Taipei, Jan. 1 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou and Premier Wu Den-yih lauded Taiwan's diplomatic achievements on New Year's Day, saying that the government's policy of flexible diplomacy has won Taiwan the respect of the international community.
"You don't often see a country with as few diplomatic allies as Taiwan -- we have only 23 -- being so active and energetic internationally, " the president said at an exhibition organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at Taipei Guest House.
Ma cited the increase in the number of countries or regions granting Taiwan visa-waiver privileges since he took office in May 2008 -- from 53 to 96 -- as an example of the country's diplomatic advances.
He attributed the increase not only to those countries' respect and trust of Taiwanese passport holders but also to recognition of Taiwan's efforts in relaxing cross-Taiwan Strait tensions.
Taiwan's pragmatism and flexible approach in its diplomacy has won praise around the world and stopped a diplomatic war with China to entice each other's allies -- often with cash -- to change their allegiances.
Taiwan has also repeatedly shown that it could contribute to the international community, evidenced by the humanitarian relief effort after its Caribbean ally of Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake last January, Ma said.
He also lauded the charitable works abroad of such nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) as the well-known Tsu Chi Foundation, World Vision Taiwan, and Taiwan Foundation for Children and Families.
These efforts have demonstrated the soft power that Taiwan has been able to utilize in participating in the international community, he said.
Ma acknowledged, however, the importance of regular diplomacy, saying that he still remembered how "uncomfortable" he felt as a New York University law student in the mid-1970s when he first read about the United States Court for China, which existed from 1906 to 1943 and had extraterritorial jurisdiction over U.S. citizens in China.
Speaking at the same occasion, Premier Wu highlighted the European Union (EU) visa-waiver program, which is scheduled to take effect Jan. 11 and give Taiwanese passport holders visa-free exemption to 35 European countries.
He described it as one of the most important diplomatic achievements of the past year and as a signal that the EU "completely respects, trusts and accepts the 23 million people of Taiwan."
Wu said Taiwan's diplomatic achievements were reflected by two numbers: inbound arrivals surpassed 5 million for the first time ever in a single year in 2010 and the growth rate of cargo and passenger volume at Taoyuan International Airport in 2010 both ranked ahead of those of the other Asian Tigers -- Hong Kong, South Korea, and Singapore. (By Chris Wang) enditem/ls