JUNE 2011

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

DPP Chair and 2012 Presidential Candidate Tsai Ing-wens Europe visit

Tsai Ing-wen visits Europe from Foundation. June 6 to 10 The purpose of the visit to Europe was to understand green DPP Chair and Presidential Can- policies adopted by European didate Tsai Ing-wen visited governments, especially concernEurope on the second week of ing renewable energy. Chair Tsai June, stopping by the cities of has issued the 2025 Nuclear-Free Berlin and London. Chair Tsai Homeland Initiative as one of her was accompanied by Shieh Jhycampaign platforms for the presiwei, former representative of Tai- dential election. wan to Germany; Chen Chi-mai, Prior to the delegations deparexecutive director of the DPPs ture, Chair Tsai spoke to the mePolicy Department and Bikhim dia at Taoyuan International AirHsiao, vice president of the DPPs port, expressing her confidence think tank, the New Frontier that this visit will promote the ini-

tiatives for a nuclear-free Taiwan. Renewable energies will eventually replace traditional energy retrieval methods such as nuclear energy, Chair Tsai said. This will serve as great benefit and a basic policy direction for the DPP when it returns to office. Berlin On the first leg of the tour on June 6, Chair Tsai visited the Berlin Central Station, and was given a tour by a management representa... continued on the next page

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tive of the station. Mr. Alex Fischer, MP of the CDU party of Germany, also accompanied her on the train station tour. During the tour of the Berlin Central Station, Chair Tsai learned that the station is one of the newest and largest construction plans by the German government that utilizes alternative energy for its operations. The station representative also explained that in order to fulfill the countrys energy policy, the German government started an initiative to convert more than 5,000 train stations into 100% dependent on solar energy. Chair Tsai expressed her impressions of the German governments plan to adopt green energy policies, especially in regards to public spaces. As long as the government has clear objectives and is willing to take initiative, achieving the goal of a nuclear-free environment is definitely reachable, she said. Part of understanding Germanys renewable energy projects from the government perspective, Chair Tsai visited the offices of Germany Trade and Invest, a government agency that promotes foreign trade and investment. Chair Tsai was greeted by Germany Trade and Invest President Mr. Michael Pfeiffer, who organized a presentation titled The Renewable Energies & Resources Industry in Germany. As the report indicated, Germany, as of 2010, generated 17% of electric power for consumption, cutting CO2 emissions by 120 million tons per year. The alternative energy industry also provided 37.5 billion euros in revenue for Germany. After the presentation, Chair Tsai indicated that Taiwan is the worlds second largest manufacturer of solar energy panels with Germany being one of its largest exporting markets. She said that 99% of the panels are exported overseas, but the current most important issue for Taiwan is to develop its

domestic markets in order to lead Taiwans industrial development for the next generation. During the second day of the Berlin visit, Chair Tsai met, over a breakfast meeting, with members of the Taiwan-Germany Parliamentary Friendship Group led by Mr. Klaus-Peter Willsch, MP (CDU) and Deputy Speaker of the German Parliament Dr. Helmann Otto Solms, MP (FDP). Both sides engaged in a discussion on renewable energies as well as the topics of
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cross strait relations, Chinas democratization and human rights and the influence of Chinas rise. Mr. Willsch, who has played an instrumental role in strengthening EU-Taiwan relations such as pushing for the visa-free status for Taiwan, expressed affirmation of Germanys support of Taiwan. Visiting the German Parliament, Chair Tsai exchanged views and engaged in a discussion about renewable energies with the author of the 2000 German Renewable Energy Legislation, Mr. HansJosef Fell, MP (Green Party). Mr. Fell, who has pushed for the government to offer tariffs in order to accelerate the development of renewable energy technologies, said he fully supported Chair Tsais 2025 nuclear-free project for Taiwan. Chair Tsai described to Mr. Fell Taiwans situation on renewable energies. She said that Taiwan currently relied more than 99% on energy imports. It is imperative that we find a solution to this dilemma, she said. Before, Germany had the same problem, but in the last ten years, the German gov-

ernment has taken the initiative to develop a policy to strengthen renewable energy technologies. For this reason, Germany today, as the worlds largest, has 17% of its energy attributed to renewable energy, and on the contrary, Taiwan only counts with 2%. On the last day of her visit to Berlin, Chair Tsai visited the German Council on Foreign Relations (Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Auswrtige Politik, DGAP), which is a non-profit organization specialized on Germanys national foreign policy network. She exchanged views on cross strait relations and China issues with Dr. Eberhard Sandschneider and Mr. Otto-Wolff, director of the Research Institute China-Program. Overseas Taiwanese living in cities across Europe came to Berlin to attend an evening reception organized by overseas supporters on behalf of Chair Tsai. She spoke to the audience about Taiwans domestic politics and current news about the DPP.
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London On the evening of June 8, Chair Tsai arrived in London and was received by Taiwanese supporters at Londons Heathrow Airport. She then spoke at an auditorium with hundreds of overseas supporters about Taiwans domestic politics and her campaign plans for the upcoming elections. The next day, Chair Tsai visited her alma mater, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), and was received by Dr. Judith Rees, interim director of LSE and Dr. David Held, director of the Centre for the Study of Global Governance within the Government Department at LSE. In speaking to Dr. Rees and Dr. Held, Chair Tsai emphasized that democracy is Taiwans most paramount value, becoming the common language spoken between China and Taiwan. She also said that in 2012, if returned to office, the DPP will continue to promote cross strait economic relations by promoting a more transparent dialogue and informing the public of the outcomes. Chair Tsai then delivered remarks at a seminar on Taiwan, cross strait relations and the chal

lenges to democracy at the University of Londons School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Her presentation at SOAS came at the invitation of Dr. Robert Ash, director of the Centre of Taiwan Studies and Dr. Dafydd Fell, senior lecturer in Taiwan Studies. In her remarks at the SOAS seminar, Chair Tsai highlighted: The Asian region must have peaceful and stable cross straits, and maintaining this cross strait peace and stability is the responsibility of Taiwan for the rest of the world. In reality, Taiwan is not facing China alone and cross strait issues are not limited to just Taiwan and China. Taiwan, as well as the rest of the countries in Asia and the world, is facing a rising China and dealing with the influence China brings in political, economic and security terms. For this reason, Taiwan must adopt a multilateral framework in order to balance the inequalities between Taiwan and China. Taiwan and China possess different histories, especially in the value of democracy. From the perspectives of the 23 million people in Taiwan, democracy is the system for the countrys national foundation, and it serves as the line of defense for Taiwan. In developing cross strait relations, Taiwan must not forsake its democracy. In London, Chair Tsai paid a call to the UK

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Parliament and met with members of the TaiwanUK Parliamentary Friendship Group. She exchanged views on Taiwan and cross strait relations with Lord Faulkner of Worcester, chair of the friendship group, and Lord Giddens. Chair Tsai met with members of both the Taiwan and UK media. She was interviewed by Edward Carr from The Economist and Charles Scanlon from the BBC. In the televised BBC interview, Chair Tsai spoke about the DPPs proposed approach to relations with China and the increasing worry of Chinas military rise in the Asian region. Mr. Scanlon, who specializes in reporting Asian affairs for the BBC, asked Chair Tsai the main question of the interview: China is currently building up its naval forces. There are plans to launch its first aircraft carrier this year, and tensions are building up with other neighboring countries in the South China Sea. How concerned are you about Chinas growing assertiveness? Chair Tsai replied: You cant rule out the possibility that it has become much more ambitious militarily and politically than before, and therefore, it will create problems in terms of its friendship or relationship with its neighboring countries. And in fact, what I am saying is that all the possible conflicts in that area have to be dealt with in a peaceful

manner, including the problems that we have with China. Mr. Scanlon then persisted on the question about Chinas military security, But with this crackdown on critics in China continues, if China does take a turn for the more authoritarian reversion to how it was before, thats going to make it more difficult for you, for your party to deal with China, isnt it? Chair Tsai responded, I am the leader of a party who struggled for decades in order to reach this stage of democracy in Taiwan. We understand fully the importance of a democracy, and we hope China can have democracy as well. And if there is a way for us to assist the development in China, we would be more than happy to do that. The full interview can be seen on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FlUY3jnt8s& feature=youtu.be

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JUNE 2011

DPP presents Q&A for 2025 Nuclear-Free Homeland Initiative

ciency, invest in thermal power plants in order to reduce the amount of carbon emissions. (C) Construction of natural gas power plants as priority because natural gas is a cleaner energy, and future power plants should give priority to using natural gas. What are other methods to reduce power consumption in the long-term? (A) Energy Conservation: the Government can encourage people to use energy-saving products. (B) Adjust industrial structure: instead of just focusing on economic growth, we should encourage green policies among energy-intensive industries. (C) Liberalization of the electricity industry: the government should liberalize the electricity market, which not only alters the issue of TaiPowers monopoly, but it also encourages the development of the renewable energy industry Why should Taiwan completely give up using nuclear power? Of all the world's 564 nuclear power plants in operation, six of them have experienced accidents, and the probability of more accidents is approximately more than 1%. Japan and Taiwan are both in earthquake-prone areas. For this reason, what happened in Fukushima may also occur in Taiwan. If a severe damage happens in one of the three nuclear power plants near Taipei, tens of millions of people will have to be evacuated, which is a plan that cannot be implemented. Also, it may result in the paralysis of state capital. The cost of shutting down the government and rebuilding the damaged area and the risk of trade and economic loss is too high a price to pay for Taiwan.

What is the "2025 Nuclear-Free Homeland Initiative"? The "2025 Nuclear-Free Homeland Initiative" aims to decommission the First, Second and Third Nuclear Power Plant in Taiwan and to prevent the commercial operation of the Fourth Nuclear Power Plant. Taiwan will be able to reach its goal of obviating the need for nuclear energy by using other alternative energy sources, improving the power generation efficiency, energy conservation, industrial restructuring, and the liberalization of the electricity industry. Why 2025? Its difficult to give up nuclear energy immediately since it requires the consensus of the whole society. 2025 is the deadline for decommissioning the Third Nuclear Power Plant, but Taiwan has to strive to change the power structure so as to stop using nuclear power by 2025. How could Taiwan replace nuclear power? (A) Increase the proportion of renewable energy: the DPPs initiative calls for increasing renewable energy by about 6.5% of total electricity generation by 2025. (B) Improve the efficiency of thermal power: In addition to increasing power generation effi

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JUNE 2011

DPP Chair and 2012 Presidential Candidate Tsai Ing-wen delivers speech at Liberal Internationals 57th Congress in Manila

On June 19, DPP Chair and Presidential Candidate Tsai Ing-wen gave a speech at the 57th Congress of the Liberal International in Manila. Liberal International is a global organization of political parties, which aims to promote the advancement of freedom, equality, human rights, free trade, tolerance, social justice and the rule of law around the world. The Human Rights & Trade-themed 57th Congress in Manila saw a host of inspiring speeches from political leaders all over the world, including Moses Mzila Ndlovu MP (Zimbabwe), Otto Guevara Guth (Costa Rica), Louis Michel (MEP), and Sam Rainsy (Cambodia). In her speech, Tsai Ing-wen emphasized the DPPs proactive role in promoting a liberal and

democratic global agenda through Liberal International and to help strengthen the networks presence in Asia, with a particular emphasis on human rights. Tsai also talked about the historical importance of Taiwan and Philippine democracy in demonstrating to the world that contrary to the claims of a few Asian leaders, Asians are perfectly capable of building systems and institutions of democracy However, Tsai also noted the difficulties faced by Asian democracy activists and freedom fighters such as Sam Rainsy, Chee Soon Juan (Singapore), as well as those struggling for democracy in Burma.Tsai Ing-wen devoted a large part of her speech to the challenges that come with the rise of
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...Tsai Ing-wen delivers speech at Liberal Internationals 57th Congress in Manila

China. Tsai stated that all too often, in the current state of the global political economy, economic leverage is applied to silence critics on human rights; economic strength is also utilized as a base for expanding political and military influence. Tsai said that the debate concerning the way in which the international community should deal with China centers around two views. The first approach advocates engagement with China, socializing China into abiding with international rules, norms, and standards of behavior. The second more pessimistic view is that China will continue to liberalize economically, but that it will remain an authoritarian state that will attempt to develop an alternative world order. Those who subscribe to the second view argue a balance-ofpower strategy is needed to contain such a scenario. Tsai emphasized that the DPP advocates a combination of these two strategies. She stated: integration generates opportunities for business and travel, and it will give more and more Chinese people a chance to witness and experience alternative political systems. At the same time, we must balance and hedge against risks, managing the relationship in a way that would safeguard our values and interests. Tsai Ing-wen emphasized that even though it is necessary to engage with China through multilateral frameworks in order to offset Chinas growing leverage and influence, Taiwan must also be vigilant in guarding our most cherished values, mainly democracy and human rights. Tsai stressed that China and Taiwan have evolved into very different societies and political systems, and that the DPP is particularly committed to preserving the free choice of the Taiwanese people to determine their own future. However, the DPP also recognizes the existence of commonalities and shared interests and the need for joint pursuit of peaceful development. As such, the DPP is committed to establish a peaceful and stable mechanism for interacting with China without compromising our values. Tsai further stated that the DPPs doors are open to Chinese visitors who are sincerely interested in understanding the DPP. Such exchanges would hopefully minimize the chances of miscalculations, and also help the Chinese people and government better understand the functioning of the democratic system that we have worked so hard to build. Concerning the Taiwanese legislative and presidential elections in January 2012, Tsai Ingwen acknowledged that the DPP has experienced a difficult three years, but that the party also has a collective desire for our country to move forward. Tsai further stated that we must build on past achievements, but we must also constantly reflect and renew, so that we can enhance our competence and refine our capacity to govern, and hopefully we will win back the mandate next year. PAGE 8

JUNE 2011

DPP: judiciary must use consistent standards to evaluate special funds case
In regards to the indictment of Former President Lee Teng-hui, DPP Spokesperson Chen Chi-mai made comments to the press on June 30, saying that Taiwans judicial system must stay consistent. He emphasized that the KMT governed Taiwan for 50 years, and the judicial system must keep a consistent standard when evaluating cases concerning the confidential funds for special projects on national security. Judicial impartiality and independence must be taken very seriously, Chen said. The DPP does not wish to see people being influenced by judicial cases right before the presidential elections, therefore, we appeal prosecutors and the judiciary to remain neutral and independent. When asked by the media whether next years presidential elections will receive a large influence from the indictment of Former President Lee Teng-hui, Chen responded that this case is still under development, and it is impossible to assess right now the influence on election sentiment. However, he asserted that if judicial fairness and independence is sacrificed, leading people to respond by votes, this would cause a judicial tragedy for Taiwan.

DEMOCRACY & PROGRESS

PUBLISHED BY: Department of International Aairs Democratic Progressive Party 9F, No. 30, Pei-Ping East Road, Taipei, Taiwan Tel: 886-2-2392-9989 ext. 306 Fax: 886-2-2393-0342 Email: foreign@dpp.org.tw Website: http://www.dpp.org.tw

DIRECTOR: Bikhim Hsiao DEPUTY DIRECTOR: Hsieh Huai-hui EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Michael J. Fonte EDITOR: Ping-Ya Hsu

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