For Immediate Release
Washington DC – May 26, 2005
Contact: (202) 547-3686
House Subcommittee Passes Amendment In Support Of Hi-Level Visits
The House International Relations Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations today passed an amendment to support high-level visits from Taiwan’s elected leaders during a markup hearing on the Foreign Relations Authorization Act for 2006 and 2007.
The non-binding sense of Congress amendment reads, “it is in the national interests of the United States to communicate directly with democratically elected and appointed officials of Taiwan, including the President of Taiwan, the Vice-President of Taiwan, the Foreign Minister of Taiwan, and the Defense Minister of Taiwan.”
The amendment continues, “the Department of State should, in accordance with Public Law 103–416, admit such high level officials of Taiwan to the United States to discuss issues of mutual concern with United States officials.”
FAPA President Ming-chi Wu Ph.D. says: “It is good to see that this issue remains on the radar of Members of Congress. Members of Congress tell us that they deem it a blatant outrage that Taiwan’s Foreign Minister Mark Chen who still has a house in Springfield, Virginia could travel back and forth when he was a member of the legislative yuan, but the moment he became foreign minister, he could not longer go home.”
Wu continues: “President of the Palestinian Authority Mahmoud Abbas is currently visiting Washington. And Yasser Arafat visited the White House. Many authoritarian leaders from around the world have visited the United States to exchange ideas with the President and opinions leaders without any restrictions. So, extra reason why the United States should welcome to Washington DC Taiwan’s democratically leaders in order to exchange first-hand opinions and ideas with them on important issues such as the stability across the Taiwan Strait. This will enhance stability in the region, and thus protect US. interests. Most importantly, as the world’s champion of liberty and democracy, the U.S. must treat a fellow democracy with respect and dignity.”
眾議院國際關係委員會全球人權小組通過修正條款，支持台灣高層訪美限制解除
眾議院國際關係委員會非洲、全球人權與國際運作小組於今日通過一國務院授權法案修正條款，支持台灣民選領導人自由參訪美國，不受限制。
雖然這個條款沒有法律效力，但是其象徵意義非同小可。條款表示：「與台灣民選與指派領袖直接對話，包括台灣總統，副總統，外交部長與國防部長，是美國的國家利益。國務院應該遵循美國第103-416號法律，允許台灣高階官員訪問美國，與美國官員商討攸關兩國關心的事宜。」
FAPA會長吳明基表示：「台灣高層官員訪美限制的全面解除，一直在美國國會引起相當大的共鳴。舉例來說，美國議員尤其不能理解，現在台灣的外交部長，也是曾任FAPA會長的陳唐山部長過去在擔任立法委員時，不定期返回他在華府近郊，久居長達三十年的老家；但是在他升任為台灣外交部長的那一刻，他就再也無法踏上華府的土地，回華府的老家探望。」
吳明基繼續表示：「巴勒斯坦總統阿巴斯此刻正在華府訪問，已過逝的巴解組織領導人阿拉法特生前也曾造訪白宮；世界上許多獨裁政權的領導人都能夠自由來去美國，並與美國總統以及國會意見領袖直接對話。台灣總統是由台灣二千三百萬人民，透過自由、民主程序選舉而產生，美國政府理當尊重台灣的民選領袖，歡迎他們造訪華府，就台海問題等重大的議題，直接與台灣政府交換意見。這樣，不僅能確保美國的東亞利益，也才是身為全球民主自由捍衛者所應有的泱泱典範。」
