For Immediate Release
Washington DC – July 28, 2008
Contact: (202) 547-3686
22 Taiwanese American Organizations Urge President Bush To Lift Taiwan Arms Freeze
In letter to President George Bush dated July 28, 2008, the leaders of 22 Taiwanese Americans urge President Bush, on the eve of his departure to Beijing where Bush will attend the Olympic Games, to reaffirm U.S. commitment to Taiwan and -specifically- to lift the Taiwan Arms Freeze.
The organizations write: “We appeal to you to reaffirm America’s support for a free and democratic Taiwan. Specifically, we urge you to unfreeze the $11 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan, including the sixty-six advanced F-16 fighter jets.”
They continue: “As you travel to China, the world’s largest communist country ruled by unelected dictators, we implore you to not forget the island nation of Taiwan, situated barely a hundred miles off Chinese shores. It is a free and democratic country, and one you recently praised as “a beacon of democracy to Asia and the world,” and in 2001 you pledged “whatever it took” to help her defend herself.”
They conclude: “The TRA and President Reagan’s Six Assurances also make it clear that the nature and quantity of arms sold are based solely upon the needs of Taiwan and without prior consultation with China. In fact, you have long ago approved the sale of most of the items in the $11 billion package. Therefore we urge you to unfreeze these sales immediately.”
FAPA President Bob Yang , Ph.D. states: “Selling the arms package to Taiwan is not only in Taiwan’s interest, it is clearly in the United States interest. According to sources, the mere sale of F-16s to Taiwan, would bring 40,000 man-years of additional employment to North Central Texas – especially Fort Worth. Arms sales to Taiwan should not be based on the politics of the day. Therefore, time to lift the freeze is now!”
台美社團領袖呼籲布希總統儘快解除對台軍售涷結
22位台美社團領袖於7月28日布希總統即將啓程前往北京參加奧運之際，聯署致函布希總統，呼籲行政部門重申美國對台安全保證，並儘快中止任何對台軍售涷結。
聯署信函表示：「我們籲請您重申美國對自由民主台灣的堅持。我們尤其在此呼籲您解涷高達 一百一十億美元的對台灣軍售，包括六十六架F-16戰鬥機。」「當您前往中國，這個由非民主領導人所統治的全球最大的共產國家的同時，我們希望您不要忘記台灣這個距離中國不到一百海哩的小島國。台灣是一個自由民主的國家，您還曾讚揚台灣是亞洲與全球民主的燈塔，您並在2001年表示會竭盡所能協助台灣自我防衛。」
「台灣關係法與雷根總統六項保證很明白地規定對台軍售的本質與數量只能視台灣需求而定，並且不能與中國事先協商。事實上，您許久以前就已經批准這一百一十億美元裡的多項武器項目。我們在此呼籲您儘快中止任何對台軍售涷結。」
FAPA會長楊英育表示：「對台軍售不僅是為了台灣的利益，更是為了美國的利益。根據消息報導，光光台灣如成功購買，就可替北中德州地區帶來一年四萬個工作機會。出售先進性武器給台灣不應與政治考量掛鈎，我們希望所有對台軍售能夠持續進行。」
Letter to President Bush
President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Bush:
On the eve of your trip to Beijing to attend the Olympic Games, we, the undersigned representatives of Taiwanese-American and allied organizations, appeal to you to reaffirm America’s support for a free and democratic Taiwan. Specifically, we urge you to unfreeze the $11 billion worth of arms sales to Taiwan, including the sixty-six advanced F-16 fighter jets.
As you travel to China, the world’s largest communist country ruled by unelected dictators, we implore you to not forget the island nation of Taiwan, situated barely a hundred miles off Chinese shores. It is a free and democratic country, and one you recently praised as “a beacon of democracy to Asia and the world,” and in 2001 you pledged “whatever it took” to help her defend herself.
As you partake in the Olympics festivities put on by y our Chinese hosts, we ask you to recall that, in your second inaugural address, you told the nation that “The survival of liberty in our land increasingly depends on the success of liberty in other lands.” The success of liberty is not to be found in China where you are visiting. Rather it has been achieved in Taiwan across that narrow strait. For America’s sake, please help Taiwan safeguard her liberty.
In 2005, China passed the so-called Anti-secession Law threatening the use of force against Taiwan at the slightest provocation. Your own Department of Defense reported earlier this year that China had targeted no less than 1,070 short-range ballistic missiles at Taiwan. “It is increasing the size of this force at a rate of more than 100 missiles per year,” the report noted. Based on land area, this would be equivalent to aiming 292,000 missiles at the U.S. and adding 27,000 more each year. The real and grave threat to Taiwan requires that Taiwan possess a credible national defense.
The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) stipulates that the “United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.” The TRA and President Reagan’s Six Assurances also make it clear that the nature and quantity of arms sold are based solely upon the needs of Taiwan and without prior consultation with China. In fact, you have long ago approved the sale of most of the items in the $11 billion package. Therefore we urge you to unfreeze these sales immediately.
Thank you for your attention. We look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely 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 Ta ng, 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 Taiwa nese Professors’ Association
Sue Lee, President, North Amer ica Taiwanese 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.
