Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) Former Chairwoman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) Therese Shaheen praised Taiwan's spirit and importance to the global community in a lecture Friday and encouraged Taiwan and China to give up their "zero-sum game" and increase economic exchanges.
Shaheen delivered a one-hour lecture titled "Why Taiwan Matters," organized by the Graduate Institute of American Studies of Tamkang University, after arriving Wednesday for a four-day visit.
Avoiding political issues, the former AIT head praised Taiwan as second to none in the IT sector and other fields. "Taiwan's 23 million people are sitting on nothing, but look what they created, " she said, quoting Richard Freeman, a well-known New York Times columnist.
Taiwan's importance to the global community is also unquestionable, she said. "If something happens to Taiwan, it is like a nuclear bomb exploding in Saudi Arabia."
"There's clearly something magical about Taiwan, " she said.
Currently working as the President of U.S. Asia Commercial Development Corporation, Shaheen describe Taiwan and China as "a great partnership" as "Taiwan brings in the management, technology and money; while China brings in its labor and infrastructure."
"We have to stop looking at this [Taiwan-China relations] as a zero-sum game like before, " she said. "Instead, it should be a win-win situation."
National security should, however, be taken into consideration before cross-strait economic exchanges, she said, adding that the U.S. is facing the same issue when dealing with China.
"And [Taiwan] should not give up its democracy and freedom to exchange for anything," she said.
Meanwhile, Shaheen denied her "Taiwan lobbyist", "pro-DPP (Democratic Progressive Party) " and "pro-Taiwan" tags, reiterating that she didn't get paid by the Taiwan government or any affiliate entity of the Taiwan government.
However, she admitted that "I do have a special feeling [about Taiwan]. Having met so many people from Taiwan and worked in the AIT, I do believe Taiwan deserves more attention. I have that attachment [to Taiwan people]."
"Taiwan people may feel alone sometimes, but a lot of people in this world can't do without you, " she said.