FAPA Urges President Trump to Reaffirm Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances as the Cornerstones of US-Taiwan Relations when Meeting with Xi Jinping

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – November 2, 2017
Contact: (202) 547-3686

FAPA URGES PRESIDENT TRUMP TO REAFFIRM TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT AND SIX ASSURANCES AS THE CORNERSTONES OF US-TAIWAN RELATIONS WHEN MEETING WITH XI JINPING

In a letter dated November 2, 2017, Peter Chen, the President of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) appealed to President Trump to “reaffirm America’s support for freedom, democracy and human rights in Taiwan” during his upcoming visit to China. Specifically, he asked that President Trump reaffirm the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act and President Reagan’s 1982 Six Assurances as the cornerstones of U.S.-Taiwan relations, when meeting with Xi.

Peter Chen also asked that Trump impresses upon Mr. Xi that China dismantles its 1,600 missiles targeted at Taiwan and renounce the use of force against Taiwan, and concluded his letter stating that it is essential that China end Taiwan’s international political isolation: “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.”

Peter Chen 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 is not a ‘responsible stakeholder”, is causing increasing tension in the region, in particular in the South China Sea, East China Sea, is mishandling the democratic developments in Hong Kong, etc… 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 country and the people of Taiwan.”

Peter Chen concludes: “It is a core US interest to help protect and nurture Taiwan’s young democracy. We therefore urge President Trump to move towards a “One Taiwan, One China” policy that welcomes Taiwan as a full and equal member in the international community.”


FAPA呼籲川普總統與習近平會面時需重申台灣關係法與六項保證為台美關係的基石

台灣人公共事務會會長陳正義於2017年11月2致函美國總統川普,呼籲其在即將訪問中華人民共和國前必需再次重申美國支持台灣的自由、民主與人權的一貫立場。

他特別要求川普總統在與中國國家主席習近平會面時須重新確認1979年的台灣關係法與雷根總統時期口頭提出的對台六項保證為台美關係的基石。陳正義會長也要求川普總統應提醒習近平先生,中國應該解除瞄準台灣的1600枚飛彈佈置,並放棄武力犯台的意圖。

他也呼籲中國停止在國際政治上繼續孤立台灣,他在公開信的最後指出:「台灣值得在國際社會上獲得平等地位,台灣作為一政治實體應獲准加入聯合國、世界衛生組織等國際組織以充分代表其人民權益。」

公開信中提道:「我們理解美國需與中國交涉以解決許多國際問題,但事實上中國並非一個負責任的利益相關者,中國造成區域緊張情勢增加,特別是南中國海與東海地區,也妨礙香港的民主發展等等。在此背景下,我們要求中美交涉不應該讓渡美國的核心價值:民主,自由與人權,這同時也是根植於我們台灣與其人民心中的價值。」陳會長以此作結:「保衛與守護台灣的年輕民主符合美國的核心利益,因此我們敦促川普總統往『一中一台政策』的方向前進,歡迎台灣成為國際社會擁有完整權利且與他國平等的成員。」

Open Letter to President Trump

November 2, 2017
President Donald Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Trump:

As the president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), a Taiwanese‑American nonprofit 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 meet with China’s President Xi Jinping in China, we appeal to you to reaffirm America’s support for freedom, democracy and human rights in Taiwan. Specifically, we ask that you reaffirm the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act and President Reagan’s 1982 Six Assurances as the cornerstones of U.S.-Taiwan relations, when meeting with Xi.

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

Over the years, Chinese leaders have asserted that Taiwan is 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 also 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 not only the best way to maintain peace and stability in Asia, is it also consistent with U.S. law.

Lastly, it is essential that China end Taiwan’s international political isolation. Taiwan is a peace‑loving country that is ready, willing and able 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,
Peter Chen
President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs

致川普總統的公開信

川普總統鈞鑒

我謹代表台灣人公共事務會,以會長身分寫這封信給您,並轉達一項本會成員至為關切的議題。

台灣人公共事務會為一倡議台灣人民自由、民主與人權的台美人草根組織。在您即將準備與中國國家主席習近平會面前夕,我們籲請您重新確認美國支持台灣的自由、民主與人權的一貫立場,並且特別需重申1979年制訂的台灣關係法與1982年雷根總統提出的對台六項保證為台美關係的基石。

我們理解美國必須與中國交涉,然而中美交涉不應該讓渡美國的核心價值:民主,自由與人權,這同時也是根植於我們台灣與其人民心中的價值。過去數年來,中國領導人再三強調台灣為中國所謂的核心利益之一。

我們要求您提醒習近平先生,台灣的未來需以和平並獲得台灣人民同意的方式決定,如此才符合美國的核心利益。我們懇請您不可提出美國尊重中國宣稱擁有台灣的「主權及領土完整」的片面說法。我們也要求您提醒習近平主席應撤除1600枚瞄準台灣的飛彈佈置並放棄武力放台。固守台灣就是擁抱自由、民主與人權,也是確保亞洲地區和平與安定的最佳方式,同時也符合美國法律。

最後,中國必須停止在國際政治上繼續孤立台灣。台灣是個愛好和平的國家,並且有意願及能力遵守聯合國憲章。台灣值得在國際社會上獲得平等地位,台灣作為一政治實體應獲准加入聯合國、世界衛生組織等國際組織以充分代表其人民權益。

Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead