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Friday, May 12, 2006

Open Protest Letter on Chen's Treatment by the US

Jerome Keating has developed the following letter and letter campaign to protest the treatment of Chen by the US. If you want to sign on, go here.

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Letter Protesting Taiwan's Continuing Unequal Treatment by the United States

We the undersigned strongly protest the ill-advised actions of the Department of State in refusing Chen Shui-bian, President of the Republic of China, Taiwan, appropriate transit stops in the United States as befitting the rank and position of the democratically elected president of one of the United States oldest allies in Asia.

As a consequence, this refusal has endangered the President of Taiwan and relations with the U.S. The President could not accept the snub and thus changed his flight pattern to Paraguay and Costa Rica. This change forced him, his entourage, and the crew to fly for nearly 35 continuous hours. In addition, when his route was later revealed, China used its influence to prevent Chen's plane from landing and refueling in Lebanon.

Taiwan became a true democracy in 1996. Since that time its people have freely elected their president with Lee Teng-hui being elected in 1996 and Chen Shui-bian, the current president, being elected in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. Ironically since becoming a democracy it has been increasingly difficult for the Presidents of democratic Taiwan
to receive fair and equal treatment as regards entry visas, visits to, and even transit stops in the U.S.

The refusal to allow Chen's plane to have a respectable transit stop in the U.S. where he could disembark was not just a diplomatic snub. It also was a personal attack. The State Department spokesperson would only refer to President Chen with forms of the pronoun" he" and not his proper title of President. Such actions are undiplomatic, spiteful, and petty.

The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), enacted on April 10, 1979 when Taiwan was not a democracy, was established to maintain peace and security in the Western Pacific. As China consistently increases the number of missiles (over 800) it has aimed at Taiwan; the State Department rewards it with VIP treatment.

That same TRA states clearly in the very first paragraph regarding U.S. policy that that policy will be to "preserve and promote extensive, close and friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations with Taiwan." Now, when Taiwan has become the most promising developing democracy in Asia, it is all the more ironic that instead
of promoting "extensive, close, and friendly" relations with this democracy, the State Department treats it like a pariah.

For what reason has the State Department contradicted the express policy of the TRA and refused to treat Taiwan's president with respect? These U.S. actions border on hypocrisy, insincerity, and selective favoritism, particularly at this time when the U.S.
frequently accommodates and receives as guests the leaders of the dictatorial and autocratic one-party state of China, one of the greatest abusers of human rights in Asia and the world.

The opposition party in Taiwan, the Kuomintang, is presenting the argument that the U. S. is not a dependable partner, that Chen is not respected by the American government, and finally that China would be a better partner with Taiwan. The denial of transit rights is not just inept scheduling. It has much wider implications for the reputation of the United States as a supporter of democratic governments and leaders.

President Bush's diplomatic goal is to maintain the status quo between Taiwan and China. But by humiliating Taiwan, the U.S. unhinges the status quo from neutrality to a positive acceptance of China's policies of downgrading Taiwan's stature in international affairs. The U.S. is bending the status quo in favor of a China that claims it has the right to invade Taiwan if the island's government does not become "part" of China. This is not the way to a peaceful solution of the Taiwan/China problem. This is wrong, short-sighted and against the principles of democracy. Have we no shame?

Jerome F. Keating Ph.D., National Taipei University of Education
Taipei, Taiwan

Richard C. Kagan Ph.D. Hamline University, St. Paul, MN

Richard F. Adler BSME, JD, Taipei, Cotra Enterprise Co.Ltd

Hanna Zaborska - Shen, Polish Compatriot Movement, Taipei, Taiwan

L.C. Russell Hsiao, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy

Kiel Downey, Taiwan Foundation for Democracy

Michael Chen,Ph.D., University of Chicago

Malcolm Higgins BSc University of Warwick, UK

Elaine Salt, Taipei, Taiwan

Michael Turton
Chaoyang University, Taichung

James Ascencio, M.A., Ming Chuan University, Taipei, Taiwan

Curtis Smith, Taipei City Honorary Citizen
Taipei Archives Committee

Mark Arnold, Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

William R. Stimson, Ph.D. Taichung, Taiwan

Dan Bloom, Writer, Chia-yi, Taiwan

Stuart Saunders, B Sc (UNSW), EsDesign, Neihu, Taiwan

John F. Guinane, San Jose, CA

Paul Y. Shea, Ph.D. Retiree, Hughes Aircraft Co..
Irvine, CA 92606-2600

Kimberly Hsieh, YMCA of Taiwan

Stan Yang, PhD., Unicare Biomedical, Inc.
Laguna Hills, CA 92653

Wencheng Lin, President , The Pacific Times( Los Angeles)

Mark Miller, Applied Materials, Taiwan

Raymond F. Wu, Attorney at Law, Los Angeles, CA.

Emily Murray, NeiHu, Taiwan and Vancouver, Washington

Runsun Pan, PhD , National Center for Macromolecular Imaging
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA

Paul Cox, Winkler Partners Law Firm, Taipei, Taiwan

Strong C. Chuang
Ph.D. Purdue University
Chairman, World United Formosans for Independence-USA Chapter

Ming-Chung Chen M.D. Chicago

Jennifer Wen-Jia Tsao, MSc, Taipei, Taiwan

Eugene Keh-chun Yang , Associate Professor, National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan

Albert Tsai, Ph.D., Yardley, PA

Dr. Luby Liao, Math/CS Department, University of San Diego

Whuey-wen Hartman, Woodland Hills (Los Angeles), Ca.

Loo-Fei Hwang
Taipei, Taiwan

Mark B.Wilkie Dip Sec M, B.A. HC Ed Tr. Douliou, Taiwan


The above names are just a sampling of those who quickly signed this letter within a brief 10 hour period of notification. We seek means for others to share their expression of support for democratic Taiwan. We urge all Taiwanese organizations and university associations in the United States to voice their discontent to their Congressmen. We likewise urge all Taiwanese around the world to voice their anger. Feel free to use the ideas expressed above or use words of your own choosing. It is time that democratic Taiwan no longer should have to use the servant's entrance to visit the United States. It is time that democratic Taiwan no longer should peer in the window (as in Animal Farm) while the officials of the People's Republic of China feast in the main dining hall. Post this everywhere; show your strength.

5 comments:

  1. See a translated version:

    here and here

    ReplyDelete
  2. As a Taiwanese, I do thank you guys for and protect the respect of our president "Chen" of Taiwan. I am very touched. The president of Chen is representation of Taiwan, whole Taiwanese. We should be respected. I'm extremely disappoint about the president of U.S. treated our president of Taiwan so badly. Many people said and criticised our president should listen the president of U.S., just transited stopover the Alaska otherwise will waste the goverment a lot of money and influence the relationship with U.S. But in my view, president of Chen did a good decision for Taiwanese, he protects our "dignity of all Taiwanese". Everyone has a right to act their discontent. I'm pround of our president of "Chen".

    ReplyDelete
  3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=527KuLXMUJc

    Respect for what!? Who sit on the UN security council? One of them is China!! Oh wait, Taiwan can't even get into UN without looking like a beggar off the street. Who tried to help Taiwan into WHO?

    Hey, let us make sure Taiwan look like a beggar whenever possible. Hurry up and sign up for being a beggar. I'm so goddamn 'proud' to be a beggar! Thank you, CSB's bitch arse loser staffs, for making us, Taiwanese, look like a bunch of beggars whenever possible!!


    If Taiwanese people want respect, earn it with the real means....

    http://solosong.net/tiger.html

    http://bwnt.businessweek.com/brand/2005/index.asp

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHywGFoAHJc

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orMxaW3NRjQ

    Weak losers do not apply because only the best will make it on this list!!


    USA will make sure this never happen again to American people....

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDh_pvv1tUM

    Don't get in USA's way! The sooner those terrorists in the Middle East got this the better off it will be for all of us.

    Go work on Taiwan's screwed up economy and LY reforms. Stop being a drama queen because it's NOT working on me. In fact, I feel like punching the goddamn drama green shit that think this will gain some kind of sympathy or respect!!

    PS. American interest IS Taiwan interest! A powerful American economic is a happy Taiwan economic. Don't ever forget who buys Taiwanese products the most!!

    Iron_Jackal_TW

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is a list for people that gets respect in this world....

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/pdp/profile/ALTT2WH1ZFAKS/102-0174554-5730564

    Iron_Jackal_TW

    ReplyDelete
  5. "President Bush's diplomatic goal is to maintain the status quo between Taiwan and China. But by humiliating Taiwan, the U.S. unhinges the status quo from neutrality to a positive acceptance of China's policies of downgrading Taiwan's stature in international affairs. The U.S. is bending the status quo in favor of a China that claims it has the right to invade Taiwan if the island's government does not become "part" of China. This is not the way to a peaceful solution of the Taiwan/China problem. This is wrong, short-sighted and against the principles of democracy. Have we no shame?"

    How much did pan-blue pay your arse to say all those crap now? US support 'status quo' and peace for Taiwan Strait. US had its own problems as it is with Iran.

    CSB could have wait till the whole Iran thing fall out to make the trip because China have a good chance of supporting Iran against US at the UN security council.

    Then, that's perfect time to kick China in the nut, but CSB had no strategy and no brain. He put us in harm's way for pan-blue to kick us in the nuts every goddamn time!!

    Pan-green, stop getting kicked in the nuts with people either are too dumb to run Taiwan government or too good a traitor for the pan-blue.

    Don't forget Sissy Chen left pan-green. Why leave when she could be a good traitor? She left because they are plenty to do her work. That's why!!

    Like I said before, go to the CORRECT places to build the powerbases! Cheap 3rd rate tricks do not build true powerbases at anywhere!!

    Iron_Jackal_TW

    ReplyDelete

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