Taipei, Oct. 8 (CNA) Taiwan should do more to help democratic development in Myanmar and thereby demonstrate its unyielding support for universal human rights and advance its democracy-promoting diplomatic policy, participants of a forum said Monday.
"For example, Taiwan should pass the Refugee Act as soon as possible and help establish a Myanmar refugee settlement regime here to show our support of democracy in Myanmar, " said Lai I-chung, Director of ruling Democratic Progressive Party's (DPP's) Department of International Affairs, in a forum focused on the latest political developments in Myanmar following the recent massive protests.
More than 100,000 persons of Myanmarese descent currently living in Taiwan are also welcome to voice their opinions to the international community on the democratic development in their home country, said Joyce Lin, a professor at Tamkang University.
Taiwan should also seize this opportunity to increase its exchanges with Myanmar, the only Southeast Asian nation that does not trade with Taiwan, Lin said.
Discussants of the forum, which was organized by Taiwan Thinktank, agreed that the effect of global condemnation of Myanmar's ruling junta will be limited since the regime enjoys the support of China and Russia in the United Nations' Security Council. However, Taiwan should keep sending strong messages that it sides with the people.
"We don't want people to get the impression that whenever Taiwan speaks or makes the international headlines, we only do so out of concern with our own problem, which is the Taiwan Strait issue. We should keep communicating to let people know that, as a member of the international community, we do care about what happens elsewhere, " Liu noted.
There are so many things Taiwan can do with the Tibet and Myanmar issues to act as a "guardian of democracy" in the Asia-Pacific region, Lai said, adding that Hong Kong relinquished that role after the 1997 handover to China.
Political parties, non-government organizations (NGOs) and the legislature can all act to show Taiwan's support of the people of Myanmar, Lai added.