For Immediate Release
Washington DC – August 4, 2022
Contact: (202) 547-3686
FAPA LAUDS PELOSI VISIT AS WATERSHED MOMENT IN TAIWAN’s DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENT – CALLS FOR ENACTMENT OF TAIWAN POLICY ACT
Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) embarked on an Asian tour on July 31 leading a delegation of House colleagues. During the trip, she made an unannounced stop in Taiwan on August 2. The visit was widely considered a show of unwavering U.S. support for Taiwan – all this despite China’s warnings not to visit the country.
The trip makes the 82-year-old California Democrat the first sitting U.S. House speaker to visit Taiwan since 1997, when then-Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-GA) traveled to Taipei and met with then-President Lee Teng-hui.
Speaker Pelosi’s delegation visited Taiwan’s legislature and met with President Tsai Ing-wen on August 3.
Towards the end of her trip, Speaker Pelosi stated that her visit was intended to make it “unequivocally clear” that the United States would “not abandon” democratically governed Taiwan. She pledged “ironclad support” for Taiwan.
During the speaker’s visit, China announced a series of live-fire drills around Taiwan, dispatched warships off Taiwan’s Lanyu Island, launched cyber-attacks against Taiwan’s government facilities and convenience store branches, blacklisted over 100 Taiwanese food brands, and shut down Weibo in Taiwan.
FAPA President Minze Chien reacts: “Pelosi’s visit is completely consistent with the U.S. robust but unofficial relationship with this beacon of democracy and free market that Taiwan is. Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), the U.S. pledged to support Taiwan’s freedom, democracy, and self-determination, and to maintain Taiwan’s peace, stability, and status quo — which undoubtedly has been that of an independent sovereign country for decades. We must never allow China to deprive the free will of the Taiwanese people and dictate the future of Taiwan by military force.”
“The U.S. now treats Taiwan as a sovereign and independent country that it indeed is. Next, it is time to seal the deal with the formal recognition of Taiwan’s statehood and the establishing of bilateral U.S.-Taiwan diplomatic relations.”
“With Speaker Pelosi’s trip, it is very gratifying for us Taiwanese Americans to see this further implementation of the 2018 Taiwan Travel Act and a further loosening of restrictions on U.S. high-level visits to and from Taiwan. FAPA is very proud of the coming to fruition of this Act. Next, it behooves the U.S. Congress to invite Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to Washington, DC, to share with members of Congress and with the American public her views on the best ever U.S.-Taiwan relations in history that we witness today.”
Dr. Chien adds: “Pelosi’s visit also marks a further hollowing out of the U.S. ‘One China Policy.’ This policy is clearly on the road towards becoming impossible to continue to adhere to – yes, it is becoming a bit of a laughing stock. The One China Policy has been a long-time thorn in the side of Taiwanese Americans. This relic of the Cold War is dangerous, confusing, and misleading. Why? In it, the U.S. acknowledges the Chinese claim over Taiwan. The U.S. and the rest of the world should have ZERO tolerance for China’s territorial claim over Taiwan. The time to abolish the One China Policy is now.”
“Speaker Pelosi’s trip teaches us that we CAN stand up against Communist China’s bullies, and against bullying behavior. Believers in democracy must stand by their Allies in Europe, in Asia and all around the world. Speaker Pelosi has clearly demonstrated that the U.S. does NOT give in to bullies.”
“The bottom line is that Taiwan is NOT a part of China. Nonsense statements and flat-out lies from Beijing stating that ‘China will take all necessary measures to defend itself’ are too silly for words. Taiwan and China today are two separate sovereign countries. And it is the wish of the people of Taiwan to maintain their own independence and statehood, and to live with its giant neighbor across the Taiwan Strait as friendly neighbors.”
Dr. Chien urges: “We therefore call upon both Houses of Congress and the President to enact the Taiwan Policy Act (TPA) that was introduced in the Senate on June 16. The TPA encompasses several measures that will enhance U.S.-Taiwan relations, and that will help Taiwan become an even more normal country. The Act will lend further dignity and respect to the peace-loving people of Taiwan. With China holding blockade-like live-fire drills encircling Taiwan from August 4–7, it is all the more pertinent TODAY that the U.S. signals to China that it needs to cease its completely uncalled for intimidation tactics.”
Dr. Chien concludes: “Taiwanese Americans are very grateful to Speaker Pelosi and her delegation. Taiwanese and Taiwanese Americans will look back on her groundbreaking Taiwan trip for generations to come. Let me therefore give the final word to Speaker Pelosi: ‘We must never give in to autocrats!’”
