FAPA Mourns the Passing of Former U.S. Congressman Jim Leach, Honoring His Contributions to Taiwan’s Democracy and Human Rights
The Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) mourns the passing of former U.S. Congressman Jim Leach (R-IA), who passed away on December 11, 2024. Serving in the U.S. Congress from 1977 to 2007, Congressman Leach is fondly remembered by FAPA for his pivotal contributions to advancing Taiwan’s democracy, freedom, and human rights.
In 1979, Congressman Leach coauthored the Taiwan Relations Act’s human rights clause, providing a legal foundation for U.S. support of human rights in Taiwan. Following the December 1979 Kaohsiung Incident, during which the authoritarian one-party Kuomintang (KMT) regime violently suppressed tens of thousands of protestors and imprisoned opposition leaders, Congressman Leach played a key role in securing reduced sentences for Taiwan’s opposition leaders.
During the 1980s, Congressman Leach, alongside Congressman Stephen Solarz (D-NY) and Senators Claiborne Pell (D-RI) and Ted Kennedy (D-MA) ― known as the “Gang of Four” ― collaborated with FAPA to advocate for democracy, freedom, and human rights in Taiwan.
These four Members of Congress drew international attention to the political murders and human rights abuses by the authoritarian KMT regime. They introduced resolutions, initiated hearings, wrote letters, and issued statements, pressing for the abolition of martial law and the implementation of democratic reforms in Taiwan.
In 1986, the U.S. Congress established the “Committee for Democracy on Taiwan,” a milestone achieved through the advocacy of FAPA. Co-chaired by Congressmen Jim Leach and Stephen Solarz, with Senators Edward Kennedy and Claiborne Pell as honorary co-chairs, the committee was dedicated to supporting the Taiwanese people’s pursuit of human rights, freedom, and democracy.
With increasing pressure from the U.S. Congress, martial law in Taiwan was eventually lifted in 1987. Even after Taiwan’s democratization in the 1990s, Congressman Leach remained a steadfast champion of Taiwan, maintaining close ties with Taiwan’s democratically elected leaders.
FAPA President Dr. Su-Mei Kao states: “We deeply mourn the passing of Congressman Jim Leach, a true champion of Taiwan’s freedom. His unwavering dedication to democracy and human rights not only strengthened Taiwan’s resolve but also inspired countless advocates around the globe. Taiwan stands freer and more democratic today because of his tireless efforts. His legacy will endure, even as his presence is profoundly missed.”
Read the full FAPA statement HERE.
China’s Disinformation Against Taiwan Doubled in 2024: NSB Report
China’s disinformation campaign, as part of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) “united front work,” against Taiwan doubled in 2024, with much of the increase focused on media outlets used predominantly by younger people, Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB) said in a report released on January 3.
China’s campaign primarily focused on spreading skepticism about U.S. support for Taiwan, Taiwan’s military, and President Lai Ching-te, aiming to “undermine public confidence in the [Taiwan] government and heighten social divisions,” according to the NSB report.
The report revealed that China spread 2.16 million pieces of “controversial information” in 2024, nearly double the 1.33 million recorded in 2023.
Facebook remained the platform most susceptible to disinformation, with a 40% increase compared with 2023. Disinformation also surged significantly on video platforms (151%), forums (664%), and X, formerly known as Twitter (244%).
That suggests the main targets of these disinformation campaigns were young Internet users, the NSB said.
The NSB report highlighted six key tactics employed by the CCP:
- Flooding social media with disinformation to influence voter behavior, including spreading memes and videos targeting specific candidates.
- Impersonating Taiwanese official accounts and users to spread fake news, such as during China’s 2024 military drills when CCP-affiliated accounts posed as Taiwanese officials to erode trust in Taiwan’s military.
- Using military exercises as propaganda, such as posting videos on platforms like TikTok and YouTube to showcase China’s invasion capabilities and intimidate the Taiwanese public.
- Deploying AI-generated deepfakes of Taiwanese officials to manipulate public perception and mislead voters.
- Co-opting integrated media accounts as proxies for China’s state-owned media, such as using TikTok accounts linked to CCP-controlled outlets to spread propaganda.
- Creating fake multilingual news sites to promote the CCP’s “One China principle.”
The CCP exploits Taiwan’s democratic systems to wage cognitive warfare through Internet platforms and artificial intelligence technologies, the NSB said, adding that this is an international concern.
References:
[1] Taiwan’s National Security Bureau (NSB)
[2] Taipei Times
