In a speech transmitted over the Internet to a gathering of the World Federation of Taiwanese Associations in Tokyo on Aug. 3, Taiwanese President Chen Shui-bian proclaimed the island an independent sovereign state whose future should be determined by a popular referendum.

The crowd -- Taiwan independence activists from around the world -- gave Chen a standing ovation for his toughest rhetoric since taking office in 2000.

"No one really expected him to make such a remark at this moment," said Alice Mei-lin Kin, 68, an adviser to the Taiwanese government.