For Immediate Release
Washington DC – November 3, 2014
Contact: (202) 547-3686
FAPA Calls On President Obama To Stand Up For Taiwan During Visit To China
In a letter dated November 3, 2014, Mark Kao, the President of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) appealed to President Obama to “reaffirm America’s support for freedom, democracy and human rights in Taiwan” during his upcoming visit to China at the end of this week when he attends the APEC summit in Beijing.
Dr. Kao states, “We understand that in order to resolve many of the world’s major problems, the United States needs to engage China, but the fact is that China has not acted as a “responsible stakeholder”, and is causing increasing tension in the region, in particular in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and through its mishandling of the democratic developments in Hong Kong. Against this background, we emphasize that “engagement” should not be done at the expense of America’s core values: freedom, democracy and human rights, as exemplified in the nation and people of Taiwan.”
Dr. Kao concludes: “In the meantime, Taiwan has transformed itself into a vibrant democracy, and as we saw with the Sunflower Movement this Spring, the people of Taiwan don’t want to be pushed into an unwelcome embrace with China.
We firmly believe it is a core US interest to help protect and nurture this young democracy. We therefore urge you to move towards a “One Taiwan, One China” policy that warmly welcomes Taiwan as a full and equal member of the international community. That would indeed be a change the American people can believe in.”
台灣人公共事務會呼籲歐巴馬總統於訪中期間聲援台灣
台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士，於2014年11月3日致函美國總統歐巴馬，呼籲歐巴馬總統於本週末赴北京參加「亞洲太平洋經濟合作會議」期間「重申美國對台灣自由、民主、人權的支持」。
高博士表示：「我們知道為了解決國際間的許多問題，美國有必要與中國打交道，但事實上，仔細觀察中國在鄰近區域，特別是南海海域與東海海域所製造的緊張關係，以及中國政府處理香港民主運動的方式來看，中國並非一個『負責任的利害關係者』。有鑑於此，我們要強調台灣的自由、民主、人權，同時也是美國的核心價值，不能成為與中國『互動』的代價，」
高博士總結道：「台灣已經轉型成一個有活力的民主社會。今年春天的『太陽花學運』清楚地讓我們看到，台灣人不願意被推向中國的懷抱。我們堅信保護與幫助這個年輕的民主國家符合美國的核心利益。因此，我們呼籲您採用『一個中國、一個台灣』政策，接納台灣成為國際社會的平等份子。這會成為一個美國人民相信的『改變』。」
Letter to President Obama
President Barack H. Obama November 3, 2014
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As you prepare to visit China, we, as a Taiwanese-American grassroots organization with 54 chapters across the United States, appeal to you to reaffirm America’s support for freedom, democracy and human rights in Taiwan.
During the past years, the Beijing government has called on the United States and other international partners to respect China’s so-called “territorial integrity” and “core interests.” We strongly urge you to remind the Chinese leaders, in response, 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 understand that in order to resolve many of the world’s major problems, the United States needs to engage China, but the fact is that China has not acted as a “responsible stakeholder”, and is causing increasing tension in the region, in particular in the South China Sea, East China Sea, and through its mishandling of the democratic developments in Hong Kong. Against this background, we emphasize that “engagement” should not be done at the expense of America’s core values: freedom, democracy and human rights, as exemplified in the nation and people of Taiwan.
We appeal to you that, in your meetings with the Chinese leaders, you insist that they dismantle the 1,600 missiles targeted at Taiwan and renounce the threat of use of force against Taiwan. To safeguard Taiwan and its future, we need to more fully embrace freedom, democracy and human rights in that country. We believe this is the best way to maintain peace and stability in East Asia and is in the best interests of the United States.
Mr. President, in your 2008 election campaign you promised us “change we can believe in.” In your acceptance speech at the Democratic Convention in Denver, you stated: “Enough to the politics of the past.” We hope this applies to US policies towards Taiwan. For the past four decades, the US has clung to an outdated “One China” policy which has left Taiwan dangling in international isolation.
In the meantime, Taiwan has transformed itself into a vibrant democracy, and as we saw with the Sunflower Movement this Spring, the people of Taiwan don’t want to be pushed into an unwelcome embrace with China. We firmly believe it is a core US interest to help protect and nurture this young democracy. We therefore urge you to move towards a “One Taiwan, One China” policy that warmly welcomes Taiwan as a full and equal member of the international community. That would indeed be a change the American people can believe in.
Thank you for your attention. We wish you a safe journey.
Sincerely yours,
