President Ma outlines strategy for Taiwan’s sustainability

President Ma outlines strategy for Taiwan’s sustainability

In a speech to mark his third year in office, President Ma Ying-jeou promised Thursday to achieve further progress in terms of the country's sovereignty, human rights and environmental protection.

The government has the responsibility to work for the good of the current and future generations, Ma said at a press conference.

"We should not narrow the opportunities for the next generation, but rather should lay a good foundation for its well-being," he said. "This is transgenerational justice."

"Your future is Taiwan's future. The government's responsibility is to build an environment that allows you to use your talent, " he said, addressing the young people of the country.

The press conference, attended by more than 100 reporters from home and abroad, was held one day before the third anniversary of Ma's inauguration.

In his speech, the president defended his policy of building better ties with the mainland, saying that none of the 15 agreements signed between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait over the past three years had put Taiwan at a disadvantage.

He also said "it is our responsibility to help future generations grow and develop in a peaceful cross-strait environment."

Despite the improved relations between Taiwan and China, Ma said, he has continued to urge the United States to sell the "necessary defensive weapons" to Taiwan.

"Only by increasing Taiwan's power to defend itself will we be able to maintain a balance across the Taiwan Strait, " he said. "Only by doing so will Taiwan gain confidence in the course of its interactions with the mainland."

The president said that his administration has lodged strong protests with Beijing over any denigration of Taiwan's sovereignty, as in the recent case involving a letter issued by World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General Margaret Chan last September.The letter asked its recipients to refer to Taiwan as a "province of China."

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