Chen Shui-bian

“We will strive to make Taiwan a better place and enable our people to live better lives.”

“The election is over, and even though there are people who have different ideologies and beliefs, from now on we must all embrace each other, creating a harmonious and unified new Taiwan through our love and tolerance.”

“I've been charged with misappropriation of funds or misuse of two types of funds.”

“We must not demonstrate any arrogance, and we must refrain from any irrational or undemocratic behavior.”

“We must unify Taiwan; we cannot afford to have our society being divided in half.”

“I understand the harsh feelings and sentiments from my opponents and their supporters because I myself have been defeated twice in my political life in the past and I understand very well it is hard to accept your own failure.”

“Secondly I would like to make continuous efforts of stabilising cross Strait relations, eventually reaching peace across the Taiwan strait and stability and security in the Asia Pacific region.”

“Over the next four years, I will continue to listen to different views and accept different suggestions.”

“I believe in the greatness of our people.”

“It's true I didn't get a fair trial, but the problem is people don't understand the details. It is important to understand the details of the trial and why I'm not guilty under the charges that were brought against me.”

“The grandeur and strength or our people and democracy are as big as a forest.”

“Taiwan is an independent sovereign country.”

“We also intend to deal with the issue of incorporating basic human rights into our new constitution.”

“Also in the new constitution, we want to lower the voting age from 20 years to 18 years and also gradually implement a voluntary military service in replacement of the current compulsory military service.”

“Even if I were knocked down by one gunshot it wouldn't affect our democracy and I wasn't knocked down and I have great confidence in our democracy and in Taiwan and in the people of Taiwan.”

“We ask them to remove the missiles deployed against Taiwan, give up their military threat, and instead let us together open the door to cross-Strait peaceful and stable dialogue and negotiations.”

“The results of the two referenda demonstrate the majority view of the Taiwanese people.”

“However, I must say that I am very happy to see that we have such a positive result for our first referendum in our history and that gives me more confidence in Taiwan's democracy.”

“We will make every effort to unify all ethnic groups, to strengthen belief in Taiwan and to persist in reform.”

“I believe in the greatness of our democracy.”