Taiwan has been endeavoring to lift the stature of its 23 million people in the eyes of the international community as a foil to China's plans for unification.
One recent effort of this endeavor was the establishing of the Democratic Pacific Union -- a body comprising political and civil leaders from 26 countries in the Pacific Rim region. Taiwan's Vice President Annette Lu, who has taken the initiative in organizing this club for years, was elected the first DPU president at the inaugural meeting in Taipei in mid-August.
Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, addressing the inaugural meeting, said, "By forming the DPU, Taiwan hopes to forge a cooperative framework with all liberal democracies on both sides of the Pacific and promote the shared values of democracy, peace and prosperity." He said the DPU has the mission of ensuring that the rise of China is accompanied by a peaceful awakening to democracy.