2023-07-16
Declaration of the DPP's Second Assembly of the 20th National Party Congress
On July 16, the DPP held the Second Assembly of the 20th National Party Congress and the full text of the National Party Congress Declaration approved therein is as follows:
“Democratic Unity in Support of Taiwan”
Amid the worst pandemic in a century, the world has seen a Taiwan that tackled it efficiently and maintained steady economic performance.
In 2023, as the global community embarks on post-pandemic recovery, Taiwan retains the lead in global semiconductor industrial chains. Sitting at the fulcrum in the first-island chain in the Western Pacific, Taiwan plays an indispensable role in the stability and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific and the world writ large.
As the Russia-Ukraine war continues unabated, China actively builds up its military, and authoritarianism advances, the Taiwan issue has received heightened global attention. Should Taiwan fail to hold the line of democracy, the world would come under siege from China. Only when Taiwan is stable can the world be stable; only by ensuring Taiwan’s security can the world be secure.
Democracy is a valuable asset collectively won by the people of Taiwan. In the past, the Democratic Progressive Party stood on the front line against dictatorship; now, our new mission is to safeguard Taiwan, to promote Taiwan’s democracy, peace and prosperity.
As the incumbent party, since 2016 the DPP has implemented a suite of economic policies, continued to strengthen Taiwan, and linked arms with global partners to enhance cooperation. We’ve committed our full strength to pushing for the New Southbound Policy, to increasing participation in the WTO and APEC, and to seeking CPTPP membership. We’ve also inaugurated new representative offices in Somaliland and Lithuania.
This year Taiwan not only reached the first agreement under the 21st-century trade initiative with the U.S.; we also renewed investment agreements with the Philippines, India and Vietnam. And negotiations on the Taiwan-Canada Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement have been launched, too. These results along with our hard work have augmented Taiwan’s global visibility—and reinforced Taiwan’s connections to the international community.
Last year our exports to Southeast Asian countries reached $96.9 billion, $75 billion with the U.S. and $33.6 billion with Japan. Each of the three figures represents the highest history. Last year bilateral trade between Taiwan and the European Union exceeded $70 billion for the first time; bilateral trade and investment both increased markedly. All these economic statistics are evidence that Taiwan has walked into the embrace of the world and reaped substantial results.
Taiwan needs the world, and vice versa. Amid the global outbreak of Covid-19, Taiwan shared with the world our pandemic-prevention experiences and supplies. In the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Taiwan worked alongside the world’s democracies to provide Ukraine humanitarian aid and support its rebuilding efforts.
Through concrete actions, Taiwan has become a stalwart partner to the democratic coalition, and global support for Taiwan is increasing by the day. We must work to magnify this unifying democratic force. As the global democratic coalition forms, we must tear down the wall of partisanship and absorb strength from all corners through elections, assembling Taiwan’s Grand Democratic Alliance to deepen our democracy and defend that of the world’s.
The democracy and freedom Taiwan enjoys today are the results of the dedication and sacrifice of those who came before us. They were won through trials and tribulations, and are the ideal the people of Taiwan adamantly uphold.
The 2024 presidential and legislative elections present a choice between democracy and authoritarianism, and a chance for political accountability. We must preserve Taiwan’s robust democracy and unshakable sovereignty. And we must afford the Taiwanese people across generations an ability and right to determine their own future. This is the direction in which we will take our people.
The nation must progress; Taiwan will not go backward. In 2024 we will marshal the strength of democracy and unity to support Taiwan—and win.
