For Immediate Release
Washington DC – March 23, 2013
Contact: (202) 547-3686
FAPA Urges U.S. Government To Protest China’s Continued Restriction Of Taiwan’s International Space
President Ma’s ‘diplomatic truce’ not working
Today, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) – a Washington-based Taiwanese-American grassroots advocacy organization – expressed its concern about two recent events showing that China is still attempting to deny Taiwan international space.
The two events were the Chinese reaction to President Ma’s trip to Rome to attend the inauguration of Pope Francis, and the decision by the Indonesian government in Jakarta to deny a delegation from Taiwan access to an international defense conference after objections from China.
In the case of Taiwan President Ma’s trip to Rome, the Chinese Foreign Ministry criticized both Taiwan and the Vatican over the visit. In a press briefing on March 18th 2013, PRC spokeswoman Hua Chun-ying urged the Vatican to “dissolve ties with Taiwan.”
In the case of the Jakarta International Defense Dialogue (JIDD), a four-person Taiwanese delegation was forced to withdraw from attending the conference, when the Indonesian authorities disinvited the delegation after China raised objections to Taiwan’s presence at the conference.
In response to the developments, FAPA President Mark Kao states: “China’s continued efforts to undermine Taiwan’s presence at such international events do clearly show that President Ma’s “diplomatic truce” is not working. Worse, it shows that promises of a “rapprochement” across the Taiwan Strait is leading to diminished international space for Taiwan.”
Dr. Kao adds: “China’s moves are also in clear contradiction to stated US policy, which says that the US supports meaningful participation by Taiwan in international organizations. We call on the US government to protest China’s attempts to restrict Taiwan’s international space. Taiwan should be a full and equal member in the international family of nations.”
台灣人公共事務會呼籲美國政府對於中國一再打壓台灣國際空間一事表達抗議
馬總統的「外交休兵」政策無效
台灣人公共事務會今天針對近來中國打壓台灣國際空間的兩個事件表示憂心。
其一事件為中國對於馬英九總統前往教廷參加教宗方濟各就任式一事的反應；另則為印尼政府在遭受中國抗議施壓後，拒絕讓台灣代表團參加「雅加達國際防務對話」一事。
中國外交部針對馬總統訪教廷一事抨擊台灣及教廷雙方。在三月十八日的一場記者會中，中國外交部發言人華春瑩呼籲教廷「必須終止對台關係」。
在「雅加達國際防務對話」一事中，在中國抗議台灣的出席後，印尼政府隨即取消對台灣的邀請，並要求出席的四位台灣代表離席。
台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士表示：「中國對台灣的國際空間一再打壓，顯示馬總統的『外交休兵』政策並未奏效。這些跡象顯示兩岸友好的保證反而將導致台灣的國際空間更形壓縮。」
高博士並說道：「中國的行為顯然也與美國支持台灣有意義參與國際組織的政策背道而馳。我們呼籲美國政府對於中國打壓台灣國際空間一事表達抗議。台灣應該是國際社會中的一分子。」
