Taiwan Today
Date: January 25, 2016
ROC President Ma Ying-jeou said Jan. 23 that the government is fostering
President Ma Ying-jeou (left) welcomes foreign dignitaries to the WLFD annual conference Jan. 23 in Taipei City. (Courtesy of Presidential Office)
the development of freedom and democracy in Taiwan, while promoting regional peace and stability.
“As the first republic in Asia, the ROC places a premium on these goals and has gained great recognition for its accomplishments in this regard,” Ma said. “The country’s outperformances in various global rankings also stand testament to this progress.”
Ma made the remarks while addressing the annual conference of Taipei City-headquartered nongovernmental organization World League for Freedom and Democracy. The event coincided with World Freedom Day, which is celebrated in the ROC and South Korea to mark the decision by 14,000 People’s Liberation Army prisoners of war to go to Taiwan instead of mainland China following their release by U.N. forces during the Korean War.
According to Ma, Taiwan has chalked up significant headway in human rights, as evidenced in the annual report released last year by Washington-based Freedom House. “On a scale of 1 to 7, with 1 being the freest and 7 the least free, the report rated Taiwan 1 in political rights and 2 in civil liberties, while listing it as a free nation alongside Japan, the U.S. and some countries in Western Europe,” he said. [FULL STORY]
