蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen 總統2019年5月9日於《外交政策》(Foreign Policy)期刊投書之中文翻譯。
譯者：
劉仕傑 （青年外交官 劉仕傑 ）
楊晴翔律師（哥倫比亞大學法學碩士）
Taiwan's Self-made democracy still needs U.S. partnership
台灣自為的民主仍需美國作夥同行
On April 10, 1979, the Taiwan Relations Act was signed into law after being passed by the U.S. Congress the month before, in response to President Jimmy Carter’s decision in January 1979 to establish official relations with the People’s Republic of China and sever diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan). At the time, Taiwan was not yet a democracy, with a population of 17 million and a GDP per capita of $1,958―a flickering candle in the storm of the Cold War.
1979年4月10日，就在美國國會通過後一個月，台灣關係法經簽署成為（美國國內法）法律。台灣關係法係回應卡特總統在1979年1月決定與中華人民共和國建交而與中華民國斷交。當時台灣尚不是個民主國家，人口僅1,700萬，GDP僅1,958美元，可以形容為冷戰風暴中的殘燭。
The Taiwan Relations Act mandates the U.S. commitment to peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific. More important, it defines how the United States engages with Taiwan and ensures that our country has adequate defense capabilities to be free from coercion.
台灣關係法制定了美國對西太平洋地區民主、安全及穩定的承諾。更重要者，它定義了美國如何與台灣交往，並確保了本國能有適當的防禦能力，並從強脅中得到自由。
Against the backdrop of the Cold War, no one could have imagined that Taiwan would emerge as a beacon of democracy in Asia.
對抗冷戰黑幕，當時沒有人能想像台灣可以成為亞洲民主的燈塔。
By embracing democratic values, the people of Taiwan took their fate into their own hands. The resilient Taiwanese defied all odds and kept making progress.
擁抱民主價值，台灣人民自己掌握自身命運。充滿韌性的台灣人跌破大家眼鏡，持續獲得進展。
With steadfast support from our partner in democracy, the United States, the people of Taiwan transformed an authoritarian regime into a vibrant democracy and held their first direct presidential election by popular vote in 1996. Democratization was further consolidated four years later with a peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another. Then, in 2016, Taiwan broke through the glass ceiling by electing its first female president and a record number of women into the legislature.
藉由我們的民主夥伴美國所提供的穩健支持，台灣人民將一個威權政體轉型為充滿活力的民主政體，並且在1996年舉行首次總統直接民選。四年後，台灣的民主進一步鞏固，政權和平移轉。接著，2016年台灣打破看不見的性別限制，選出首位女性總統，女性國會議員數目也創新高。
Taiwan has also transformed itself from an aid recipient into a high-tech powerhouse featuring outstanding human capital, a rules-based market, and a sound legal framework that upholds property rights. Taiwan now ranks as one of the top 10 freest economies in the world and has become an important partner for many U.S. companies in the region and around the world.
台灣本身也從受援國轉型成為高科技重鎮，擁有著名的人力資源、法治市場及完善的法治架構並尊重智慧財產權。台灣目前為全球十大最自由的經濟體之一，且成為此區域及全世界許多美國公司最重要的夥伴。
Since I took office three years ago, Taiwan and the United States have stepped up our joint efforts to promote our mutual interests, such as religious freedom, media literacy, and fighting corruption, safeguarding our shared values in the Indo-Pacific region.
自從我三年前就任台灣總統職位以來，台灣與美國共同升高努力推動我們共同的利益，例如：宗教自由、媒體素養，並且對抗腐敗體制，保衛我們在印太地區之共同價值。
One lesson of the 20th century is that the forward march of democracy is not a given.
二十世紀告訴我們重要的一課是，民主的推進，不會從天而降。
For the past 40 years, many members of Congress and successive U.S. administrations have honored the Taiwan Relations Act, making our partnership irreplaceable and shielding our region from increasingly aggressive anti-democratic forces. We stand together because we believe that the darkness and fear imposed by authoritarian regimes cannot withstand the light of democracy.
過去四十年來，許多美國國會的成員以及繼任的美國行政體系都對台灣關係法給予肯定，這部法案鞏固了台美之間無可取代的的合作夥伴關係，也讓我們在逐漸深化的反民主的侵略力量面前，得以捍衛區域安全。台美堅定站在一起是因為我們相信極權政權帶來的黑暗與恐懼將無法遮蔽民主照耀出的光亮。
The U.S. government has stood firm and responded to challenges to our partnership with determination and perseverance.
美國政府一直立場堅定並且以決心與毅力回應任何可能傷害台美關係之挑戰。
The U.S. Congress has consistently demonstrated bipartisan support for stronger ties with Taiwan through legislation like the Taiwan Travel Act, proof that the creativity and commitment that created the Taiwan Relations Act are still alive in Congress today.
美國國會持續不分黨派，以推動台灣旅行法等立法作為，展現他們對於加強台美之間緊密合作關係的支持。這是制定台灣關係法當年之創造力與承諾，仍然在美國國會活躍的證明。
Our shared commitment to democracy and freedom is something that people living under authoritarian regimes can never understand. Faced with the growing challenges to the rules-based order established after World War II, our partnership is more important than ever.
我們共同對民主與自由的承諾是生活在極權政權底下的人民所無法理解的。在二次世界大戰以來民主秩序所面臨的挑戰更加艱困之際，台美之間的夥伴關係無比重要。
Taiwan has survived and thrived under the most challenging circumstances of the 20th century. The people of Taiwan have not given in to the fearmongering of authoritarian regimes and never will. At this critical juncture, we celebrate and reaffirm our partnership with the United States and look forward to the next chapter in our success story.
二十世紀以來，台灣從最艱困的環境下生存下來並且蓬勃發展至今。台灣人民從不也永不向極權的政權屈服。值此重要的關頭，我們與美國共同慶賀並且更加確定彼此的關係，並且展望在未來的歷史中，成功寫出一頁新的篇章。
As president of this beacon of democracy, I am committed to fighting the good fight. I will continue to work with our friends in the years ahead to create a better world for future generations and a more open and free Indo-Pacific and beyond.
身為民主燈塔的一國總統，我非常堅定的信守我的承諾，克盡當為之事。我會持續與我們的友人在未來共同努力，為往後的世世代代，打造一個更加美好的未來，以及更加開放自由的印太地區。
Tsai Ing-wen is the President of Taiwan.
台灣總統，蔡英文
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