Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Taiwanese-Americans to hold joint rally on Valentine’s Day

Formosan Association for Public Affairs

552 7^th Street. SE. Washington, DC 20003, USA

Support Democracy, Support Taiwan

For Immediate Release

Washington D C - February 10^th 2012

Contact: (202) 547-3686

Tibetans, Uyghurs, and Taiwanese-Americans to hold joint rally on Valentine’s Day

Protesting the repression in Tibet and East Turkestan, and the threats against Taiwan

WASHINGTON (Feb. 10th , 2012) – On Tuesday, February 14^th 2012, Taiwanese Americans, Uyghurs and Tibetans will converge at Lafayette Square in front of the White House on February 14 to voice protest against the visit of Chinese Vice President Xi Jin-ping’s visit to Washington.

President Obama is scheduled to meet that day with Mr. Xi, who is expected to be China's next President and the chair of the National People's Congress.

The organizations want to jointly express their deep concern about the repressive measures by the Beijing government against the people of Tibet and East Turkestan, and about the continuing refusal of the PRC to renounce the use of force against Taiwan.

Date: Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2012
Time: 10AM~1PM EST
Place: Lafayette Square (H & 16th St. NW)
Contact: Chiao-jung Wang (Cell: 202-210-0436)

Meanwhile, FAPA President Mark Kao has sent the following letter to President Obama dated February 10, 2012.

In the letter, President Kao stated: “We understand that the United States needs to engage China. However, such engagement should not come at the expense of America's core values-freedom, democracy and human rights, as embodied in the country of our birth, Taiwan.”

He asked President Obama “… to remind Mr. Xi that it is a core interest of the United States that the future of Taiwan be resolved peacefully and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan.”

The full text of the letter is given below.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

February 10, 2012

President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

As the president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), a Taiwanese-American non-profit organization that promotes freedom, human rights and democracy for the people of Taiwan, I write to you today about an issue of grave concern to our members.

As you prepare to welcome China's Vice President Xi Jin-ping to the White House, we appeal to you to reaffirm America's support for freedom, democracy and human rights in Taiwan.

We understand that the United States needs to engage China. However, such engagement should not come at the expense of America's core values-freedom, democracy and human rights, as embodied in the country of our birth, Taiwan.

When you visited Beijing in November 2009, Chinese leaders asserted that Taiwan was one of China's so-called "core interests." We ask that you remind Mr. Xi that it is a core interest of the United States that the future of Taiwan be resolved peacefully and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan. We also request that you refrain from proffering U.S. respect for China's "sovereignty and territorial integrity" as China lays specious claim over Taiwan.

We ask that you impress upon Mr. Xi that China dismantle its 1,600 missiles targeted at Taiwan and renounce the use of force against Taiwan. To safeguard Taiwan is to embrace freedom, democracy and human rights. This is the best way to maintain peace and stability in Asia and is consistent with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.

Lastly, it is essential that China end Taiwan's international political isolation. Taiwan is a peace-loving country that is able and willing to carry out United Nations Charter obligations. Taiwan deserves an equal place in the international family of nations, and its people should be fully represented in international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization and others.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely yours,

Mark Kao, PhD
President, Formosan
Association for Public Affairs