Professor Ya-chung Chang’s Speech Draws Attention
A world tour speech given by Professor Chang Ya-Chung, who is the professor of the Department of Political Science at the National Taiwan University, director of the Chinese Integration Association and Buddha's Light International Association, and researcher at the Humanistic Buddhism Research Institute, was held in Christchurch, New Zealand on January 20.
The wonderful speech entitled "Where Should Cross-strait Relations Go? - Humanistic Buddhism and Cross-strait Peace" attracted many locals, media and overseas Chinese. Over 120 people were attended, including the representative consul Liu Lian from Consulate of People Republic of China (PRC) in Christchurch, Republic of China (ROC)’s oversea Committee Alex Fu, ROC oversea committee consulor Dr Chang, Chrsitchurch Polcie Asian liason officer li Ying Cai, Pacific and Ethnic police officer Philemon Goto, Textile Scientist Dr Surinder Tandon and wife, Buddha’s Light International Asscoation (BLIA) North Island Advisor Dolly Tsai, BLIA South Island President See Shen, Lee, BLIA south Island Advisor Jon Lai and Sandy Liao and other BLIA members. Fo Guang Shan (FGS) NZ Venerable Abbess Manshin and South Island Temple supervisor Venerable Jue Xi from the host unit presented themselves through the whole course.
Prior to the speech was the sign language performance “Harmony” given by BLIA Youth Adult Division (YAD), which created a peaceful atmosphere. Based on the data from research, professor Chang narrated for the public in detail Taiwanese youth, the middle-aged and senior citizens’ different understanding of cross-strait relations in recent years.
Afterwards he talked about the evolution of cross-strait relations. Taking the “one country, two systems” that China used in the case of Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR as an example, professor Chang proposed “One Country, three constitutions” on the current cross-strait political situation.
Furthermore, he based the speech on Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s humanistic Buddhism idea and applied “Three Good Deeds, Four Giving and Five Pentagon of Harmonious” in this politics situation, stating that mainland China should give Taiwan ‘confidence’ and ‘convenience’ recognition in international status, whereas Taiwan should give mainland China ‘joy’ and ‘hope’ toward the unification negotiation, in order to find a way that fits cross-strait development with respect and tolerance.
The speech met with an enthusiastic response from the audiences, who raised questions and discussed with professor Chang. Despite some differences in advocates of cross-strait relations, the audiences and professor Chang reached a certain degree of consensus. The audiences also remarked that the speech was enlightening, through which they gained a better understanding of the great impact of Venerable Master’s humanistic Buddhism idea on cross-strait relations. Finally, the public had a warm round of applause for professor Chang’s wonderful speech.