Taiwan’s Self-Made Democracy Still Needs U.S. Partnership Tsai Ing-wen @FP 20190509

【Comment】

As a President, it is his/her obligation to introduce Taiwan and propaganda our efforts in every possible way. 

Taiwan’s Self-Made Democracy Still Needs U.S. Partnership台灣自我奮鬥成功的民主仍須美國夥伴支持    Tsai Ing-wen @FP 20190509

A beacon of freedom is more essential than ever amid growing darkness.

副標：世界愈加黑暗之際，自由燈塔更顯重要

On April 10, 1979, the Taiwan Relations Act was signed into law after being passed by the U.S. Congress the month before, in response to President Jimmy Carter’s decision in January 1979 to establish official relations with the People’s Republic of China and sever diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan).  At the time, Taiwan was not yet a democracy, with a population of 17 million and a GDP per capita of $1,958―a flickering candle in the storm of the Cold War.

台灣關係法在1979年美國國會表決通過的1個月後，於4月10日簽署成法，藉此回應時任美國總統卡特（Jimmy Carter）同年1月所做決定，即美國與中華人民共和國締結官方關係，並與中華民國（台灣）斷交。在當時，人口1,700萬、人均國內生產毛額僅1,958美元的台灣尚非民主政體，猶如冷戰風暴中的風中殘燭。

The Taiwan Relations Act mandates the U.S. commitment to peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific. More important, it defines how the United States engages with Taiwan and ensures that our country has adequate defense capabilities to be free from coercion.

台灣關係法規定，美國應致力於西太平洋的和平、安全及穩定。更重要的是，它定義了美國與台灣往來的方式，並確保我國擁有足夠的防禦能力，不為外力所脅迫。

Against the backdrop of the Cold War, no one could have imagined that Taiwan would emerge as a beacon of democracy in Asia.

在冷戰背景下，無人能想像台灣會以亞洲民主燈塔之姿崛起。

By embracing democratic values, the people of Taiwan took their fate into their own hands.  The resilient Taiwanese defied all odds and kept making progress.

透過擁抱民主價值，台灣人民將命運操之在己。充滿韌性的台灣人排除萬難並持續向前。

With steadfast support from our partner in democracy, the United States, the people of Taiwan transformed an authoritarian regime into a vibrant democracy and held their first direct presidential election by popular vote in 1996.  Democratization was further consolidated four years later with a peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another.  Then, in 2016, Taiwan broke through the glass ceiling by electing its first female president and a record number of women into the legislature.

在美國此一民主夥伴的堅定支持下，台灣人民讓原有的威權政體轉型成為欣欣向榮的民主國家，並於1996年以普選方式首度進行總統直選。隨著4年後政黨間的和平政權轉移，民主化獲得進一步鞏固。接著在2016年時，台灣更打破玻璃天花板，除選出首位女性總統外，進軍國會的女性人數亦打破紀錄。

Taiwan has also transformed itself from an aid recipient into a high-tech powerhouse featuring outstanding human capital, a rules-based market, and a sound legal framework that upholds property rights.  Taiwan now ranks as one of the top 10 freest economies in the world and has become an important partner for many U.S. companies in the region and around the world.

台灣也讓自己從受援國搖身一變，成為人力資本出眾、市場依規則行事，以及智財權受健全法律架構保障的高科技主力。如今，台灣名列全球前十大最自由經濟體，並成為許多美商在區域內及世界各地的重要夥伴。

Since I took office three years ago, Taiwan and the United States have stepped up our joint efforts to promote our mutual interests, such as religious freedom, media literacy, and fighting corruption, safeguarding our shared values in the Indo-Pacific region.

自本人於3年前就任以來，台灣與美國不斷加強合作以促進共同利益，如宗教自由、媒體素養與打擊貪瀆等，藉此捍衛雙方在印度－太平洋地區的共享價值。

For the past 40 years, many members of Congress and successive U.S. administrations have honored the Taiwan Relations Act, making our partnership irreplaceable and shielding our region from increasingly aggressive anti-democratic forces.  We stand together because we believe that the darkness and fear imposed by authoritarian regimes cannot withstand the light of democracy.

20世紀給我們上了一課，那就是民主的進展不會是從天而降。 過去40年來，美國許多國會議員及歷屆政府信守台灣關係法，這不僅讓美台夥伴關係取得無可取代的地位，也為區域擋下步步進逼的反民主勢力。我們並肩而立，只因相信威權政體所強加的黑暗及恐懼經不起民主照耀。

The U.S. government has stood firm and responded to challenges to our partnership with determination and perseverance.

美國政府不僅立場堅定，更以決心毅力因應美台夥伴關係所面臨的挑戰。

The U.S. Congress has consistently demonstrated bipartisan support for stronger ties with Taiwan through legislation like the Taiwan Travel Act, proof that the creativity and commitment that created the Taiwan Relations Act are still alive in Congress today.

美國國會在支持美台加強關係上一向不分黨派，做法包括通過台灣旅行法等，這證明當初制定台灣關係法的創意及承諾，迄今在國會仍生生不息。

Our shared commitment to democracy and freedom is something that people living under authoritarian regimes can never understand.  Faced with the growing challenges to the rules-based order established after World War II, our partnership is more important than ever.

我們對民主自由所共享的承諾，永遠無法為那些生活在威權體制下的人民所了解。面對二戰結束以來「基於規則的秩序」（rules-based order）受到愈來愈多挑戰，台美夥伴關係的重要性更勝以往。

Taiwan has survived and thrived under the most challenging circumstances of the 20th century.  The people of Taiwan have not given in to the fearmongering of authoritarian regimes and never will.  At this critical juncture, we celebrate and reaffirm our partnership with the United States and look forward to the next chapter in our success story.

台灣在20世紀最具挑戰性的環境下存活茁壯。其子民從未在威權政體煽動恐懼時屈服，未來也絕對不會。值此關鍵時刻，我們與美國稱頌並再次確認夥伴關係，並期待我們的成功故事邁入新頁。

As president of this beacon of democracy, I am committed to fighting the good fight.  I will continue to work with our friends in the years ahead to create a better world for future generations and a more open and free Indo-Pacific and beyond.

身為台灣這座民主燈塔的總統，本人承諾為正義而戰，並在往後歲月裡繼續與我們的友人合作，替未來世代打造更美好的世界，更開放自由的印度－太平洋及其他地區。