呂秀蓮的部落格

應「全球和平聯盟」(UPF)邀請，於韓國首爾參加「國際領袖會議」，以「柔性國力新世紀」發表專題演講。(2010年2月16-19日)

A New Era of “Soft Power”
UPF International Leadership Conference
Remarks by H.E. Lu Hsiu-Lien A.
Former Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
Seoul,February 18, 2010

President Thomas G. Walsh of UPF, Honorable speakers, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
 
Happy Lunar New Year!
Today is the fifth day of the year of  Tiger. Tigers are supposed to be vigorous and fierce. Yet today the distinguished leaders and participants coming from 70 countries meet here in Seoul, not to discuss how to fight, but rather, how to build universal peace.

Thanks for the invitation and hospitality of the Universal Peace Federation. We are privileged to have the chance to celebrate the 90th Birthday of Rev. Dr. Sun Myung Moon and the 67th Birthday of Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon together. As renowned world leaders, their life reflects a valuable living human history. And their devotion and contribution to the betterment of the world is remarkable. Also remarkable is the success and achievements that the Korean government and people in the past decades  have made.

The theme for our Conference is that all people are one family under God; therefore we shall build a world of peace in which everyone can live in freedom, harmony, cooperation and prosperity. Regretfully, the reality of human history appeared to be on the contrast.
Using the Second World War as an example, it was a war spanning over three continents and 3 oceans for six years.  A total of 84 countries and 2 billion people were involved in the war effort that resulted in 12 million military deaths, 45 million civilian deaths and untold number of wounded.  Of the total casualties, 35 million were accounted in the Pacific theater.    

The Second World War was not only a war of annexation and aggression, but also a war of ideology.  For many people, the Allies’ victory was the triumph of good over evil and democracy over dictatorship.  Yet, the biggest lesson coming out of this most devastating war is the terrifying nature of war and the tragedy of human conflicts.  
Because I was born exactly on D-Day, 1944, my personal feeling about war and peace naturally is sensitive. As a student of world history, I've learned that war means death and destruction, while peace is something like air and water that flourishes universal lives. Shortly after I left school, I devoted myself to the pursuit of justice and fairness, including women’s liberation and political democratization, paying a high price --  my own personal battle with carcinoma and a later imprisonment for about 6 years.

Without regret, I proceeded on my goal once I was released and I campaigned for public offices, including Congress and 2 terms of Vice Presidency. What I’m most proud of is my strong commitment to advocate for the philosophy of “soft power”.

First described by the Dean of Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, Joseph Nye, “soft power” is different from the traditional hard power used to measure a country’s strength. Traditionally, our societies have focused on economic growth, and countries have stressed on the development of hard power – that is, economic and military strength.  Such an unbalanced approach has created much exploitation and invasion. Many people have suffered under colonialism, wars, brutal authoritarian and communist regimes.  In addition, ethnic conflicts, growth disparities and environmental degradation naturally resulted from the pursuit of hard power. Instead of using military and economic power to push one's adversaries into submission, soft power attracts and draws others into partnership and cooperative relations. Hard power should no longer be the sole measurement a country's success, and soft power will play more important role in the future of our world.

Actively I advocate the importance of soft power, making Taiwan's democracy, human rights, love, peace and technological innovation as a good example .  These are values and achievements that made Taiwan to transform from a small, poor country under an authoritarian regime into a highly developed country with a full fledged democracy through a peaceful process. The  rising of  South Korea tells another story of the success of soft power.

With all this in mind, I held the World Peace Assembly with six Nobel Peace Laureates and outstanding leaders echoing the UN proclamation of the year of peace in 2001. Futhermore, based on the belief that without democracy, there is no peace; without democracy and peace, there is no genuine prosperity, in 2003 I founded the Democratic Pacific Union attracting participation by over 40 countries across the Pacific Community.  Many Conferences and projects have been conducted and the idea of soft power has thus become pervasive.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the 21st Century is a century full of challenges and dilemma, for the pessimists, remnants of the Cold War still linger, especially in Asia.  Four out of the five remaining communist countries in the world today is located in Asia.  Other potential threats to peace and stability include North Korea’s nuclear ambition, various territorial disputes and China’s growing political and  military ambition.  Many Latin American, African and Muslim countries still face difficult challenges in their political and economic reforms.  In addition, the threat of terrorist attacks, the wars in Afghanistan and in Iraq, the lack of human rights protection for billions of people and the frequent occurrence of nature disasters are all causes for concern. Even in Taiwan strait,while some foreign observors believe that the tension has been relaxed, in fact,China is encouraged to take advantage of Taiwan for the expansion of their hegimomy.

Ladies and Gentlemen: regardless of our countries of origin, our position, or wealth, all of us are only temporary passengers on this earth.  We must be good stewards of the earth.  Born and raised under one family, on the basis of soft power, we must love and help each other. We must cuiltivate a culture of peace and love.

Together, let us usher the year of Tiger into a new era of soft power!
May God  Bless You!