Uniting for Progress

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The massive earthquake that struck Taiwan on September 21, 1999, shook not only the land, but also people's attitudes.

The new administration made a thorough review of past development policy, which over-emphasized economic growth. The new administration's plan for a green silicon island will develop Taiwan into a knowledge-based economy, a sustainable environment, and a just society. Taiwan is currently experiencing a major political, industrial, and social transformation. It is being completely reconstructed, like the earthquake stricken areas.

Reconstruction after the earthquake thoroughly demonstrated the deep love of and unity among the people of Taiwan. Tens of thousands of people donated money to unknown families in the disaster areas. Continuous lines of trucks came from all over the island with food, clothing, daily necessities, and enthusiastic volunteers. Love gives us confidence. Behind the dark clouds, we see the sunshine that guides us to walk along a new path with confidence.

Ten women, whose lives have been disrupted by the earthquake, set up the Plant Dye Workshop with the financial assistance of the Council of Labor Affairs. They use local plant materials to dye cloth and make elegant handkerchiefs with creative patterns. Orders come in every day, making this plant dye business a new industry in Taiwan. Such confidence and unity enable people in the earthquake disaster areas to gradually recover.

The new geographic survey and mapping will be completed this July. A total of 380 hectares of land made barren by landslides during the earthquake have been re-planted with trees. Major lines of transportation and bridges have been restored. The popular tourist Chichi railway began service with colorful painted trains early this year. The occupancy rate at hotels in the earthquake areas during holidays has recovered to previous levels.

Taiwan has great potential. When the two energy crises occurred, Taiwan stood firm. When the financial crisis plagued East Asia, Taiwan continued to grow. When the September 21, 1999, earthquake struck, Taiwan was not disabled. Before the last presidential election in 2000, many people stated with certainty that if Chen Shui-bian was elected, relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait would deteriorate. However, after Chen was elected, bilateral relations were stabilized and Taipei-Washington relations were improved, proving the pessimists wrong.

Last autumn, some people asserted that a domestic financial crisis would occur in Taiwan early this year. Time proves that the pessimists were wrong. Recently, some people blamed the new administration for the decline of Taiwan's competitiveness. However, the report released by the International Institute for Management Development in April 2001 showed that Taiwan's rating was up from 20th worldwide last year to 18th this year. This is especially significant, as the rankings for Japan, Malaysia, the Chinese mainland, and Thailand all went down due to the impact of the depressed US economy on Asian countries. This object analysis proves that the pessimists were wrong.

Facing the global economic recession and the industrial transformation at home, Taiwan needs confidence and unity, not suspicion and blame. Last year, the change of governing party completed Taiwan's political transformation. The new administration has de-politicized the civil service, promoted human rights, consolidated democracy, stabilized cross-strait relations, and cracked down on corruption and black-gold politics. The work of eliminating old malpractices, before we start new policies, is near completion. The future is ours to create.

The road is rough, but the future is bright.
Unite together for progress!
Taiwan will surmount any crisis.
Unite together for progress!
Taiwan will be reborn as an advanced country.