Remarks of Ian Easton of Project 2049 Institute at FAPA Board Meeting Banquet

Project 2049 is a strong supporter of Taiwan...

Prepared Remarks of

Ian Easton

Research Fellow, Project 2049 Institute

at

FAPA Board Meeting Banquet

"The Future of U.S.-Taiwan Security Relations"

Hilton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, Virginia

December 5, 2015

Ladies and Gentlemen, a very good evening to you all. Da-gay He! [How is everybody?] Da-gay jia-ba-bway? [Did you get enough to eat?] Wo-shee Yi Si-an. [My name is 易思安]

Please allow me, first and foremost, to extend my appreciation to FAPA President Mark Kao and Dr. Gerrit van der Wees for the kind invitation. Thank you for the honor to be here as part of
this banquet.

Tonight you are all gathered together in professional and personal friendship with one supreme goal: to keep Taiwan and her people free. Free politically and free from Chinese coercion. Free to exist and work toward the day when she can be recognized as a respected member of the international community. [click on READ MORE below]

FAPA emerging leaders workshop Jun 21-26

This got sent around:

Please help me to circulate FAPA Emerging Leaders Workshop announcement widely to all channels and groups you know in Taiwan. We like to recruit in young Taiwanese who are interested to learn more foreign relations, to join the workshop on June 21-26, 2015 in Washington, DC .

RSVP deadline is April 14. Only 30 spots. Take a action to share, register or do both now. Thank you!

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[Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!

US Senators introduce resolution calling for support for democracy and human rights in Taiwan

Soala-filled waterways

Formosan Association for Public Affairs
552 7th Street. SE. Washington, DC 20003, USA
Support Democracy, Support Taiwan
For Immediate Release
Washington D C - August 2nd 2012
Contact: (202) 547-3686

US Senators introduce resolution calling for support for democracy and human rights in Taiwan

WASHINGTON (August 2nd 2012) -- Today, Alaska Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Mark Begich (D-AK) jointly introduced a resolution “Expressing the Sense of Senate that the United States Government should continue to support democracy and human rights in Taiwan following the January 2012 presidential and legislative elections in Taiwan.”

The Resolution cites the summarized conclusions of a recently released report by the International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) to the International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan (ICFET) that the national elections held in Taiwan on January 14, 2012, were “mostly free but only partly fair.”

The report by the IEOM, which was made up of 19 observers from 8 countries, identified several diverse elements, including vote buying, violations of administrative neutrality, and attempts by the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to influence the elections as worrying factors which may have affected the election outcome. The report also stated that some actions and statements by the US government revealed a lack of neutrality on its part.

Further stating that “Taiwan’s free and open society plays a stabilizing role in the Asia Pacific region and is thus conducive to the interests of states in the region, including the United States, in furthering peace, prosperity and stability, “ the resolution outlines several recommendations in support of its stated goal of continuing U.S. support for democracy and human rights in Taiwan, including:

• encouraging the people and the Government of Taiwan to take steps to continue to strengthen protection of democratic values and human rights in their country, including freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, and freedom of the press;
• encouraging the people and government of Taiwan to take into consideration the conclusions and recommendations of international election monitoring missions, including the final International Election Observation Mission (IEOM) report, as they seek to strengthen their democratic practices and human rights protections;
• affirming that the future of Taiwan should be resolved peacefully, in accordance with democratic principles, and with the assent of the people of Taiwan.

Former governor Frank Murkowski, who led the IEOM mission, states: “I am pleased to see the work of our mission culminating in the insertion of the report into the Congressional Record. It is a recognition of the hard work of the Taiwanese people achieving their democracy during the past two decades, but it is also a signal that much work still remains to be done in terms of fairness of the elections and establishing a level playing field.”

Professor Peng Ming-min, the chairman of the International Committee for Fair Elections in Taiwan (ICFET), who invited the mission to observe the elections, states: “We are grateful to governor Murkowski, Dr. Woodrow Clark (the lead author of the report), and the members of the observation mission for their work. It helps us in Taiwan in our fight to protect the values of democracy, human rights, and freedom of speech, assembly and the press. There has been an erosion of these values during the past four years. We want to ensure that Taiwan remains a free democracy.”

Dr. Mark Kao, president of the Washington-based Formosan Association for Public Affairs, also hails the introduction of the resolution, saying that “Each election in Taiwan’s young democracy represents a precious opportunity to improve its capacity for democratic practice.” Dr. Kao concludes: “Senator Murkowski’s resolution not only recognizes the value of hard-fought democratic freedoms in Taiwan, but will provide an enduring framework for the United States government to continue considering the lessons of the January 2012 election.”

Chinese language version below the READ MORE

House Resolution on Consent of the People for Change of Status of Taiwan

FAPA sent this around:

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U.S. Representative introduces legislation:

Future of Taiwan should be determined with the express consent of the people of Taiwan

House Armed Services Committee member and a long-time friend of Taiwan, Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ), introduced House Concurrent Resolution 200 “expressing the sense of Congress regarding the freedom, security, and stability of Taiwan” last night.

The resolution concludes that it is the sense of Congress that--

(1) grave concerns exist concerning the continued deployment by the People's Republic of China of over 1400 ballistic missiles directed toward Taiwan, which threaten the security and stability in the Taiwan Strait;

(2) the President should seek a public and unequivocal renunciation from the leaders of the People's Republic of China of any threat or use of force against Taiwan;

(3) the future of Taiwan should be determined free from coercion by the People's Republic of China, peacefully, and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan.

The resolution highlights China's coercion and increasing military threat against Taiwan and refers to the latest Pentagon report on the Chinese military power and to the passage by China of the anti-secession law in 2005 that drew a severe rebuke from the U.S. Congress.

The 2009 Pentagon Report warns that the People's Liberation Army's military modernization "could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing's terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay, or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict."

The House of Representatives characterized the China's passage of the Anti-Secession Law at the time as "a unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait."

The resolution also invokes pertinent sections of the Taiwan Relations Act, "which is the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations," which reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Taiwan's security.

FAPA President Bob Yang, Ph.D. states, "The fact that Rep. Andrews is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee adds to the relevance and importance of this resolution. Taiwan's security interests are intricately interwoven with those of the U.S. in the region."

Yang continues, "In addition to the military threat, China is now also gaining tremendous economic leverage over Taiwan. China's dual strategy of economic and military coercion to compel Taiwan into submission has alarmed many Taiwan supporters in the U.S. Congress.

Dr. Yang concludes: "The missiles that China has targeted at the 23 million peace-loving people of Taiwan are the equivalent of China putting a gun to the heads of the people of Taiwan. They are the clearest and strongest indicator of China's real intentions vis-à-vis Taiwan. The people of Taiwan live under a constant dark cloud of threats, intimidation and harassment. It is not only high time that Beijing remove its missiles, it is time that the people of Taiwan be able to determine their own future free from fear."

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111TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 200
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the freedom, security, and stability of Taiwan.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Mr. ANDREWS submitted the following concurrent resolution

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the freedom, security, and stability of Taiwan.

Whereas for over half a century a close relationship has existed between the United States and Taiwan, and such relationship has been of enormous economic, cultural, and strategic advantage to both countries;

Whereas the United States has vital security and strategic interests in the Taiwan Strait, with United States troops stationed in countries within the Taiwan Strait region;

Whereas the security of the 23,000,000 people in Taiwan is threatened by the deployment by the People's Republic of China of over 1400 short and medium-range ballistic missiles targeted at Taiwan;

Whereas the National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China passed an anti-secession law on March 14, 2005, which was subsequently condemned by the United States House of Representatives in House Concurrent Resolution 98, passed by the House of Representatives on March 16, 2005;

Whereas such resolution states that the anti-secession law seeks ‘‘to create a legal framework for possible use of force against Taiwan'' and that it constitutes ‘‘a unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait'';

Whereas a 2009 Pentagon report on the military power of the People's Republic of China states that ‘‘[t]he PLA's modernization vis-a`-vis Taiwan has continued over the past year, including its build-up of short-range missiles opposite the island'', and that ‘‘[i]n the near-term, China's armed forces are rapidly developing coercive capabilities for the purpose of deterring Taiwan's pursuit of de jure independence'';

Whereas such report also states that ‘‘[t]hese same capabilities could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing's terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay, or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict'';

Whereas the Director of National Intelligence, Admiral Dennis Blair, in the 2009 Annual Threat Assessment of the Intelligence Community for the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, stated that ‘‘[p]reparations for a possible Taiwan conflict continue to drive the modernization goals of the People's Liberation Army and the Chinese defense industrial complex'';

Whereas section 2(b)(4) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(b)(4)), which is the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations, declares that it is the policy of the United States ‘‘to consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, is a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States''; and

Whereas section 2(b)(6) of such Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(b)(6)) declares it the policy of the United States ‘‘to maintain the capacity to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan'': Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that—

(1) grave concerns exist concerning the continued deployment by the People's Republic of China of over 1400 ballistic missiles directed toward Taiwan, which threaten security and stability in the Taiwan Strait;

(2) the President of the United States should seek a public and unequivocal renunciation from the leaders of the People's Republic of China of any threat or use of force against Taiwan; and

(3) the future of Taiwan should be determined free from coercion by the People's Republic of
China, peacefully, and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan.

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[Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!

FAPA Letter on MAC head Lai's claims

The Washington Times published FAPA's letter on Mainland Affairs Council head Lai's claims about support of Ma's China policies...

In an interview with The Washington Times, Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council Minister Shin-Yuan Lai states that 92 percent of the people of Taiwan agree with their current Kuomintang Nationalist government's policy toward China -- one generally characterized as "China-friendly" ("Military buildup worries Taiwan," World, July 16).

This is simply incorrect. While most people would agree that a reduction of tension in the Taiwan Strait is a positive development, many are deeply concerned that Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou's drift toward communist China comes at the expense of Taiwan's sovereignty and of freedom, democracy and human rights.

According to the latest polls, which happen to be commissioned in April by Ms. Lai's own Mainland Affairs Council, 35 percent of the people in Taiwan support "status quo now and let's decide on unification or independence later." Twenty-seven percent support status quo forever. Fifteen percent support the status quo now and want to declare independence later. And 7.6 percent support the status quo now and unification later.

When looking at these polls, it is important to keep in mind that the status quo equates to "de facto independence." The People's Republic of China, since its founding 60 years ago, has never exercised any control over Taiwan whatsoever -- not for one single day. Ms. Lai's polls demonstrate that the people of Taiwan intend to keep it that way -- independence from China.

In addition, poll numbers on cross-strait relations are heavily influenced by the fact that China continues to aim some 1,400 ballistic missiles at Taiwan and refuses to renounce the use of force against that island nation. China's military coercion imposes a psychological terror over the people of Taiwan.

Targeting these missiles at Taiwan is akin to pointing a gun at the head of Taiwan's people. This explains the large support in Taiwan today for the status quo. If this threat were removed, the people on the island would overwhelmingly choose for Taiwan to be a full and equal member of the international community of nations.

BOB YANG
President
Formosan Association for Public Affairs
Washington

Actually, I heard through the grapevine that Lai was actually misquoted by the Washington Times -- a very suggestive misquote since it dovetails with Washington's absurd swoon for Ma Ying-jeou -- that what she had said was 92 percent support the status quo. When urged by a local Taiwan reporter to correct paper, she shrugged the whole thing off. The original Washington Times piece is here.

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[Taiwan] Don't miss the comments below! And check out my blog and its sidebars for events, links to previous posts and picture posts, and scores of links to other Taiwan blogs and forums!

FAPA Statement on recent arrests

FAPA is out with a statement on the recent prosecutions here:

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Statement regarding the recent spate
of politically-inspired prosecutions in Taiwan

Washington DC. As an American organization that has fought hard for the past 26 years for the promotion of freedom, human rights and democracy for the people of Taiwan, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) expresses its deep concern about the erosion of Taiwan’s democracy during the past half year. In particular, we are disturbed about the recent spate of politically-inspired detentions of present and former DPP government officials in Taiwan (See listing below).

We also question the fairness of the procedures: while one or two of the accused have been formally charged, the majority is being held incommunicado without being charged. This is a severe contravention of the writ of habeas corpus and a basic violation of due process, justice and the rule of law. In the meantime, the prosecutor’s offices leak detrimental information to the press. This kind of “trial by press” is unacceptable.

We do firmly believe that any alleged wrongdoings must be dealt with in a fair and open manner. Justice through the rule of law is essential to Taiwan’s efforts to consolidate democracy and protect fundamental human rights. But, as the judicial authorities work through this investigation, it is essential that they adhere to the dictum that everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

We urge the American government and Congress to express their deep concern about this deterioration of human rights and democracy in Taiwan. The present cases endanger the progress which has been made during the 21 years since the end of the Kuomintang’s martial law in 1987. As members of the Taiwanese American community we believe that a return to the KMT’s White Terror days of 1945-1987 should be avoided at all cost.

Prof. Bob Yang
President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs

ATTACHMENT:
Specific cases of concern:
- The arrest and detention on October 15th of former Interior minister Yu Cheng-hsien;

- The arrest and detention on October 28th of former Hsinchu Science Park Director and Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection Dr. James Lee;

- The arrest and detention on October 29th of DPP Chiayi County Commissioner Chen Ming-wen;

- The indictment on October 30th of DPP Tainan City Councilor Wang Ting-yu;

- The arrest and detention on October 31st of former National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general and Deputy Prime Minister Chiou I-jen;

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[Taiwan]

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]

Van der Wees on Diaoyutai, Ma

Gerrit van der Wees discusses recent threats to Taiwan's security and democracy in the Taipei Times. Because the Taipei Times edited their piece, I offer the unedited version here.

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Ma undermining Taiwan’s democracy and security

Two recent events show that the Ma Administration is quickly earning itself the label of being a trouble-maker and is letting the courts and the Legislative Yuan undermine the island’s hard-earned democracy.

First, the political uproar generated by the provocative comments of Prime Minister Liu Chao-shiuan and the reckless actions by extremist KMT legislators: in response to the accidental sinking of a Taiwanese recreational fishing boat in the waters near the Tiaoyutai/Senkakus, Prime Minister Liu let himself be goaded by the KMT legislators into saying that he “doesn’t exclude war” with Japan over the incident.

While he later retracted the statement, the events do display the rather unbalanced thinking of the Ma Administration on the issue of Taiwan’s sovereignty and security: they seem to want to “defend the nation’s sovereignty” over a fishing boat and a piece of rock, but Mr. Ma neglected to mention Taiwan’s sovereignty in his inaugural address and it was whitewashed in the recent meetings with China.

The Ma Administration could have tried to determine what actually happened. They would have found out that the boat from Taiwan was there against the 12 mile zone agreement between Taiwan and Japan, and that the captain was unnecessarily endangering the lives of his crewmembers.

Instead of letting the legal authorities handle it (like the Japanese did in a very evenhanded way), the KMT authorities made a political issue out of it, and even recalled the Taiwanese representative in Tokyo. That was a very unwise political move, because it estranges Taiwan from its closest ally in the region. In doing so, he seriously undermines Taiwan’s security.

In addition, at home Mr. Ma is undermining Taiwan’s democracy and is fostering the corruption that he says he so much abhors: the judicial authorities are pressing charges against former President Chen Shui-bian in relation to a “slander suit” brought against the former President and two DPP legislators, one of which is presently still serving in the Legislative Yuan.

The case stems from remarks made by the President and the two legislators in 2005, stating that retired vice admiral Lei Hsueh-ming, retired rear admiral Wang Chin-shen and three others were involved in a 1988-1992 kick-back scheme in the purchase of French-made Lafayette frigates. The two navy officers held key positions under former Defense Minister Hau Pei-tsun when the decision was made to switch from a purchase from South Korea to France.

According to former French Foreign Minister Roland Dumas, some US$ 500 million in kickbacks were paid by Thompson CSF, US$ 400 million through the office of the KMT secretariat general, then headed by Mr. James Soong. During his term in office, President Chen tried to get court authorities to investigate the case and prosecute those who were found guilty, but this was stonewalled by the KMT-dominated courts.

So, by allowing the slander suit against the former President to move ahead, Mr. Ma is undermining democracy and is not taking the necessary action against those who were involved in corruption on a large scale. A fair and just judicial system should take legal action against corrupt practices, not against whistle blowers.

The people of Taiwan have worked hard to achieve Taiwan’s security and democracy. It would be foolish for it to be squandered away by provocative words and reckless actions of the Ma Administration and ultra Chinese-Nationalist KMT legislators.

Gerrit van der Wees is editor of Taiwan Communiqué, a publication based in
Washington DC

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[Taiwan]

Gerrit van Der Wees of FAPA at the Meet Up

Gerrit speaking at the meet up.

Gerrit van Der Wees of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) spoke at the Meet Up this morning in Taipei, to a relatively large crowd of Taiwan supporters.

He began his talk by noting that FAPA started in 1982. It now consists of 56 chapters throughout the US, and represents a grass-roots network that can be tapped to contact US congresspersons on Taiwan issues.

Gerrit the early days when FAPA was just getting started. At that time the Kaohsiung 8 had been arrested, and nobody knew a thing about Taiwan. Lynn Miles, one of the most important activists from the early days, had been publishing a newsletter on Taiwan. Gerrit took over publication and turned it into Taiwan Communique, one of the first voices for Taiwan in the US.

“Now there are some [in Congress] who do understand,” he observed, “but nowhere near enough. There are still people who say ‘Taiwan? My biggest moment in Taiwan relations was meeting Madame Chiang Kai-shek…’"

According to Gerrit, support for Taiwan in Congress and the Administration has twin roots -- first, the old conservative republicans, supporters of the ROC, like the legendary Jesse Helms. Somehow this anti-communist crowd "made a seamless transition to the new period" and continue to be supportive of Taiwan. This includes people like Dana Rohrabacher and Tom Tancredo.

The other root of Taiwan support consists of liberal Democrats like Edward Kennedy, Stephen Solarz, and Claiborne Pell, who spoke out in favor of democracy and ending martial law. In the 1990s these two roots kind of came together, Gerrit explained. Broad support for Taiwan existed in the US Congress, and almost every resolution in its favor was passed by lopsided margins. But at the same time during the Clinton and Bush Administration people who adhered to realpolitik policies came to the fore. They think that China is big and important and Taiwan is small and not so important. Biden, Lugar in the center are like this, but on the outsides of the spectrum, there's support for Taiwan. Bipartisan support. Gerrit remarked that it was strange that the ends of the political spectrum supported Taiwan, but the center was not so supportive.

Of course, he went on to explain, after 9/11 and Iraq, Taiwan has been a side issue. As I personally have observed many times on this blog, the main focus has been on Iraq. Gerrit noted that there is no way to go around that problem. Traction for Taiwan in the US Congress is difficult to obtain at present.

Gerrit said that FAPA has worked to get Congress to speak out on the UN referendum. This has been more successful on the house side, resulting in letters and the introduction of a resolution by Congressmen Garret of NJ. The Senate is harder because it is more careful and doesn't like to stick its neck out. Tim Johnson of SD is the current leader of Taiwan Caucus, but has not been active due to a stroke last year. Sen. Inhofe of OK is co-Chair on the Republican side. They like to do quiet diplomacy with the Administration, and don't make statements or send letters, but they do quiet diplomacy and have asked the Administration to quiet down.

Recently FAPA has been pushing for a "high level" resolution that would enable high level Taiwan officials to visit the US. It was passed by the House, but there was not enough support in the Senate. But then Gerrit posed a question about tactics: if Ma wins, do we want high level contacts? Or should we go for high level visits regardless of who is in office? There is also a resolution supporting defense needs asking for the sale of F-16s to Taiwan but the Bush Administration wants to wait until after the election. Gerrit said in response to my question that there is no feeling that the US won't sell, as both Congress and the Administration want to sell, it is merely a question of timing. Promotion of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) is led by the Taiwan government, and FAPA plays supportive role. He noted with satisfaction that a resolution praising democracy in support of Taiwan’s elections passed a few days ago. To China’s intense distaste, I might add.

Gerrit went on to say that in the Bush Administration, the initial instincts were positive, as with Clinton Administration. Both appeared open to new, open, flexible policy. A downward trend began. The Legislative Yuan blocking the defense budget hurt relations. Further, there was not enough communication to the US side on initiatives such as the NUC closing, which would have reduced opposition. On the US side, a number of prominent officials didn't like Chen Shui-bian, or the DPP. But Gerrit was pleased to observe that a new team was in a number of positions and expects to start moving upwards again in a more positive direction.

Third reason for the downward trend was that US did need China for North Korea, Sudan, and Iran. So they told Taiwan to just be quiet and don't make noise. On the Taiwan side Chen Shui-bian felt he let himself get pushed around, and then, later on, he started to dig in. Lots of people felt he never should have agreed to the Five No’s. At the same time Chen was digging himself in, Bush was digging himself in over Iraq, Gerrit said. The result was that a number of insiders have criticized Bush for neglecting East Asia for Iraq. Hey, me too!

Gerrit said that on both the Republican and Democrat side there is a desire to put relations with Taiwan on track again. Consider the Shriver and Blumenthal report: Why Taiwan Matters, which has lately been getting press here. They are trying to increase Taiwan's space within the one-China framework. Shriver and Blumenthal, Gerrit described, are close to McCain. The Obama campaign also wants Taiwan out of the negative spiral, he said.

How have policies of the American Chambers of Commerce evolved? Gerrit says he has contact with Rupert Hammond-Chambers of the US-Taiwan Business Council. Hammond-Chambers jokes that over the years, the organization’s title has changed from the US-ROC-Taiwan Business Council to the US-Taiwan-ROC business council and has now become just the US-Taiwan Business Council. Their goal is a US Taiwan FTA. Against this the Bush Administration argues that not many companies want this agreement, but Hammond-Chambers has obtained significant support for it. He has also been working in support of the F-16 resolution.

Gerrit then opened the field for questions.

Q: What about the motivation of Congress?
Gerrit said that support comes from the anti-China crowd among conservatives, from the Midwest because Taiwan is big buyer of Midwestern agricultural products, and then also there are people who support Taiwan because it is the right thing to do. Gerrit instanced Tom Lantos, a Holocaust survivor who had also fought the Communists in Hungary, and who was a strong supporter of democracy. He had really used his position as head of the foreign affairs committee to support Taiwan and democracy everywhere. Sherrod Brown is big voice for Taiwan as well, in the Senate.

Q: Is the US Congress realizing that the appeasement policy is not going to work?
Gerrit laughed and said, no. They think they need China. Gerrit said FAPA had spoken with Tom Christensen, who said that the US works only for its interests and is not co-managing Taiwan relations with China. Although this blogger should add that many independent observers have come to the conclusion that yes, indeed, China and the US are suppressing Taiwan in concert. Gerrit said, however, that Christensen said that they “take China's claims into account.” Hahaha.

Q: What about the election here? What’s the view?
Gerrit answered that the US says it does not take sides, but clearly the attacks on the DPP referendum, without similar attacks on the KMT referendum, are pro-KMT.

Q: Given the decline of US power in the world, has there been a switch to going to Europe to gain support?
Gerrit responded that (1) US is still big and influential in Asia, and only country in world to stand up if China did something. Europe does not yet have that action oriented attitude. (2) FAPA has reached out to Europe and fostered contacts there, particularly in central European countries. There is a lot of support for Taiwan, but they feel constrained by the EU, having just become members of the EU. “We hope they do more and become more forceful voice for Taiwan in EU,” he added. Gerrit expanded this in a subsequent question about the WHO, saying that national parliaments are very strongly in favor of WHO entry, but at the EU level there is less support.

[Taiwan]

FAPA Ad in WaPo

The Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), the most important advocate of Taiwan in the US, recently had an ad on the referendum and UN entry in the Washington Post. The ad is shown above, for a clearer look, there's this link to PDF of the ad. The ad links to this information page on Taiwan. Way to go, FAPA!

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In something totally awful and completely unrelated, I'd like to take a moment to extend my heartfelt sympathies to the people of Korea. Apparently some nutcase burnt down the Sungnyemun Gate in Seoul, perhaps that nation's most important and beloved historical monument. Built in the 1390s, it had been the subject of innumerable photos and essays on the contrast between the ornate, ancient gate and the skyscrapers that had sprung up about it.

[Taiwan] [Korea]

Latest Taiwan Communique Out!

FAPA sent this around....

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Hi TaiwanFocus friends,

We are pleased to announce that issue no. 116 of Taiwan Communiqué is off the press!! In this issue, we present an overview of recent political developments in Taiwan, such as Why the UN Referendum is necessary, in which we give a rebuttal to recent statements by the EU’s Xavier Solana, and Mr. Stephen Young of AIT in Taipei.

In a commentary which was published in the Taipei Times on 18 November 2007, I give an analysis on the origins of the “One China” policy and show how it has become an unwieldy concoction.

We then present an article on the upcoming Taiwan LY and Presidential elections, and discuss the heated debate on “one step” versus “two step” referendums.

Then there is an article about the Presbyterian Church and the courageous stance it took 30 years ago by issuing the 1977 Human Rights Declaration.

After our Report from Washington with updates on Legislation and actions on the Hill, we close with a book review of Prof. Alan Wachman’s new book “Why Taiwan? in which he describes why China is so interested in Taiwan. Prof. Don Rodgers of Austin college (whom you all know) did write the review. You might be interested to learn that in the 1920s both Sun Yat-sen and Chiang Kai-shek advocated Taiwan independence ….!!

And finally, a focus of former US Senator Claiborne Pell, who played a crucial role in drafting the Taiwan Relations Act. It is written by the Senator’s longtime chief of staff Thomas Hughes.

Below you find the table of contents. The full publication is available on our websites at www.fapa.org and www. taiwandc.org The hardcopy will be sent out in about ten days to those who are on our mailing list.

We wish you happy reading. Do not miss the excellent cartoons, courtesy the Taipei Times. For earlier issues, check out our website at www.taiwandc.org/twcom/

Happy reading,

Gerrit van der Wees


CONTENTS Taiwan Communiqué no. 116

November / December 2007

Why the UN referendum is necessary

Countering Beijing's relentless pressure ........... 1

Concern about Mr. Solana's concern ................. 2

US opposition is undermining trust in US ........... 3

The "One China" policy: back to the basics

by Gerrit van der Wees...... 4

Taiwan's elections heating up

Legislative elections: all politics is local ....... 7

Presidential elections: Hsieh, Ma battling it out .. 9

Referendums: in "one step" or "two steps"? ........ 10

The Presbyterian Church commemorates

1977 Human Rights Declaration ..................... 12

Report from Washington

First Transatlantic Dialogue held in Washington ... 14

High-level visits resolution introduced in Senate . 15

House passes resolution on F-16 sale to Taiwan .... 16

Taiwan-into-the-UN resolution introduced .......... 17

Book Review

Why Taiwan? by Alan Wachman, Tufts University

reviewed by Prof. Don Rodgers, Austin College ..... 18

In the Limelight

Former Senator Claiborne Pell (D-RI)

by Thomas G. Hughes ....... 21

US-Taiwan Relations Fun

Yesterday the Taipei Times reported that the Formosa Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), the premier advocacy group for Taiwan in the US, had slammed Steve Young of the officially unofficial US representative body, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), for his attacks on the UN referendum. Gerrit van Der Wees passed around the text of the letter and press release:

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For Immediate Release
Contact Iris Ho @ 202.547.3686
November 15, 2007
FAPA expresses strong disagreement with AIT Director Steve Young;Says that US statements are undermining Taiwan's democracy.

On Wednesday, November 14th 2007, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs -- a Taiwanese-American grassroots organization based in Washington DC -- sent a letter to the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, Mr. Stephen Young -- expressing strong disagreement with statements he made, criticizing the planned Taiwan referendum on entry in the UN under the name "Taiwan".

In a press conference in Taipei on November 9th 2007, Mr. Young reportedly stated that the referendum, planned to coincide with the presidential elections in March 2008, are "neither necessary nor helpful"and that "there is a price to be paid in mutual trust."

The Association said that the referendum is necessary for
three reasons:

1) in order to let the international community know that the Taiwanese people have no intention of letting themselves be subdued by an authoritarian regime in Beijing;
2) to let the world know that the Taiwanese people want their country to be a full and equal member in the international community, and
3) to counter the PRC's relentless pressure to isolate Taiwan and push it into a corner.

In response to Mr. Young's statement that there is a price to be paid in mutual trust, the Association stated that the price to be paid is "...the fact that US opposition to the referendum is severely undermining international trust in the US government's resolve to stand up for human rights and democracy in the world."

The Association added: "Your statements, and those of other US government officials, are also undermining democracy in our homeland. We find this totally unacceptable."

The Association closed its letter, which was signed by its President C.T. Lee MD, by saying that if the United States is serious about spreading democracy around the world, "...it needs to be supportive of and nurture those countries that have attained democracy through the hard work of their citizens. Taiwan is such a country, and if the US wants to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it needs to show resolve in support of our young and fragile democracy."

The full text of the letter is given below.

----------------------------------------------------------

Washington DC, November 14th 2007
Mr. Stephen Young
Director, American Institute in Taiwan
7 Lane 134, Hsin Yi Rd. Sec 3
TAIPEI, TAIWAN 106

Dear Mr. Young,

As an organization of American citizens of Taiwanese descent we want to express our strong disagreement with your statements last week about the planned referendum in Taiwan regarding membership in the United Nations. You said that the referendum is "neither necessary nor helpful" and that you think "there is a price to be paid in mutual trust."

Yes, there is a price to be paid, but this price is the fact that US opposition to the referendum is severely undermining international trust in the US government's resolve to stand up for human rights and democracy in the world. Your statements, and those of other US government officials, are also undermining democracy in our homeland. We find this totally unacceptable.

The referendum is necessary in order to let the international community know that the Taiwanese people have no intention of letting themselves be subdued by an authoritarian regime in Beijing. The referendum is necessary to let the world know that the Taiwanese people want their country to be a full and equal member in the international community. The referendum is necessary to counter the PRC's relentless pressure to isolate Taiwan and push it into a corner.

It should be clear to you and your colleagues that Taiwan is not threatening China in any way: the Taiwan government has emphasized time and again that it wants the country to live in peace with all its neighbors, including China. However, as you well know, China is building up its armed forces with the specific aim of attacking Taiwan, and is threatening Taiwan with 980+ missiles.

If the United States is serious about spreading democracy around the world, it needs to be supportive of and nurture those countries that have attained democracy through the hard work of their citizens. Taiwan is such a country, and if the US wants to maintain peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, it needs to show resolve in support of our young and fragile democracy. Looking forward to hearing from you,

C.T. Lee MD
President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs
cc.
President George W. Bush
Secretary Condoleezza Rice

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As I noted earlier, Young's remarks were comparatively mild -- he didn't accuse Taiwan of undermining the status quo, merely saying that it was unnecessary. The US claim, that Taiwan is damaging mutual trust, omits any mention of the role of the US side in undermining that trust. AIT's position places the onus on Taiwan. That sucks. Until the Bush Administration removes its restrictions on high-level visits to Taiwan, especially military contacts, the US will be in the position of undermining US-Taiwan relations.

Germane to this is the Administration's mad refusal to sell F-16s to Taiwan. The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission recently reported to Congress. While it did not make its criticisms clear in the report, privately commission members were unhappy with the Bush Administration's position on the F-16s.

The Bush administration must base its decisions on arms sales on security interests, not politics, leaders of a prestigious commission dealing with US-China relations said on Thursday, in what appeared to be a criticism of the administration's refusal to sell advanced F-16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan.

The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission, in an annual report to Congress, recommended that Congress urge the administration to continue to sell Taipei weapons it needs to counter an attack by the People's Republic of China (PRC).

But the report stopped short of specifically urging the sale of the F-16s.

The chairman and vice chairman of the commission, answering press queries, said the failure to deal with the aircraft issue stemmed from timing and other issues and was not a result of a policy decision.

Vice Chairman Dan Blumenthal, a former senior Pentagon official dealing with China affairs, said: "We did not have enough time to deliberate on it. We discussed Taiwan earlier and the F16 issue was moving faster than we had a chance to catch up with."

However, he indicated that the commission favors the F-16 sale, and was not happy with the administration's decision to block it.

The Bush Administration has also attempted to suppress Taiwan's development of missiles capable of striking China, though it has done little about missiles from China capable of striking Taiwan. Of course, if the Bush Administration were running Taiwan, they'd be developing missiles capable of hitting China too, and probably nukes as well.

The US made this bed and now it is going to have to find a way to lie in it. It pushed Taiwan to democratize -- and the consequences of that move were known to both ROC and US leaders back in the 1960s. Further, as an academic recently pointed out to me in a private email, when Kissinger and Breziniski sold out Taiwan, they made Taiwan independence inevitable. Previous to Kissinger, the US position had openly been that the status of Taiwan was undecided, a position it still quietly holds today (as the recent UN flap demonstrated). But Kissinger essentially sold Taiwan to China, giving the island only two choices: being annexed to the PRC, or becoming independent. It's not entirely a coincidence that the democracy movement here became an independence movement with a big influx of Taiwanese after the US restored links with China under Kissinger.

It is apparent that Bush Administration simply has no idea how to deal with Taiwan and even less of a clue about how to deal with Taiwan as a full-blown formal nation-state in the world community. It's sad that Kissinger sacrificed US strategic flexibility -- yet another RealPolitik fuckup -- but that flexibility is latent in the US position, and needs to be reclaimed.

[Taiwan] [US] [China] [2008 Presidential Election] [F-16] [FAPA]

FAPA Letter/Press Release on UN Entry

Gerrit van Der Wees at FAPA sent this around:

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The Formosan Association for Public Affairs 552 7th Street. SE. Washington,
DC 20003

Support Democracy, Support Taiwan.

_____

For Immediate Release

Contact Iris Ho @ 202.547.3686

August 3, 2007

FAPA PROTESTS UN SECRETARY GENERAL's STANCE ON TAIWAN

On August 3rd 2007, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) sent a letter to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to strongly protest his decision not to relay Taiwan's request for admission to the General Assembly and the Security Council. The Association in particular criticized Mr. Ban's argument that under General Assembly Resolution 2758 of 1971, the UN considers "that Taiwan is part of China."

The Association refers to the full text of the Resolution, and shows that it doesn't even refer to "Taiwan." In the letter, it explains that the issue in 1971 was "which government represented China", the Chinese Nationalists of Chiang Kai-shek or the government of the PRC in Beijing. FAPA states that the "representatives of Chiang Kai-shek" were not expelled because they represented Taiwan, but that ". they were expelled because they claimed to represent China."

FAPA goes on to state that the status of Taiwan should be determined in accordance with the decisions of the 1951-52 San Francisco Peace Treaty, when it was decided that Japan would cede sovereignty over Taiwan, and delegates expressed the view that the island's future would be decided according to the principles laid down in the Charter of the UN, i.e. self-determination.

The letter states that the DPP government of Chen Shui-bian clearly reflected the wishes of the large majority of the people in Taiwan when it submitted its application for Taiwan membership. The Association urges Mr. Ban to "live up to the basic principles of human rights, democracy and self-determination" and help facilitate entry of Taiwan into the UN. It argues that the Taiwanese people have "worked long and hard for their democracy, freedom, and independence" and that peace can only be secured if the island "gains a full and equal place among the international family of nations.

FAPA is a grass-roots organization of Taiwanese Americans. It has 56 chapters across the United States, and has as its goal to "promote international support for the right op the people of Taiwan to establish an independent and democratic country, and to join the international community."

H.E. Ban Ki-moon

Secretary-General

United Nations

New York NY 10017 USA
Washington, August 3rd 2007

Your Excellency,

As an organization of Americans of Taiwanese descent, we take strong exception to your decision not to relay the request to admission of Taiwan as a member of the United Nations -- submitted by the democratically- elected government in Taiwan led by President Chen Shui-bian -- to the General Assembly and the Security Council.

In particular, we reject your argument that under General Assembly Resolution 2758, the UN took the position "that Taiwan is part of China." This is contrary to the facts: if you read Resolution 2758 carefully (see attachment no. 1), you will see that it doesn't even mention Taiwan. The issue under consideration in Resolution 2758 was which government represented China. Until that time, the Chinese Nationalists had represented China, and their seat was granted to the government of the PRC in Beijing.

The fundamental flaw in your argument is that you equate the "representatives of Chiang Kai-shek" with Taiwan. But Chiang and his representatives were not expelled in 1971 because they represented Taiwan, they were expelled because they claimed to represent China. They did not represent the Taiwanese in any fashion: the island was under martial law from 1949 until 1987. Note that after the democratic transition in Taiwan in the late 1980s early 1990s, they were also expelled from office in Taiwan -- through democratic elections.

On Taiwan's status, there is a much earlier (and more important) international document, the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951-52, in which Japan formally ceded sovereignty over Taiwan. Delegates at the San Francisco conference voiced the opinion that the status of Taiwan needed to be determined "in due time, in accord with the purposes and principles as laid down in the Charter of the UN" (i.e. self-determination).

Taiwan now has a democratic government, led by the Democratic Progressive Party of President Chen Shui-bian. This government clearly reflected the wishes of the large majority of the people on the island when it submitted its application for UN membership to you on July 19th 2007.

If the United Nations wants to be a truly "universal" organization, it needs to take Taiwan's application seriously. Article 1.2 of the Charter of the United Nations states that it is the purpose of the UN:

"To develop friendly relations among nations based on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination of peoples, and to take other appropriate measures to strengthen universal peace;"

Taiwan is a democratic nation: it fulfills all the criteria for a nation-state as defined in the 1933 Montevideo Convention: a defined territory, a permanent population, and a government which is capable of entering into diplomatic relations with other states. In fact, it has diplomatic ties with 24 UN member states.

We urge you to live up to the basic principles of human rights, democracy and self-determination which lay at the foundation of the establishment of the United Nations, reconsider your position, and facilitate the entry of Taiwan into the United Nations. The Taiwanese people have worked long and hard for their democracy, freedom and independence, and should gain a full and equal place among the international family of nations. Only then can peace be secured.

Sincerely,

C.T. Lee MD

President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs

Attachment no. 1

2758 (XXVI). Restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of
China in the United Nations

The General Assembly,

Recalling the principles of the Charter of the United Nations

Considering the restoration of the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China is essential both for the protection of the Charter of the United Nations and for the cause that the United Nations must serve under the
Charter,

Recognizing that the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations and that the People's Republic of China is one of the five permanent members of the Security Council,

Decides to restore all its rights to the People's Republic of China and to recognize the representatives of its Government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations, and to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it.

1967th plenary meeting,
25 October 1971.

[Taiwan]

FAPA Appeal

The beautiful Iris Ho at FAPA passed this around last week:

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Have you helped Taiwan today?

Two weeks ago, we asked you to take one minute of your time to help Taiwan by using the below link to contact your Representatives and ask them to co-sponsor the House Concurrent Resolution 136.

Over 500 emails have been sent to the Congress. Some of you even already received positive responses back from your elected officials. But 500 emails are still not enough, far from enough.

Please forward our appeal to as many friends, relatives, or co-workers as possible and ask them to take action to help Taiwan. Because the Chinese pressure has gotten bigger and louder.

Two days ago, when President Chen made his first appearance in the prestigious National Press Club in Washington, DC via a satellite video conference, the Chinese embassy in Washington protested strongly. The State Department caved in to the pressure and condemned the Taiwanese government after the video conference.

It is already ridiculous to us that the democratically elected leaders of Taiwan cannot visit the United States capital. And the State Department is now even angry at a satellite video appearance by President Chen?

Just how far is the U.S. government willing to kowtow to Beijing? Just when will the U.S. foreign policy stop being co-determined by the Communist Beijing government?

Congress must ACT NOW to take back our foreign policy initiative from the Chinese.

Ask your Members of Congress to co-sponsor the House Concurrent Resolution 136. After you take action, don't forget to forward the request and ask your friends and relatives to help Taiwan as well.

You can help Taiwan. You can make a difference.

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[Taiwan] [FAPA]

FAPA Tool for Emailing your Congressman

FAPA offers this nifty online tool for sending instant messages to your Congresscritter on various Taiwan issues.

[Taiwan] [China] [US] [FAPA]

Coen Blaauw Profile

Taiwan News profiles my friend Coen Blaauw, one of the key workers for Taiwan in Washington, and one of the island's most devoted supporters. Coen has done wonders for Taiwan over the years. And, as I am anguished to note, he still apparently has all his hair too. It's just not fair.....

Despite its unwillingness to formally recognize Taiwan, the United States is Taiwan's best partner in the struggle to gain de jure independence, said Coen Blaauw, the executive director of Formosa Affairs Public Relations, in an interview with Taiwan News last week on Taiwan's lobbying effort in the United States.

FAPR is considered to be the most effective lobbying firm on Taiwan's behalf on Capitol Hill, said the Dutchman, whose group operates under the Formosan Affairs Public Association, one of the most active U.S.-based pro-Taiwan organizations.

Established in Los Angeles in 1982, FAPA is a non-profit, educational organization that aims to rally international support for Taiwan's right to establish an independent country and to protect the right to self-determination of Taiwan's people.

"The separation of power within the U.S. government makes it that anyone can step up to his or her congressmen or congresswoman and tell them whatever they want about Taiwan," he said, adding the very essence of citizen responsibility is the engine that keeps his organization running.

[Taiwan] [FAPA]