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Accelerate democratic reforms in China,
Ma says
Staff Writer, with CNA
President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) yesterday said he “hoped for the continued
prosperity and development of China and wished Chinese authorities would
accelerate efforts on democratic politic reform to safeguard human rights.”
In a statement issued by the Presidential Office in response to the impact of
the so-called “Jasmine Revolution” on China, Ma also said he hoped the Chinese
government would adopt “new concepts” and treat people with dissenting opinions
more leniently.
“Let democracy and human rights be the eternal common language of the people
across the strait,” Ma said.
Joseph Chen (陳永豐), director of the Presidential Office’s Department of Public
Affairs, held a press conference in the afternoon to announce Ma’s official
position on the protests in China.
“President Ma feels that democracy and human rights are values accepted by all,
and are the extension of the principles advanced by Mencius [孟子] and Confucius
[孔子],” Chen said.
“More importantly, it is the core value of Taiwanese and an -important index by
which to measure the cross-strait relationship,” Chen said.
CONCERN
Meanwhile, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Chairperson Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文)
expressed concern and support yesterday for a message posted on the Internet two
days earlier calling for a “Chinese Jasmine Revolution.”
Tsai, who made the remark during a meeting of the DPP legislative caucus, said
the uprisings in the Middle East and the democratic movements in China are
significant events and represent important 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 jasmine revolutions across China and Middle East, she
said.
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