wfn.org | Taiwan's New Premier Begins Term with Visit to Religious Leaders

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

Taiwan Church News 2762 & 63, 31 January ¡V 13 February 2005

Reported by Li Hsin-ren . Written by David Alexander

Taiwan¡¦s newly installed Premier, Hsieh Chang-ting, traveled south to
Tainan City on 13th February where he visited the Rev. Dr. C.M. Kao, former
general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.  Rev. Kao led
Premier Hsieh and all who accompanied him in prayer for the nation. He
spoke to the premier about the need for the ruling party to affirm
Taiwan¡¦s national sovereignty and independence based on true
cooperation.  He said that the church was supportive of reconciliation
between political parties, but not at the price of truth and justice, which
he said were unbending principles.  He also delivered a petition from the
East Paiwan Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan.  Within this
presbytery¡¦s physical territory a nuclear waste storage site is under
construction, and many Christians oppose its being put into operation.	The
petition was handed over with comments about the promotion of family values
and protection of the weak sectors in Taiwan¡¦s society.

Premier Hsieh, for his part, spoke of the principles of political party
cooperation and the care his government will exercise in matters of nuclear
waste disposal, education, public security and other issues.

Immediately following the New Year Holiday Rev. Kao and others visited
Taiwan¡¦s President Chen Shui-bian and called for political party
cooperation on the ¡§Voice of Taiwan¡¨ radio programme.  During his visit
to the south, Mr. Hsieh mentioned how he had been deeply impressed by that
call, and asserted that Taiwan must be seen as a sovereign and independent
country.  For his own part, he called for a renewal of cooperative thought
in Taiwan and echoed comments made by President Chen on the need to
establish Taiwan as a pluralistic, beautiful, grand and progressive nation
where national rights are not negotiated away. This was Mr. Hsieh¡¦s first
visit to ecclesiastical leaders since he took office. (He also visited
Roman Catholic Cardinal Paul Shan and Buddhist leaders on this trip.)

In their discussions, Dr. Kao reiterated church positions on justice,
reconciliation and nationhood.

Mr. Hsieh said that Taiwan¡¦s situation is delicate. It must face Chinese,
American and other international pressures as it walks a narrow line.  He
believes that the will of the people is clearly for a nation apart from
China and cites surveys saying that only 10% of Taiwan¡¦s population
favours unification with the mainland.	He says that with the majority of
the people here holding a ¡§love Taiwan¡¨ position, one cannot equate the
opposition ¡§pan blue¡¨ political alliance with people who favor
unification with China. The ¡§pan blue¡¦s¡¨ also love Taiwan.
Insofar as
the national future is concerned there is talk of a crisis of cooperation,
but Mr. Hsieh sees the possibility for courageous reconciliation.

Responding to the presentation of the petition on the nuclear waste storage
facility, Mr. Hsieh said that no firm decision had yet been taken by the
government.

For more information: C. M. Kao  FAX +886 6 299 5075

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan¡¦s local languages.

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