Wu Sue-jen will be the first Taiwanese first lady to visit the U.S. During the 10-day visit, Wu will not meet U.S. government officials to avoid provoking Beijing, but she will attend a reception hosted by the U.S. Congress and address the American Enterprise Institute think tank.

"We don't think the visit of the first lady is going to have any ill effect on triangular relations primarily because it is a private visit," Joseph Wu, the president's chief of staff, said, referring to Taipei's ties with Beijing and Washington. Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, but remains the island's main arms supplier and trading partner. "We urge China not to respond in a negative way because it's not going to be helpful to triangular relations," Wu said.

Beijing has considered Taiwan a breakaway province since 1949 when Chiang Kai-shek's troops lost a civil war to Mao Zedong's Red Army and fled into exile. Beijing has sought to push the democratic island of 23 million people into diplomatic isolation by limiting its contacts with other countries.

For decades, the United States discouraged high-level contacts with Taiwan officials to avoid angering China. But President Bush has shown more overt support for Taiwan since he took office in January 2001, pledging to do "whatever it takes" to defend the island.

Bush offered last year to sell the island up to eight diesel-powered submarines and four Kidd-class destroyers -- the biggest U.S. arms package for Taiwan since 1992 when his father sold Taiwan F-16 fighters. President Chen was allowed to make unprecedented stopovers in the United States last year on his way to and from Latin America. But a visit to the U.S. capital by Taiwan's leader would inevitably anger China.

Wu and her 23-member delegation will also travel to New York and Los Angeles, where they will attend a symphony performance, visit an art museum and meet Taiwan expatriates.

"Taiwan definitely is a sovereign nation", Wu Sue-jen told The Associated Press. "If we're not an independent nation, how could I be a first lady?" Wu said in the palm tree-shaded presidential residence in southwest Taipei. Wu, who leaves Thursday, will be the first Taiwanese first lady to visit Washington.

USA President Bush has adopted a friendlier policy toward Taiwan, and Wu's visit is the latest example of Washington's new flexibility. Her nine-day trip includes stops in New York , Washington and Los Angeles.

``World leaders should have the freedom to visit other countries, and I think Americans will be able to agree with this,'' Wu Sue-jen said in her raspy, low voice.

If she ever has a chance to meet Chinese President Jiang Zemin's wife, Wu said she would invite her to Taiwan to ``experience the air of freedom.''

The first lady plans to speak at the National Arts Club in New York on Friday. She also will speak at the American Enterprise Institute think tank in Washington on Sept. 24 and attend a congressional cocktail reception in her honor Sept. 25.

Wu said her speeches would focus on Taiwan's success in evolving from authoritarian rule to democracy. She sees no need to mention Taiwan's claims that it is not part of the communist People's Republic of China. ``I don't need to keep repeating this. It's just like I don't have to keep emphasizing that I'm a woman,'' she said.

Traveling abroad is difficult for the frail, wheelchair-bound Wu, since an apparent murder attempt, paralyzed from the waist down since a truck hit her in 1985 during Taiwan's repressive martial law era.

The driver, a farmer, said it was an accident and he never was charged with a crime. But Wu repeated her assertion that the incident was a politically motivated murder attempt, noting that the truck ran over her three times. ``The driver said he was just returning home, but that road absolutely wasn't the road to his home,''

Mrs Wu arrived in Washington from New York, where she made a speech at the city's National Arts Club on Taiwan's democratic development. Referring to Taiwan's failure to secure a seat in the United Nations, she said she believed that with perseverance, Taiwan would one day achieve its goal.

The first lady will do some sightseeing in Washington on Monday before delivering another speech - to the American Enterprise Institute think-tank on Tuesday. Mrs Wu is also to attend a reception in her honour at Congress on Wednesday. She will then travel to Los Angeles, where she is expected to meet Chen Chin-fen, who plays for the hometown Dodgers baseball team, and is the first Taiwanese to reach the major leagues.

Washington -- Senators praised Taiwan's First Lady Chen Wu Sue-jen September 25 as she was concluding a visit to the United States. She was scheduled to depart the United States September 26.

"I extend my warmest welcome to the First Lady of Taiwan, Chen Wu Sue-jen, who is in Washington this week to visit with some of her and her husband's many friends here," said Senator Jesse Helms (Republican of North Carolina), the ranking minority member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. "I am among the many admirers of President Chen," Helms said, calling him "a courageous leader."

"The courage of his wife has earned for her great respect," Helms added. "In 1985, while supporting one of her husband's campaigns, Mrs. Chen Wu was hit by a vehicle that left her paralyzed from the waist down."

According to Helms, that episode was believed by many to have been politically motivated, and it left her permanently confined to a wheelchair.

"The following year when her husband was imprisoned by his political foes, Mrs. Chen Wu sought election on his behalf for a seat in the national legislature, Helms said. "She won and served in the legislature in spite of her serious injury," thus keeping Chen Shui-bian's "political cause in the public eye."

Chen Wu, he added, "provided indispensable encouragement and support" as Chen Shui-bian progressed from legislator to Taipei Mayor to President of Taiwan.

"First Lady Chen Wu Sue-jen was instrumental in building Taiwan's early, unequivocal and generous support for the United States and American people following the attacks on September 11, 2001," Helms said.

"She comes to the United States this week with a message of Taiwan's continuing strong support in the war against terrorism," Helms said. "I know that Senators will share my appreciation" for Taiwan's friendship and solidarity.

Senator Christopher Bond (Republican of Missouri) praised the Taiwanese First Lady as "a strong and effective advocate for Taiwan's physically challenged citizens."

Throughout all her trials, he added, "she has remained solid in her support for her family and the people of Taiwan. This strength of character has contributed much to the First Lady's greatness."

Bond said First Lady Chen Wu was bringing a message of "cooperation and support from the Taiwanese in our joint antiterrorism campaign."

Bond said Taiwan had demonstrated "charity and humanitarian assistance to the victims of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001."

Senator Mary Landrieu (Democrat of Louisiana) described Taiwan's First Lady as a "unique and remarkable woman."

First Lady Chen Wu is Taiwan's youngest first lady, Landrieu said. "Men and women of all political parties admire her as a genuine person."

Bolton, an ardent friend of Taiwan and one-time Taipei Times contributing columnist, spent 20 minutes with Wu discussing a broad range of issues related to Taiwan, cross-Strait relations and the US, sources say. They would not give details of the discussions.

One source, however, said that one matter brought up was comments Bolton made that appeared in the Taipei Times the Monday following Chen Shui-bian's March 2000 election. In that article, Bolton was quoted as saying that the US should defend Taiwan against any possible provocation by China, including the frontline islands of Kinmen and Matsu.

Bolton was complaining at the time about the Clinton administration's policy of "strategic ambivalence" in favor of a firmer defense commitment. "If you make a commitment to the use of forces, it has to be a commitment to win," Bolton was quoted as saying.

He also warned at the time that in view of the upcoming US presidential election, "I think your transition from election to inauguration [of Chen as president] is a potentially dangerous time."

Word of the meeting spread after Bolton appeared at a reception for Wu following the first lady's delivery of a speech at the think tank on Taiwan's path to democracy and her and her husband's political struggles toward the presidency.

Bolton was close-mouthed when approached by reporters at the reception. "I'll just say this very briefly: As an alumnus of AEI, I'm very glad she's here and I look forward to the opportunity to talk to her a little bit more."

Pressed by reporters, he said, "I'm here as Under Secretary of State and an alumnus of AEI. That's really all I have to say."

In an effort to not overly annoy Beijing, Wu's visit to Washington is being billed as a private one on both sides. Taiwan officials say that she is not scheduled to meet any George W. Bush administration officials, although some Taiwan sources say that senior State Department officials may telephone Wu to greet her and hold discussions.

Wu emphasize Taiwan's desire to gain admission to the UN, a theme she stressed in New York last week.

"Even though we are not a member of the United Nations, as long as Taiwan keeps the faith and perseveres, we will eventually be able to joint the United Nations again," she said.

"We believe that Taiwan is a democratic and free country which respects human rights. There is no reason for us to be excluded from the community of nations. I have confidence that our ongoing effort will enable us to obtain our deserved representation. I also believe it would give us the opportunity to contribute and to play out our responsibility as a member of the global village."

The term, "global village," which Wu has also used before during her trip, is reminiscent of former US first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton's book title, "It takes a village", a phrase that has entered the American vocabulary. Wu was expected to meet Clinton during the congressional reception.


Freedom Formosa 自由福爾摩沙 <王思庸>


She came from
A little green dot on the map,
Who dangerously sits
Next to a red giant
Waiting to feast.


She heard her name
Announced loud and clear:
"And the international Excellence in leadership award
Goes to Wu Shu-Chen!"
Loud and clear,
These words were pronounced,
Yet-
So much doubt, so much suspicion,
They just can't see that she won it herself.
Too blind to realize that she deserved this award
At all.


But it mattered no more to her,
These disturbing murmurs.
For at this moment,
She could only hear
The cries of Taiwanese,
For freedom,
For peace,
For the independence they now struggle to keep.


A little island
So tiny, so small,
Not strong enough to fight the beast
Alone.
So massive this enemy,
So petite the friends,
Even so, more is taken each day.


Others can say,
"Why should we care?
It's just an island
With 23 million men.
That is nothing,
Compared to the states,
Just the state Cali alone,
Has far more than them."


23 million, flesh and bone,
Not too many but are born
All born Equal, wild and free.
Others are no more different than we.
23 million free willed men,
23 million drops of tears,
23 million strong willed men,
23 million voices so dear,
Shouting, singing, wishing, pray
"Let freedom ring!"


China wanted the island back.
But how could one think
When one gave blind men light
For 53 years,
No struggle will be arise
When they try to poke his eyes?


But she is contented now
As she slowly rolls on stage,
Sitting on the evidence of her bravery.
A proof that she received for standing tall,
In the days when people had a hide,
When dreams of freedom were caged inside.
For she knows,
All these years,
All the pain that she endured,
When her husband was locked
Behind the iron bars,
When she was hit by an assassin
With a massive truck,
All these sufferings
Have finally paid off,
At this moment,
Today,
Right now.


She receives the shiny trophy, a huge bronze cup,
And raises it high above
The overwhelming claps.
Cheers-
To all the people who fought with her,
And still are fighting today.
Cheers-
To all the people who believed
That the beautiful island will stand,
For Formosa, the beautiful isle, it was named.
Cheers-
To this green island
The island whose trees are grown
From the rain of tears and sweat and blood,
Of revolutionists, names unknown.
And she knows that she will fight,
As long as it would last,
Until the day when Red Dragon.
Would take back its waiting claws.
For a mother has to let go
When her child has grown too old,
Not to bind them in the house.
For even so through the windowsill,
His soul will fly out,
Wondering free.
Like so she in her steel wheelchair,
Her soul,
Her soul,
Soars in the air.


As she placidly returns to her seat,
Waiting for this all to end.
Waiting for this day when she,
And many Taiwanese
Can be unlocked from the Pressure
And she knows Freedom is the key.


Let freedom ring!


她來自於
地圖上一個綠色小點，
該地危聳緊鄰著
伺機予以吞併的赤色巨人。

她聽到有人唸出她的名字
聲音響亮清澈
『國際傑出領導人獎—吳淑珍！』
這幾個字是如此
響亮清澈，
然而－
卻仍有許多人懷疑、不敢相信，
他們不知道她是靠自己贏得這份榮耀、
他們完全不瞭解這是她當之無愧的殊榮。

但她都已不在乎
這些庸人擾語，
因為此刻，
她唯一聽見的聲音
是台灣人民的呼喊，
追求自由、和平與獨立，
這些是他們現在正努力要維護的。




總統夫人「珍愛民主．親善之旅」－華府美國國會山莊演說

總統夫人「珍愛民主．親善之旅」－美國國會眾議院決議通過歡迎總統夫人訪美

　　針對今天美國國會眾議院以四百一十票比零票通過歡迎總統夫人吳淑珍女士訪美決議案，陳總統水扁先生與夫人咸表感謝與欣慰之意。
　　總統夫人在該決議案通過後立即獲知此事，並認為在她次日即將參加美國會的歡迎酒會前夕，國會在繁忙的議程中特別通過此一決議案，深具意義，並對美國會之盛情特表感謝。
　　總統則是在台北時間二十五日上午得知此一訊息，感到非常欣慰。總統強調，這正是中美關係友好基石的明證，他除了對美國國會的盛情支持表達由衷的感謝之外，也對代表團團員的辛勞及駐美代表處的努力表示肯定與嘉勉。

總統夫人「珍愛民主．親善之旅」－華府美國企業研究院演說

　　總統夫人吳淑珍女士二十四日下午繼續她在華府的第二天行程。 總統夫人抵達美國重要智庫之一的「美國企業研究院」，並發表演說。
　　總統夫人演說內容為：

　　非常榮幸能夠在來到華府的第三天應邀前來著名的「美國企業研究院」訪問，首先我要感謝狄繆思（Christopher Demuth）院長對台灣從以前的威權統治到二千年的政黨輪替做了詳細的解說。同時我也要代表我的夫婿陳水扁總統，以及兩千三百萬台灣人民，感謝貴研究院長期對台灣的關注與協助。在座各位學者專家對亞太區域、台灣民主以及台海情勢的觀察與建議，一直都是中華民國政府最重視的寶貴意見。
　　在出發前來美國訪問之前，我在台灣的電視上看到美國舉國上下紀念九一一週年的活動，這幾天親自走訪紐約與華府，讓我有很深的感觸。
　　在九一一事件發生後不久，我曾經讀過來自美國聖路易市一位名叫瑪麗哈維牧師的一段話，她說： 「『勇氣』通常是在對抗恐懼的時候才會產生；『信仰』則是戰勝疑慮最大的力量；『信任』意味著人們在最艱困的環境中，仍然能夠攜手勇往直前。」我想，這段話很忠實地呈現了美國人民的心境，以及國際社會對於罹難者和他們親人的關懷。
　　九一一事件對美國及全世界造成了衝擊與恐慌，對於恐怖份子這樣殘酷無情的行為，我們給予最嚴厲的譴責，對於不幸死傷者和他們的家屬，我們也要獻上最誠摰的哀悼與同情。
　　然而從另一角度來看，九一一事件讓全世界愛好自由民主的國家更加緊密團結在一起，共同努力對抗恐怖主義，所以陳總統在九一一事件發生、以及今年九一一週年時，率先發表我們支持反恐行動，而我們也在這方面做出了最大的貢獻。
　　台灣是美國長久以來最忠誠的夥伴，台灣對於國際反恐行動的參與原本就是義不容辭。陳水扁總統在去年九一一事件之後，立即指示所屬，採取各種措施加強保護在台美國僑民的生命及財產安全，並嚴厲譴責恐怖份子的暴行，雖然台灣並不是聯合國的會員國，但是身為國際社會的一份子，過去這一年我們仍然恪遵聯合國安理會第一三七三號決議文全力配合美國及國際反恐行動，積極動員各項人力、物力，完成反恐佈主義的措施。同時我們也對於阿富汗難民的人道救助，中華民國政府和民間非政府組織也主動提供必要的救援物資和協助，讓這些受到恐怖主義牽連的無辜受難者感受到來自台灣的溫暖和關懷。
　　今年九一一週年前夕，陳水扁總統代表中華民國政府再次重申支持美國打擊恐怖主義的堅定立場。陳水扁總統公開呼籲亞太國家要以安全、民主、經濟，做為確保亞太地區和平與繁榮的三個主要的支柱。同時我們也願以台灣自身民主化的成功經驗、追求台海和平的堅定立場以及促進亞太經濟繁榮的信心，共同與區域內的夥伴一起努力，來追求亞太地區的安全與穩定、民主的鞏固與擴大、以及經濟的合作與發展。
　　誠如狄繆思院長所提，陳水扁贏得公元兩千年台灣的總統選舉不是他個人或是我們家庭的勝利，這項政黨和平的轉移是台灣二千三百萬人民共同的勝利。對我和我先生而言，能夠在壓制與挫折的痛苦中，繼續為民主的理念、為台灣的前途奮鬥，才是真正可貴的經驗。
雖然我因為在陪伴陳水扁競選台南縣長後謝票活動中，遭遇車禍，必須一輩子坐在輪椅上，但我們並沒有因為這些困難而失去為民主奮鬥的「勇氣」，而是在台灣人民的支持下，完成了政黨和平輪替。我們雖然曾遭遇挫折，但卻沒有因為挫折而妥協，更沒有因為成功而自滿，因為我們始終堅持對民主、自由的信仰與信心。
　　誠如院長所說，數百年來，台灣曾經歷外來侵略、殖民統治與威權統治。五十年來，為了追求自由、民主、人權的普世價值，許許多多堅忍的台灣人民曾經義無反顧的犧牲、反抗，寫下血淚斑斑的歷史。而正是因為經歷如此的嚴格焠煉，台灣才能享有今天的民主和繁榮。相對而言，我和我先生曾經遭受的苦難，不是唯一，更不是最大。
　　我堅信，一個崇尚自由、民主的台灣、一個追求和平與人權的國家，雖然目前不是聯合國一員，但只要台灣人民有絕對的信心與堅定的毅力，總是有一天能再重返聯合國。台灣不是一個問題，而是一個「成功的故事」，這是美國國務卿鮑威爾先生說的。目前聯合國有一百九十個會員國，台灣只是非常少數被排除在外的，台灣是一個享有自由民主人權的國家，沒有理由被排除在外，只要我們繼續努力奮鬥，會有那麼一天讓我們有機會善盡地球村一員的責任與義務。謝謝各位。
　　晚間，總統夫人則接受華府僑界晚宴款待。約八百餘人特別從各地趕來，在總統夫人抵達會場時，以熱烈的掌聲來表達他們的竭誠歡迎。總統夫人除對於他們的遠道而來表示最真摯的感謝之外，也以幽默溫馨的國台語雙聲帶致詞。
　　總統夫人致詞時首先感謝代表處及相關同仁的努力與安排，並指出，因為華府日夜溫差較大之故，有點咳嗽，所以才讓餐會延誤了許多時間，令她感到抱歉。
　　總統夫人表示，剛才聽說有人從德州開了九小時的車來到華府，也有人特地請假由巴爾的摩過來，就是為了參加這場餐會，足見各位僑胞對政府的全力支持，讓她十分感動。
　　夫人指出，此行她由紐約到華府，再到洛杉磯，其中紐約是美國最大的都市，華府是美國的政治中心，而回去後她即將當外婆，剛才看到三位代表獻花的華府僑胞小朋友們，都相當可愛，尤其是其中那位小男孩，更是讓她感到高興。因為她女兒懷的就是男孩。
　　夫人以幽默的口吻說，她日前還夢到外孫是前額凸、嘴巴翹的樣子，但不管長相好看與否，她還是會很喜歡他，因為看久了就好看，就好像對自己的國家一樣，不論自己的國家怎樣，還是會認為自己的國家最好，雖然大家旅居美國，但是仍然深愛台灣。
　　夫人表示，台灣歷經了不斷地改革才有如今的成果，這是無數人的心血努力換來的，這個成果不是屬於某一個人或某一家庭的，而是應由台灣二千三百萬人民及海外僑胞共同分享。夫人進一步指出，這都是大家用選票一票一票選出總統，而台灣最讓外國人肯定的一點就是台灣享有自由與民主，台灣已是一個真正自由民主的國家，因為我們已歷經和平的政權轉移，這以後將會留下一個好的典範。
　　夫人認為，總歸一句話就是大家要支持自己的國家，不管誰做總統，只要是人民選出來的，不管意識型態是否相同，少數還是要服從多數，多數也要尊重少數。夫人強調，政府一向重視海外僑胞，尤其是台美關係一向良好，大家在此地工作發展，為國家外交盡一份心力，精神令人感佩；而僑胞們的支持更是政府努力拓展外交的一大助力，夫人感謝並期勉僑胞們能以最堅定的心來支持政府，更祝福大家事業順利，此行不負大家期望。
　　稍早，總統夫人也接見前美國聯邦參議員杜爾，感謝他多年來對中華民國所展現的情誼。