Strait Talk: The full interview

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TIME: Mr. President. If you win the election on March 20th, will it be your objective to change Taiwan's name in the next four years?
Chen: I have already said: In my inaugural speech in 2000, I made the "Five No's" pledge. It is not possible that I said one thing in 2000, and then, in the inaugural speech following my reelection in 2004, say something different. On many occasions, I have stressed that we must maintain the status quo, maintain the status quo of Taiwan's sovereignty, maintain the status quo of Taiwan's democratic development, maintain the status quo of Taiwan's economic prosperity, and maintain the status quo of peace across the Taiwan Strait. Not only do we want to maintain Taiwan's status quo, but also to avoid and prevent Taiwan's status quo from being changed unilaterally. Therefore, if I win the reelection bid and continue promoting the process of constitutional reform, we will maintain the status quo. And we will carry out constitutional reforms on the basis of not changing the status quo.

TIME: Taiwan's safety depends quite a lot on protection of the US. With your referendum, are you going too far for the Bush administration?
Chen: The US has said many times that it does not oppose Taiwan's referendum. The US has expressed their opinions and concerns about the March 20th Peace Referendum, which we appreciate. What concerns the US is whether or not Taiwan's status quo would be changed unilaterally, including change of the status quo through a referendum. I would take this opportunity to tell the whole world that Taiwan's status quo will definitely not be changed, nor will we allow it to be changed unilaterally. And the status quo will not be changed through any means, including referendum. Holding the peace referendum this coming March will allow us to maintain Taiwan's status quo and avoid the status quo being unilaterally changed. Therefore, we will not change the status quo now, nor will we change the status quo in the next four years of my next term as the president. However, if Beijing authorities intend to unilaterally change the status quo of Taiwan, then the 23 million people of Taiwan have the right to say "no."

TIME: Mr. President, Beijing sometimes refers to you as a separatist. Do you agree with that definition? Is that an accurate description of your views?
Chen: I understand it very clearly that they dislike me, and I'm not surprised that they call me names. As the leader of this country, it is my duty to defend and safeguard Taiwan. I cannot betray Taiwan; I cannot betray the people of Taiwan, nor can I betray my own conscience.

The Hands-in-hands Across Taiwan rally to be held on February 28, as well as the Peace Referendum on March 20, are intended to defend and safeguard Taiwan. As the national leader of this country, I must stand with the 23 million people of Taiwan. It is impossible for me to stand with Beijing authorities. If they call me a separatist just because I choose not to stand with the Beijing authorities, then that is their business. As long as the 23 million people of Taiwan understand my strong love for this land of Taiwan, and understand that I will always embrace the true masters of this land, the 23 million people of Taiwan, then I think they will continue to support me. As long as the people of Taiwan do not refer to me as a separatist, then it will be fine.

TIME: Now that you've been president for three years, who are the political leaders that inspire you?
Chen: I think that the people are the best mirror for reflection and self-examination, and I draw my greatest inspiration from the people. They are my spirit. Of course, I'd also like to say that I draw much inspiration from former US president John F. Kennedy. He's not just the idol of my son; I myself believe that I also have much to learn from him. This is particularly true of President Kennedy during the 13 days of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when he led the US through the crisis and brought world peace. I still recall a speech delivered by President Kennedy in June 1963, about six months after the Cuban Missile Crisis, at American University in Washington, D.C. He elaborated on what is true peace: True peace is not the peace of enslavement, nor a dead peace. True peace comes when all people can live meaningful lives.

President Kennedy also said that true peace is not just peace for the Americans, but peace for all humankind. And it is not just peace for our generation, but lasting peace for many generations.

And so the Peace Referendum that we're promoting for March 20th is not just for peace in Taiwan and peace across the strait. It is not just for peace in our generation, but also for lasting, permanent peace for peoples across the Strait.

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