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Ma refers to his administration as
‘Chinese’
By Ko Shu-ling
STAFF REPORTER
Thursday, Feb 25, 2010, Page 3
“Our top priority is to lower unem-ployment.”— President Ma Ying-jeou
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday morning thanked the outgoing Solomon
Islands ambassador at the Presidential Office, but referred to his
administration as the “Chunghua government” (中華政府) or “Chinese government.”
Expressing his gratitude for the Solomon Islands’ assistance following the
devastation wrought by Typhoon Morakot in August, Ma said the “Chunghua
government” and its people thanked the Pacific ally’s parliament for passing a
resolution expressing concern over the destruction.
Solomon Islands Ambassador Beraki Jino has been posted in Taiwan for six years
and will move on to Australia to serve as high commissioner.
Realizing his mistake, Ma immediately corrected himself and said he meant the
“government of the Republic of China.”
Ma said Taiwan was also deeply touched by the donation raised by a tribe in
Isabel Province, adding that the tribal chief rode a boat for more than five
hours to deliver the 1,000 Solomon Islands dollars (US$120) he had raised to
Taiwan’s technical assistance mission in Honiara, capital of the Solomon
Islands.
Ma also thanked the Solomon Islands for its support for Taiwan’s bid to
participate in international organizations and activities, including the World
Health Assembly and the Government Procurement Agreement.
He said he hoped to see the two countries continue to cooperate in the
development of alternative energy and medical assistance.
At a separate setting yesterday, Ma drew attention to Taiwan’s economic
recovery, saying his administration would strive for 4.8 percent economic growth
this year and a record-breaking US$18,000 GNP per capita.
Ma said the biggest problem facing Taiwan’s economy was unemployment. It
remained at 5.68 percent last month and the figure was worse if people who had
been unable to find a job for an extended period of time were included, he said.
“Our top priority is to lower unemployment. We will establish measures to
address the problem very soon,” he said.
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