Two From FAPA

Found a couple of interesting things from FAPA in my mailbox today. First, FAPA passed along its commentary on the recent letter from 14 Senators expressing their displeasure with the way China abuses Taiwan in the WHO.

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For Immediate Release August 2, 2008

CONTACT: Iris Ho (202)280-0166; irisho@fapa.org

SENATORS CRITICIZE SECRET CHINA-WHO M.O.U. AND BUSH ADMINISTRATION's LACK OF INITIATIVES IN BRINGING TAIWAN INTO THE WHO In a letter to President Bush dated August 1, 2008, five Senators led by Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) express disappointment about the World Health Assembly's (WHA) decision last May to again exclude Taiwan from participating in the annual weeklong meegmail.com, hju.ting in Geneva and urge President Bush to seek inclusion of the 23 million people in the World Health Organization (WHO).

For the past twenty years, Senator Sherrod Brown has been a leading voice in both Houses of Congress for the inclusion of the 23 million people of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.

The Senators write: "We regret that the Administration was not able to find ways to make Taiwan's voice heard in the World Health Organization (WHO). Taiwan's participation is vital if we are to effectively combat global health threats. We urge you to support and advocate for Taiwan's membership in the WHO."

They continue: "Very little progress has been made since Public Law No. 107-10 mandated the Secretary of State endorse "meaningful participation" for Taiwan in the WHA. We are concerned that the recent report by the State Department to Congress regarding Taiwan's participation in the WHO did not mention any administration initiatives in this regard."

In a thinly disguised jab at the secret Memorandum of Understanding that China concluded with the WHO in 2005 allowing China to determine which information from the WHO reaches Taiwan, if any, the Senators add: "In addition to supporting Taiwan's full membership, the United States must oppose any effort by China to interfere with the exchange of information between the WHO and Taiwan. The effectiveness of the WHO relies on the direct flow of information among health experts. Any efforts to curtail the free exchange of information unnecessarily threatens global health and the safety of every nation."

They conclude: "As global health threats emerge, the public health of our nation increasingly depends on cooperation and communication between every nation. It is in America's best interest to ensure that Taiwan is a full member of the WHO."

FAPA President Bob Yang, PhD states: "We agree with the Senators that the secret PRC-WHO M.O.U. needs to go. This arrangement is not only inconceivable, it is likely unlawful for a multilateral international organization to make bilateral arrangements with one of its members. The bottomline is that the United States and the rest of the world should express its outrage - not only about this M.O.U. arrangement but about China' continued playing of politics with the lives of the people of Taiwan."

2008年8月2日 美參議員抨擊世衛與中國秘密備忘錄，不滿布希政府欠缺協助台灣參與世衛實質行動 參議員布朗與4位同僚於7月31日 聯署致函布希總統，對於今年五月世衛大會再次拒絕台灣參與深表失望。他們並希望布希總統能夠協助台灣兩千三百萬人民被容納在世衛組織內。參議員布朗自十多年前還是眾議院成員時，就帶頭發起美國國會支持台灣參與世衛，是台灣爭取世衛參與最忠實的國際友人，每年在美國國會以引進議案，發表聲明或是致函等方式，十多年來毫不間斷，為台灣爭取世衛權益不餘遺力。 議員們在信裡表示：「我們很遺憾行政部門無法找到適當管道，讓世衛聽到台灣的聲音。如果我們要有效率地抵抗對全球衛生系統的威脅，台灣的參與是非常重要的。我們籲請您支持台灣世衛會員籍。」 「自從您簽署第107-10號法律，明文規定國務卿支持台灣有意義的參與世衛年度大會，此議題並沒有太大的進展。我們尤其擔心最近國務院呈報給國會的報告裡，並沒有提到任何行政部門在這方面的努力。」 由於中國在2005年與世衛秘書處秘密簽署一份備忘錄，允許中國自行單方決定哪些世衛資訊可以傳達台灣，議員們在信裡表達嚴重的關切。「除了支持台灣的完整會員籍外，美國必須反對任何中國意欲干涉世衛與台灣之間的資訊交流。世衛的效率建立在衛生專家們之間意見與資訊的自由交流。任何阻撓資訊自由交流的意圖，將威脅到全球衛生體系與各國的健康安全。」 議員們在信函結尾表示：「當全球健康體系受到威脅時，美國本身的公衛更須逐漸依賴世界各國之間的合作與溝通無阻。也因此，台灣成為世衛完整會員國一員是符合美國的利益之內。」 FAPA會長楊英育表示：「我們和這幾位參議員的看法一致，世衛與中國的秘密備忘錄必須立即中止。這份備忘錄不僅令人難以想像，一個國際組織私下與某一會員國簽署文件可說是違法的，並違背其他組織會員國的權益。最終底線是，美國與國際社會應該針對備忘錄，以及中國持續耍手段，將政治置台灣人民性命之上表達最嚴重的抗議。」


The Honorable George W. Bush
The White House1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NWWashington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: We were again disappointed by the World Health Assembly’s (WHA) recent decision to continue its ban on Taiwan’s participation. We regret that the Administration was not able to find ways to make Taiwan’s voice heard in the World Health Organization (WHO). Taiwan’s participation is vital if we are to effectively combat global health threats. We urge you to support and advocate for Taiwan’s membership in the WHO.Very little progress has been made since Public Law No. 107-10 mandated the Secretary of State endorse “meaningful participation” for Taiwan in the WHA. We are concerned that the recent report by the State Department to Congress regarding Taiwan’s participation in the WHO did not mention any administration initiatives in this regard. Public health threats like Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Extensively Resistant Tuberculosis, and the H5N1 virus are not constrained by national boundaries. Taiwan’s exclusion from the WHO creates a dangerous gap in the exchange of information among countries and puts global health security at risk. Taiwan’s expertise and leadership in combating these global threats must be fully utilized in the global effort to fight these diseases.We agree with recent statements of former Senator Bob Dole, highlighting that “The ca se for admitting Taiwan into the WHO could not be clearer,” as well as his assertion that that there must be a major diplomatic push to support Taiwan’s candidacy. In addition to supporting Taiwan’s participation, the United States must oppose any effort by China to interfere with the exchange of information between the WHO and Taiwan. The effectiveness of the WHO relies on the direct flow of information among health experts. Any efforts to curtail the free exchange of information unnecessarily threatens global health and the safety of every nation. As global health threats emerge, the public health of our nation increasingly depends on cooperation and communication between every nation. It is in America’s best interest to ensure that Taiwan is a member of the WHO. We look forward to hearing from you on this important issue. Sincerely, Sherrod Brown, Jon Tester, Johnny Isakson, David Vitter, Joseph Lieberman

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This was followed by a letter from 22 Taiwanese organizations to the IOC...

August 2, 2008

CONTACT: Iris Ho (202)280-0166; irisho@fapa.org

22 TAIWANESE AMERICAN ORGANIZATIONS URGE IOC PRESIDENT TO USE “TAIWAN” DURING BEIJING OLYMPIC GAMES INSTEAD OF “CHINESE, TAIPEI”

In a letter dated July 31 to Mr. Jacques Rogge, the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the heads of 22 Taiwanese American organizations urge Mr. Rogge to accord Taiwan during the Beijing held Olympic Games the name it deserves: "Taiwan."
Because of pressure from China, Taiwan has been forced for the past three decades to participate in international sports events under th e English tit le "Chinese Taipei," based on a protocol signed with the IOC. An agreement signed between the two sides of the Taiwan Strait in Hong Kong in 1989 states that all sports teams or organizations representing Taiwan will follow IOC regulations when participating in sports events in China.

The letter was triggered by recent discussions in Beijing about whether the title of the Taiwanese Olympic team should be changed from "Chinese Taipei" to Zhongguo Taibei or "China Taipei. " This would lend further credence to China's irrational and unrealistic claims over Taiwan.

The organizations write: "We call on you to rethink the designation given to the nation of Taiwan by the IOC. We recommend that you adopt the straightforward and realist name "TAIWAN" in place of the outdated and denigrating moniker "Chinese Taipei."

They continue: "Recently China attempted to further degrade Taiwan by publicly calling it "China Taipei." This was in clear violation of the IOC decision of 1979. China's nefarious act flew in the face of its own bilateral agreement with Taiwan of 1989 regarding the correct Chinese language translation of "Chinese Taipei." Instead of being a gracious host of the 2008 summer Olympic Games, China is usurping its position to lay territorial claim over Taiwan."

They conclude: "To ensure that the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" encourages fair athletic competition rather than sinister Chinese maneuver to annex Taiwan, we urge you to accord the island na tion the name it deserves. That name is TAIWAN."

FAPA President Bob Yang, Ph.D. comments: "Chinese Taipei" and "China Taipei" are names concocted by communist China to further bully Taiwan in the international community into accepting that Taiwan is a part of China. It is incontestable reality though that Taiwan is not a part of China. It is therefore high time that the international community open its eyes and face and accept the reality that Taiwan is a sovereign independent country whose name is=2 0"Taiwan" - nothing more, nothing less."


2008年8月2日
台美人呼籲國際奧委會主席於北京奧運上稱呼台灣，而非中華台北


22個台美人社團領袖於今日連署致函國際奧委會主席羅格(Jacques Rogge)，呼籲他在北=E 4奧運典禮上以「台灣」之名稱呼台灣。

台美社團領袖們主要是有鑑於目前台灣國內就中華台北或是中國台北名稱的相關辯論，有感而發並進而發起這項聯署信函。

信中表示：「我們希望您能重新審視奧委會給=E 4台灣的=E 5稱。我們建議您採取直接與符合現實的做法，以=E 5灣之名稱呼台灣，=E 8不是過時與有損國格的中華台北。」

「近來中國一再稱呼台灣為中國台北，這是很明顯的違反國際奧委會1979年的決議。中國醜惡的行為與1989年簽署的雙方協定背道而馳。中國原本應是一個大方的奧運地主國，卻反而企圖藉名稱炒作，侵佔台灣B 8權。」

「為了確保奧運精神能夠鼓勵公平的選手競爭，而不是中國意欲併吞台灣，我們呼籲您給予這個島國她值得的名稱：台灣。」

FAPA會長楊英育表示：「中華台北與中國台北都是共產中國為了恐嚇台灣，脅迫國際社會承認台灣為中國的一部份所衍生出來的名稱。台灣很明顯地不是中國的一部份，國際社會應該認清接受台灣是一個主權獨立的國家的事實。」



July 31, 2008

Mr. Jacques Rogge, President
International Olympic Committee
Chateau de Vidy
Lausanne 1007
Switzerland

Dear Mr. Rogge:

We, the under signed representatives=2 0of Taiwanese-American and allied organizations, call on you to rethink the designation given to the nation of Taiwan by the International Olympic Committee (IOC.) We recommend that you adopt the straightforward and realist name "T AIWAN" in place of the outdated and denigrating moniker "Chinese Taipei."

Much has changed since that fateful decisi on of the IOC in 1979. During the ensuing thirty years, Taiwan has evolved from a land occupied by the Nationalist Chinese to a free and democratic country. In the process, the people of Taiwan have come to view themselves as distinct and separate from the citizens of China. In poll after poll, the vast majority of the island's inhabitants identify themselves as Taiwanese rather than Chinese. Equally important, Taiwan has satisfied all the qualifications of a state according to the Montevideo Convention. The three democratically elected Taiwan presidents-Lee Teng-hui, Chen Shui-bian and Ma Ying-jeou, have all proclaimed that the sovereignty of Taiwan belong to the twenty-three million people of Taiwan. Given these facts, "Chinese Taipei" is hardly a fitting designation for Taiwan in international sports or other activities.

Recently China attempted to further degrade Taiwan by publicly calling it "China Taipei." This was in clear violation of the IOC decision of 1979. China's nefarious act flew in the face of its own bilateral agreement with Taiwan of 1989 regarding the correct Chinese language translation of "Chinese Taipei." Instead of being a gracio us host of=2 0the 2008 summer Olympic Games,
China is usurping its position to lay territorial claim over Taiwan.

To ensure that the Olympic motto "Citius, Altius, Fortius" encourages fair athletic competition ra ther than sinister Chinese maneuver to annex Taiwan, we urge you to accord the island nation the name it deserves. That name is TAIWAN.

Sincere yours,

Fred Baehner, President American Taiwan Society Jack Chen, President Austin Institute for Taiwan Studies Adam Huang, President Chhong-Bi Memorial Fund Kang-Hou Wang, President Dr. Kang-Lu Wang Memorial Foundation Terri Giles, Executive Director Formosa Foundation
Pearl Tang, President Formosan Association for Human Rights Bob I. Yang, President Formosan Association for Public Affairs Mary Helen Cruz, President Friends of Taiwan, Inc. Je-Chin Han, President North America Taiwanese Professors' Association Sue Lee, President North America Taiw anese Women's Association Jung Tsai, President North American Taiwanese Medical Association Ben Pin-Shuo Liu, President Professor Chen Wen-chen Memorial Foundation
Josephine Pan, President Taiwan Elite Alliance David Lai, President Taiwan Hakka Association for Public Affairs in North America Ma-chi Chen, President Taiwanese American Federation of Northern California Ron Shieh, President Taiwanese Association of America Tzuhui Chen, Spokesperson Taiwanese Collegian Fred H. Wang, President Taiwanese Hakka Association of America Peter N.P. Lo, President Taiwanese Hakka Association of the World Susan Chang, President World Federation of Taiwanese Associations C.K. Kuo, Coordinator World Taiwanese Congress James S. Chen, Chairman World United Formosans for Independence-U.S.A.

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[Taiwan]