“Freedom is the bedrock of our friendship with Japan. At the beginning of World War II, this side of the Pacific had only two democracies: Australia and New Zealand. And at the end of World War II, some did not believe that democracy would work in your country. Fortunately, American leaders like President Harry Truman did not listen to the skeptics — and the Japanese people proved the skeptics wrong by embracing elections and democracy.”
“By founding the new Japan on these universal principles of freedom, you have changed the face of Asia. With every step toward freedom, your economy flourished and became a model for others. With every step toward freedom, you showed that democracy helps governments become more accountable to their citizens. And with every step toward freedom, you became a force for peace and stability in this region, a valued member of the world community, and a trusted ally of the United States.”
President George W. Bush
November 16, 2005
Address to Kyoto Civic Leaders
Kyoto, Japan
President Bush and wife Laura promote democracy in Far East visit. 
US President George W. Bush (R) and his wife Laura arrive at Osaka International Airport. Bush called on China to grant its people broader religious and political freedoms and urged Beijing to live up to pledges to resolve trade disputes with Washington. (AFP/Kazuhiro Nogi)
PRESIDENT BUSH HAS A MESSAGE FOR CHINA & THE WORLD AS HE PROMOTES DEMOCRACY & CONGRATULATES JAPANESE PRIME MINISTER KOIZUMI ON ELECTION WIN,
VIDEO HERE
This is one powerful speech on Freedom & Democracy!
President Bush pushed China towards advancing freedom and democracy in his speech on Wednesday from Japan.
In a speech delivered on Wednesday, President Bush is going to push China to allow more freedoms, including religious freedoms on the mainland:
In remarks released from a speech to be delivered later Wednesday in Japan, Bush urges Chinese leaders to allow more freedom in their country, including the right “to worship without state control.”
“Modern Taiwan is free and democratic and prosperous. By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society,” Bush will say according to an advance text released by the U.S. White House.
“By meeting the legitimate demands of its citizens for freedom and openness, China’s leaders can help their country grow into a modern, prosperous and confident nation,” Bush will say.
“In the 21st century, freedom is an Asian value because it is a universal value.”
China has a long history of religious persecution among other human rights abuses.
Today’s speech, sure to upset the mainland, President Bush also singled out Taiwan as an example of a working democracy in his remarks to China:
President Bush prodded China on Wednesday to grant more political freedom to its 1.3 billion people and held up archrival Taiwan as a society that successfully moved from repression to democracy as it opened its economy.
In remarks sure to rile Beijing, Bush suggested China should follow Taiwan’s path.
“Modern Taiwan is free and democratic and prosperous. By embracing freedom at all levels, Taiwan has delivered prosperity to its people and created a free and democratic Chinese society,” the president said.
Bush also praised Japan for its impact on the region in his remarks in Kyoto today. President Bush also congratulated close ally, Koizumi on his big election win.
As you embraced democracy, you adapted it to your own needs and circumstances. So Japanese democracy is different from American democracy. You have a prime minister, not a president. Your constitution allows for a monarchy that is a source of national pride. Japan is a good example of how a free society can reflect a country’s unique culture and history while guaranteeing the universal freedoms that are the foundation of all genuine democracies.
By founding the new Japan on these universal principles of freedom, you have changed the face of Asia. With every step toward freedom, your economy flourished and became a model for others. With every step toward freedom, you showed that democracy helps governments become more accountable to their citizens. And with every step toward freedom, you became a force for peace and stability in this region … a valued member of the world community and a trusted ally of the United States.
A free Japan has transformed the lives of its citizens. The spread of freedom in Asia started in Japan more than a half-century ago and today the Japanese people are among the freest in the world. You have a proud democracy. You enjoy a standard of living that is one of the highest in the world. By embracing political and economic liberty, you have improved the lives of all your citizens and you have shown others that freedom is the surest path to prosperity and stability.
President Bush, never the one to balk like his predecessor did in China earlier this year, delivered the speech today in Japan.
