The right message

Source: Taiwan Today

On May 20, Ma Ying-jeou was sworn in for a second term as president of the ROC. To mark the event, he delivered a visionary address clearly outlining government goals over the next four year and reaffirming that the nation is back on track.

Highlighting progress made by the government in building a strong and prosperous country, the president spoke of the strength Taiwan has drawn from its experiences in weathering the global tsunami and rebuilding after Typhoon Morakot. He also showcased major reforms such as streamlining central government, merging or upgrading the status of major cities and counties, enhancing judicial fairness and transparency, cutting carbon emissions, promoting housing justice and expanding the social welfare net.

In hammering home the message that Taiwan needs to transform in line with a restructuring of the global political and economic order and shift toward Asia, Ma mapped out the government’s objective of realizing a golden decade for the nation. The goal is to build a country that enjoys the benefits of peace, justice and well-being through achieving five pillars of national growth.

This will be accomplished by enhancing the drivers of economic growth; creating employment and realizing social justice; developing an environment characterized by low carbon emissions and high reliance on green energy; building up culture as a source of national strength; taking steps to cultivate, recruit and retain talent. Achieving these tasks will bolster Taiwan’s global competitiveness and achieve a fundamental transformation that creates even greater prosperity.

The president understands that if the nation is to continue developing, then the short-term pain of reform must be endured and not left for the next generation to bear.

But this process will not be conducted in isolation. Ma believes it his most important duty and mission as a second-term president to implement the five pillars while engaging in timely, in-depth and extensive public communication.

National security also plays a key role in enabling the government to fulfill its policymaking agenda. Based on using cross-strait rapprochement to realize peace in the Taiwan Strait; viable diplomacy to establish more breathing space in the international community; and military strength to deter external threats, the doctrine is viewed by Ma as crucial for the survival of the ROC.

To date, the three-pronged policy has dramatically reduced tensions in the Taiwan Strait, significantly contributing to regional stability. It has also delivered wide-ranging benefits, including the signing of 16 cross-strait accords, winning the affirmation and trust of long-time diplomatic partners and friends, and expanded participation in international organizations such as the World Health Organization.

There can be no doubt that the government’s cross-strait precepts of parity, dignity and reciprocity, as well as putting pressing matters before less pressing ones, easily resolved issues before difficult ones and economic matters before political ones, are paying handsome dividends. Maintaining the status quo of no unification, no independence and no use of force has been equally effective, along with promoting peaceful cross-strait development on the basis of the 1992 consensus within the framework of the ROC Constitution.

As the ROC enters its second century, Ma is committed to the principle of putting Taiwan first for the benefit of the people. He has a clear vision of where the nation’s future challenges and opportunities lie, and will lead the government in laying a solid foundation for further progress defined by reform, peace and greater well-being.

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