a comprehensive diplomatic truce and reconciliation in a short period of time. The government should take proactive measures and achieve real results to prove that flexible diplomacy is the most valid strategy, and that calling a diplomatic truce is the most rational tactic.
III.Flexible Diplomacy Continues to Deliver Results
Over the past six months since the Legislative Yuan’s previous session, flexible diplomacy has continued to deliver real results. I would now like to give you a run down of its major achievements:
1.Relations with Taiwan’s Diplomatic Allies:
The friendly and stable relations that Taiwan maintains with all 23 of its diplomatic allies have continued to improve.
In terms of high-level mutual visits, President Ma and Madame Ma led a delegation to El Salvador to attend the presidential inauguration of H.E. Mauricio Funes this May, and visited Belize and Guatemala during the ‘Journey of Enduring Relations’. In late June, President Ma and Madame Ma led a delegation to Panama to attend the presidential inauguration of H.E. Ricardo Martinelli’s, and visited Nicaragua during the ‘Journey of Enduring Friendship’. In addition, Speaker Wang Jin-pyng led a special envoy delegation to attend Kiribati’s 30th Independence Day anniversary in July. Former Minister of Foreign Affairs Francisco Ou attended the 30th Constitution Day celebrations in the Marshall Island as the President’s Special Envoy in April. All of these visits were very successful. Many high-ranking officials have also visited Taiwan, including: H.E. Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, President of the Republic of The Gambia; H.E. Barnabas S. Dlamini, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Swaziland; Hon. Derek Sikua, Prime Minister of Solomon Islands; and Hon. Stephenson King, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia. Some 40 ministerial-level officials have also paid visits.
As for Taiwan’s foreign aid for and cooperation with its diplomatic allies, MOFA released the White Paper on Foreign Aid Policy this May to complement the policy of flexible diplomacy and further normalize the nation’s foreign aid policy. On the basis of “efficiency, transparency, and professionalism”, Taiwan is bringing its foreign aid efforts into line with international standards, and continues to promote various cooperative projects with its diplomatic allies.
2.Substantive relations
(1)Taiwan-US Relations
In May this year, the US House of Representatives adopted House Concurrent Resolution 55 in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act and in support of the development of Taiwan-US relations. Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Kurt Campbell, and Assistant Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, Wallace Gregson, all publicly reaffirmed that the US would maintain substantive bilateral relations with Taiwan and assist us in strengthening our national defense capabilities, as stipulated by the Taiwan Relations Act.
In addition, the US has on a number of occasions publicly affirmed its support for the measures Taiwan has taken to improve cross-strait relations. For example, Deputy Secretary of State, James Steinberg, said that improvements in cross-strait relations conform to the common interests of Taiwan, the US and mainland China. During meetings with President Ma Ying-jeou in separate visits last August, a number of US Congressmen, including Howard Berman, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, and Phil Gingrey, Co-chair of the US Congressional Taiwan Caucus, expressed their support for Taiwan’s current mainland China policies.
(2)Taiwan-Japan Relations
Our government designated 2009 as the year for bolstering special partnership with Japan, and for the past six months bilateral relations have continued to be steadily enhanced. To promote the exchange of youth between Taiwan and Japan, on April 3 the governments of both sides completed an exchange of letters on the Taiwan-Japan working holiday visa program, which entered into force on June 1. In addition, the Japanese government has agreed to the establishment of the Sapporo Branch of Taiwan’s Representative Office in Hokkaido, and MOFA is currently preparing for its opening in late October this year.
As for the occasional fishery disputes between our two countries, these problems can and will gradually be resolved based on the principles of peace and rationality.
(3)Relations with Countries in the Asia-Pacific Region
In the past half year, MOFA has continued to strive for participation in integration mechanisms in the Asia Pacific region, at the same time as strengthening interactions with countries in the region. Bilateral relations in a variety of fields have significantly improved. For example: on May 18, the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade publicly welcomed the three links across the Taiwan Strait, as well as Taiwan’s being invited to participate as an observer in this year’s World Health Assembly; Taiwan and Korea signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Aviation Safety Cooperation on August 11; the deputy-minister level economic and trade consultations between Taiwan and Malaysia resumed in Taipei on September 8 after being suspended for four years; both the Philippines and India agreed, in May and June respectively, to grant the same tax-free treatment to the staff of Taiwan’s Representative Offices as the diplomatic staff of other countries, which significantly promoted the status of Taiwan’s representative offices in these countries; Taiwan and Vietnam signed the Temporary Customs Clearance Agreement and its Protocol on June 26, and so forth.
(4)Relations with Europe
Our relations with the European Union in a variety of fields have also improved significantly. For example, the EU issued a statement on May 8 welcoming and supporting Taiwan’s participation in this year’s WHA as an observer. The EU Center established in Taipei on May 22, serving as the platform for promoting the Taiwan-EU relation, is the 6th in the Asia Pacific region. In addition, the United Kingdom and Ireland agreed to grant visa free treatment to Taiwanese passport holders. MOFA also signed an Air Service Technical Agreement with Italy, a Memorandum of Understanding on Energy Cooperation with Sweden and a Memorandum of Understanding on Fighting Customs Fraud with Poland, and resumed the Driver’s License Reciprocity Agreement with Denmark.
(5)International Aid for the Relief of Typhoon Morakot
Typhoon Morakot struck southern Taiwan on August 8, causing devastation. Expressions of condolences and concern, as well as relief supplies, were forthcoming from the public and private sectors of 85 countries, including our 23 diplomatic allies and 62 countries with which we don’t have formal diplomatic ties. Among these, 48 countries donated a total of over NT$480 million, and 13 donated relief supplies. The United States, the European Union, Japan, Korea and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) also dispatched teams of experts to assist with the relief work and damage assessment.
3.International Organizations and Institutions
(1)World Health Organization (WHO): Taiwan was formally invited to participate as an observer in the 62nd World Health Assembly held in Geneva on May 18. The Minister of Health led a delegation to take part. This significant occasion marked the first time Taiwan has been involved in the UN system since losing membership and being forced to withdraw from UN institutions in 1971.
(2)WTO Agreement on Government Procurement (GPA): After the completion of domestic legislative procedures on July 15, Taiwan became the 41st party to the agreement, which is expected to create over US$960 billion worth of new opportunities for Taiwanese industries.
(3)The Agency for International Trade Information and Cooperation (AITIC): Taiwan officially became a sponsoring member of AITIC in May this year.
4.Other Major Achievements
(1)Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs): Over the past six months, MOFA has assisted many domestic NGOs to participate in more than 600 international conferences and more than 100 other international activities. The beneficiaries have included the Tzu Chi Foundation, Buddha’s Light International Association, Red Cross Society and Taiwanroot Medical Peace Corps. MOFA also has invited to Taiwan the leaders of key international NGOs, such as the International Crisis Group, World Medical Association, ECPAT International, World Youth Alliance and World Forum Foundation.
(2)Public Diplomacy: MOFA has held more than 230 lectures for over 25,000 participants on international norms and diplomatic policies at various locations in Taiwan. In addition, it has organized the Training Course on International Affairs for Future Talents, Training Camp for Diplomatic Pioneers, Festival of Public Diplomacy, and other similar activities. At the same time, MOFA has strengthened its efforts to communicate with foreign countries by inviting influential persons to Taiwan; holding international lectures, seminars and conferences; disseminating information abroad; and other means.
(3)Boosting youth exchanges: In 2009 MOFA expanded the scope of the Taiwan Scholarship and the TaiwanICDF Scholarship. To date, over 1,400 students have been awarded with the scholarships and studied in Taiwan. Meanwhile, MOFA also launched its first ever International Young Ambassador program, which selected outstanding students from universities and academic institutions here to travel to Taiwan’s diplomatic allies to run summer camps for students from the host country. In addition, MOFA organize Taiwan Culture Camps to invite youths from European and African countries to visit Taiwan.
IV.MOFA’s current diplomatic approaches
Under the principle of flexible diplomacy, MOFA has adopted the following diplomatic approaches:
1.Consolidate relations with diplomatic allies
MOFA has put the consolidation of relations with its diplomatic allies at top of its agenda. For more than a year, Taiwan and mainland China have stopped vying for the recognition of each other’s allies. However, MOFA will not take this development for granted and stay vigilant. In the future, more efforts will be made to consolidate the substantive and cordial relations with Taiwan’s diplomatic allies. At the current stage, MOFA has two primary missions:
(1)Promote the exchange of visits between high-level officials: through the exchange of visits, we hope to deepen the mutual understanding and friendship between Taiwan and its allies, thereby further enhancing our bilateral ties.
(2)Continue to actively promote cooperative projects with diplomatic allies: MOFA, as per the principles stated in its White Paper on Foreign Aid Policy, is actively promoting bilateral cooperative projects with its allies in a variety of fields, including food production, aquaculture, education, vocational training, the prevention and treatment of AIDS, and the bridging of the digital gap. These projects directly benefit the national development of our allies and the wellbeing of their people.
2.Foster substantial relations with non-diplomatic allies
The adoption of flexible diplomacy has created a favorable environment for Taiwan to enhance its substantive relations with countries that are not diplomatic allies. MOFA has been seizing this opportunity to foster greater substantive exchanges with such countries. Based on the principle to put the needs of Taiwan first for the direct benefit of the people, MOFA has undertaken the following endeavors:
(1)Assist in revitalizing Taiwan’s economy: MOFA has been seeking the signing of free trade agreements, negotiating with ASEAN countries on the inclusion of Taiwan in its regional economic integration mechanism, and exploring niche markets overseas for Taiwanese businessmen. For instance, MOFA played a role in Taiwan’s accession to the WTO’s Government Procurement Agreement, and protect the interests of Taiwan’s companies overseas. Such efforts embody President Ma Ying-jeou’s idea that “flexible diplomacy” also paves the way for the revitalization of Taiwan’s economy.
(2)Enhance the wellbeing of the people: MOFA has been stepping up its efforts to negotiate with other countries to launch new working holiday visa programs abroad and obtain visa-free treatment for the people of Taiwan. Another goal has been to sign agreements with other countries on the mutual recognition of each other’s driver’s licenses. These endeavors have been undertaken in order to fulfill the government’s aim to benefit the people.
(3)Strengthen cooperation with other countries on disease control and disaster prevention: To better protect the people of Taiwan, and to prevent them from unconventional security threats, such as H1N1 and other global epidemics, typhoons, earthquakes and other natural disasters, MOFA has been strengthening cooperation with other countries.
(4)Bolster other forms of existing bilateral exchange and cooperation: MOFA has been strengthening exchange and cooperation with other countries in the areas of investment and trade, culture, education, fisheries, extradition of criminals, technology, energy, human rights, counter-terrorism, food safety and environmental protection.
3.Seek pragmatic ways to further participate in international organizations and activities
MOFA is fully aware that the people of Taiwan highly desire to see their nation play a greater role in international organizations and activities. For this reason, MOFA hopes to take advantage of the cross-strait détente and evaluate domestic and international opportunities to increase Taiwan’s international participation through pragmatic measures. The primary goals of MOFA are as follows:
(1)Seek to gain membership or participation in international and regional inter-governmental and professional organizations and mechanisms: At this stage, Taiwan is focusing on UN specialized agencies and other functional inter-governmental organizations and, particularly, those directly related to Taiwan’s overall development and other national interests.
(2)Consolidate Taiwan’s interaction with those international organizations and mechanisms in which Taiwan currently participates, including the World Health Assembly and APEC. Taiwan also hopes to continue taking part in regional economic integration under the APEC framework.
(3)Increase participation in UN activities: With the warming of cross-strait relations due to Taiwan’s adoption of flexible diplomacy, at this point Taiwan still seeks to gain meaningful participation in UN specialized agencies. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) have been given top priority.
4.Assist Taiwan’s NGOs to link to the world and increase their cooperation with INGOs
Taiwan’s NGOs have actively engaged in various related affairs at home and abroad, winning them accolades from the international community and raising Taiwan’s international image to new heights. Taiwan’s NGOs have become a driving force in Taiwan’s diplomatic work. MOFA has the following goals with respect to Taiwan’s NGOs:
(1)Help NGOs strengthen cooperation between Taiwan and other countries and engage in international humanitarian work: MOFA has been helping Taiwan’s NGOs construct more substantive relations with major international NGOs (INGOs), so as to better promote Taiwan’s diplomatic work. By participating in international humanitarian aid and relief, environmental protection and cultural exchange, these NGOs can display Taiwan’s soft-power.
(2)Enhance cooperation between MOFA and Taiwan’s NGOs. By combining resources from the public and private sectors, MOFA and Taiwan’s NGOs can create synergy and let our country play a bigger role on the international stage.
5.Strengthen cultural diplomacy
MOFA has been striving to make the best use of Taiwan’s soft-power, such as democracy, culture and technology, in the promotion of its diplomatic work, with “cultural diplomacy” serving as a prime example. Cultural diplomacy, which promotes international exchange and cooperation, embodies the idea of “people-to-people diplomacy”. This approach can also help Taiwan boost its image abroad and allow other countries to gain a better understanding of Taiwan’s folk arts, customs and values. Cultural diplomacy can even encourage countries to further recognize and support Taiwan and bring Taiwan’s creative and cultural industries to the world stage.
To broaden and deepen the effectiveness of Taiwan’s “cultural diplomacy”, MOFA will continue to establish contacts with the younger generations of the international community and cultivate a network of individuals and groups friendly to Taiwan. We have taken the following measures: 1) expanded the scope of the Taiwan Scholarship; 2) invited young elites from other countries to study and visit Taiwan; 3) encouraged the people of Taiwan to take up voluntary service overseas and 4) encouraged Taiwanese to take educational tours abroad. MOFA has continued to organize short-term National Development Course for youths from Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and other friendly nations. Topics discussed during the programs have been expanded beyond military affairs to include agriculture, healthcare, information technology and other subjects of mutual concern. By taking part in these courses, the students acquire professional skills and gain a better understanding of the latest developments of Taiwan’s economy, society and culture. Moreover, MOFA assists scholars from Taiwan to visit or conduct research at overseas institutions. Such positive interaction allows people in other countries to learn more of Taiwan’s society and values, thereby gaining their understanding and support.
6.Assist in post-disaster reconstruction
To play a stronger role in the reconstruction efforts in southern Taiwan following the destruction caused by Typhoon Morakot and learn a lesson from the disaster so as to help reduce the impact of future disasters, MOFA hopes to strengthen international cooperation and vie for Taiwan’s right to participate in professional international organizations related to disaster prevention, emergency rescue and relief, as well as meteorological observation.
7.Strengthen services for the public
As the government aims to help the people, MOFA has strengthened its services for the public. Since the inauguration of President Ma Ying-jeou, MOFA has launched e-passports, and has established an emergency contact center and a toll-free public service number. In addition, to make travel more convenient for the people of Taiwan, MOFA has sought visa-exemption treatment from other countries for Taiwan-passport holders. MOFA also has organized a campaign to promote international norms. These endeavors have been well received by the general public. In the years to come, MOFA will continue to enhance its service to the people and protect Taiwanese traveling and living abroad.
V.Conclusion
The diplomatic work before us must be handled in pragmatic ways. Taiwan must not only keep an eye on the world, but also perceive Taiwan in the world’s eyes. The performance and knowledge of MOFA staff members will continue to improve with time, enabling them to better handle diverse and complex international issues. When engaging in its diplomatic work, MOFA will continue to closely monitor developments abroad and take the public opinion on the home front into account. MOFA also will reach out to the people of Taiwan to help them understand and support our diplomatic goals and approaches.
In the meantime, MOFA will continue to implement “flexible diplomacy” and make the best use of its resources. When promoting Taiwan’s foreign affairs, MOFA will take pragmatic steps, as appropriate. When allocating its diplomatic resources, MOFA will “spend when needed, and save when needed” to ensure that all projects can be carried out fully. MOFA urgently needs the staunch support of all the legislators.
Being newly appointed to this post, I will lead MOFA in carrying out its diplomatic work with prudence, as if we were treading on thin ice. I will spare no effort to fulfill the mission entrusted in me so as to meet the expectations of the people of Taiwan. This concludes my presentation, and I would like to thank the legislators for their time. Your comments would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.