Chen Shui-bian Quotes

Sovereignty is not the birthright of a ruler. Every man, woman and child will shout 'Quit Kashmir'. The Kashmiri nation has expressed its will. I ask for a plebiscite on this question.

I desperately want Scotland to be an independent country. I cannot, though, sit here and tell you definitively that it will happen, and that it will happen on this timescale, because I have to respect the opinion of the people of Scotland.

We have to convince mainland China that a free and democratic Taiwan is more in China's interest than reunification.

All we want is to carry out the greatest expression of a free democracy and vote on Catalonia's future. This is not about independence: it is about fundamental civil rights and the universal right of self-determination.

Taiwan is an independent sovereign country.

I think that there is a relatively small number of people who are pushing for independence in Taiwan.

Free nations of the world cannot allow Taiwan, a beacon of democracy, to be subdued by an authoritarian China.

We need to give the Iraqis a chance to build their own future. It should be in their hands. It must be in their hands. That is what democracy is all about. We can teach it, we can explain it, but they must want it enough to make it work for them.

Argentina wouldn't exist if not for self-determination, and this can't be valid for some but not for others.

In historical and constitutional terms, the recent political status vote in Puerto Rico was a necessary but obviously not decisive step on the road of self-determination leading to full self-government.

The sovereignty of republics is an historical inevitability.

I believe a real democracy can only flourish when you have your own nation state, your own identity, even your own flag you can rally around.

This is an absolute turning point in the story of our country because I think if we go on with being enmeshed in the E.U., it will continue to erode our democracy. That is something that worries me.

The people must have the opportunity to vote for the liberation from slavery and blackmail imposed by technocrats in Brussels to return sovereignty to the country.

We take back control of our laws and Britain will be a proud independent nation again.

I never thought I would see a free South Sudan.

Brexit was, at its heart, about democracy and sovereignty.

Ukrainians are entitled to decide their own future.

To be honest, I am very worried about the possibility of the U.K. leaving the E.U. But of course, like in the case of Catalonia, we have to respect the right to decide of the British people on a relationship that part of the Brits consider is not satisfying enough.

There were many reasons why people voted to leave the European Union in 2016. But my impression, having campaigned to remain in the E.U., is that above all else, people throughout this country sought to regain a feeling of control - not just of our laws, but over our lives too, and the people we elect into office.

Self-determination means the political and economic status of Hong Kong should be freely determined by the Hong Kong people.

Part of the Brexit debate was about control, having a say over our laws and money and letting politicians stand up for what the people voted for, not signing away our sovereignty.

We should, through civic referendums, determine our own pathways and political status after 2047, because in this lies the future of our democratic movement. If Hong Kong could exercise democratic self-governance under the sovereignty of China, it would not be necessary for us to take this step on the path toward independence.

We want Hongkongers to decide the future of Hong Kong.

Liberty is the breath of life to nations.