Vice President Chen Chien-jen gave an interview to French Catholic daily La Croix at the Office of the President Feb. 10 in Taipei City, elaborating on a wide range of issues related to government policymaking and developments of interest at home and abroad.
The government attaches great importance to maintaining the freedom and equality of religion in Taiwan, Chen said. Although there are few Catholics in Taiwan, the fact that a practicing Catholic can be elected vice president signifies the diversity of religion in Taiwan and the fact that the country does a great job of separating church and state, he added.
Chen, a devout Catholic, was made a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in 2010 and a Knight of the Pontifical Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great in 2013.
In terms of cross-strait relations, the vice president called on mainland China to enter into exchanges and communication with Taiwan, and not take any negative or confrontational measures against the country so as to develop cross-strait relations in a positive manner.
Maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait is a common goal and responsibility of both sides, Chen said, adding that this outcome can be looked forward to only if both sides are willing to work hard.
According to the vice president, since taking office May 20, 2016, President Tsai Ing-wen has maintained regional peace and cross-strait stability as one of her top policy priorities. To this end, the government will continue demonstrating maximum goodwill in striving for peaceful relations between Taiwan and mainland China based on the Republic of China (Taiwan) Constitution, the Act Governing Relations Between the People of the Taiwan Area and the Mainland Area, the people’s will and consensus in Taiwan, he said.
On Taiwan-U.S. ties, Chen said they are of equal importance to cross-strait relations, and he looks forward to working with the administration of President Donald Trump in further consolidating the bilateral relationship. Many of the officials in the Trump administration are very friendly towards Taiwan and have publicly stated their support, he added, citing Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s recent statement of support and continuing commitment to Taiwan.
The government is also very thankful for all of the assistance and support that past U.S. administrations have provided, and is confident it can further strengthen two-way ties based on the existing foundation, the vice president said.
Concerning the economy, the vice president said the government is implementing root-and-branch reforms under its New Model for Economic Development, while strengthening the country’s regional and global linkages, as well as participating in multilateral and bilateral economic cooperation and free trade talks.
According to Chen, although boosting trade with the EU, Japan and the U.S. is of the utmost importance, so is implementing the peoplecentric New Southbound Policy and finding opportunities for Taiwan to play a more active role in the regional economy, security and trade. The policy seeks to deepen Taiwan’s agricultural, business, cultural, educational, trade and tourism links with the 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations member states, six South Asian countries, Australia and New Zealand.
The government is also transitioning toward innovation-based economic development characterized by diversified relationships and greater inflows of foreign capital and talent, the vice president said. This is to be achieved under the five-plus-two innovative industries initiative, which covers the biotech and pharmaceuticals, green energy, national defense, smart machinery and Internet of Things sectors, as well as the circular economy and a new paradigm for agricultural development, he added.
Regarding democracy and freedom in Taiwan, Chen said he is confident they will continue developing and improving apace, with the country remaining a role model for ethnic Chinese societies and many Southeast Asian countries. Freedom and democracy are universal values and they should be promoted in the region, he added. (JSM-E)