For Immediate Release
Washington DC – September 14, 2007
Contact: (202) 547-3686
Members Of U.S. Congress Express Strong Support For “UN For Taiwan”
On the eve of the rally in support of UN for Taiwan to be held in on Dag Hammarskjold plaza in front of the United Nations in New York on September 15, several Members of the United States Congress expressed their strong support for UN membership for Taiwan.
Rep. Anthony Weiner (D-NY) states: “I am proud to be a member of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, and believe there is no question that the United States must stand strong and advocate for Taiwan’s independence from China and inclusion as a United Nations member state. The policy of exclusion must stop now.”
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) writes: “I rise today in support of Taiwan’s admission to the United Nations. For the last 36 years, Taiwan’s people have had no representation in the United Nations. It is incongruous that a world body founded on the principle of universality and self-determination excludes a free, democratic and independent nation of 23 million people — a population larger than three quarters of the U.N.’s current member states… As Taiwan bids to return to the United Nations, I wish to say that I totally support Taiwan’s aspirations to be a member of this global body. Taiwan has all the qualifications: a sound political system, a much-admired economy and a genuine desire to maintain peace and prosperity in East Asia and the world.
Rep. Robert Andrews (D-NJ) writes: ” For too long the people of Taiwan have lived in the shadow of their larger neighbor to the west, China. The shadow has loomed so large that Taiwan has been blocked from membership in the United Nations, the one body in which all sovereign and peace loving nations should have a voice… China must recognize that Taiwan is neither rival nor vassal, rather it is a neighbor.”
Rep. Edolphus Town (D-NY) writes: “Taiwan is not only a free, open and independent democracy, it is a good neighbor and friend to countries in need around the world.”
FAPA President C.T. Lee MD says: “At this time when there is a lot of discussion within the United Nations about Taiwan’s membership bids, as well as within the United States Government, these statements are very welcome and timely.”
Dr. Lee continues: “These statements send a clear signal to the United Nations and its member states that the UN should open its doors for Taiwan right here and right now. Simultaneously, they send a signal to the U.S. Government that U.S. support for Taiwan’s membership in international organizations such as the UN should be based on how Taiwan can contribute to and benefit from these international organizations – not on what the conditions for membership to these organizations are.”
美眾議員入聯遊行前夕發表支持聲明
數位美國聯邦眾議員在入聯公投遊行前夕以發表聲明與書信的方式，高聲支持入聯公投遊行以及台灣參與聯合國。預計明日在紐約聯合國哈瑪紹廣場的遊行將吸引上千名台僑與美國友人的熱情參與。
以下為美國議員聲明摘要：
紐約州民主黨韋尼議員：「我對於身為美國國會台灣連線一成員感到驕傲。我深信美國必須強烈支持與提倡台灣獨立於中國之外，並支持台灣取得聯合國會員籍。這個排除（台灣）的政策必須馬上停止。」
台灣連線共同主席羅拉巴克議員表示：「台灣人民已經三十六個年頭在聯合國裡沒有任何代表權。身為一個提倡普遍性與人民自決原則為成立宗旨的國際組織，卻刻意排拒享有自由、民主與獨立，人口多於聯合國四分之三會員國的二千三百萬台灣人民，這實在說不過去。我完全支持台灣有意成為這個世界組織的一員。台灣符合各項條件：健全的政治系統，令人敬佩的經濟，以及維護東亞與世界和平的善意。」
紐澤西州民主黨安德魯斯議員表示：「台灣人民活在西邊惡大的鄰居－中國陰影下實在太久了。這個陰影之大，阻撓了台灣成為聯合國會員國。中國必須承認台灣不是它的敵人，也不是它的下屬，僅僅是它的鄰居。」
紐約州民主黨湯斯議員表示：「台灣不僅是自由、開放與獨立的民主國家，也是一個好鄰居和全球須要協助的國家的好朋友。」
FAPA會長李青泰表示：「此刻，在美國政府與聯合國組織內部對於台灣聯合國會員籍有著許多熱烈的討論。我們歡迎這些議員發表適時的正面聲明。」
李青泰繼續表示：「這些聲明向聯合國及其會員國宣達一個清楚的理念，那就是聯合國應該在此時此地開啓大門、歡迎台灣。這些聲明也同時向美國政府傳達一個訊息，那就是美國對於台灣國際組織會員籍的支持應該是以台灣是否能貢獻與回饋國際社會為依歸，而不是以各組織會員籍的制式規定為準。」
