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

It has been well over half a century and I'm glad to say we have taken the right path from authoritarianism to democracy and this is a road of no return.

Taiwan is an independent, sovereign country.

Even if one tree falls down it wouldn't affect the entire forest.

We sincerely ask the Beijing authorities across the Strait to view the election result from a positive perspective, to accept the democratic decision of the Taiwanese people.

I have great confidence in the universal value and in basic human rights and I have great confidence that referenda will eventually take root and become part of our daily lives in Taiwan.

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