One China Policy Archives - Formosan Association for Public Affairs

Beyond Strategic Clarity: Biden Should Make Clear to Xi That Taiwan Is Not Part of China

Chih-Jung Huang — Sun, 13 Nov 2022 15:35:31 +0000

By Chih-Jung Huang (黃致榮) | FAPA Policy Fellow

U.S. President Joe Biden is scheduled to hold talks with China’s paramount leader Xi Jinping on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Indonesia on November 14, 2022 — their first in-person meeting since Biden took office in January 2021. We at the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) call on the Biden administration to reassess the One China Policy, which has provided China with a distorted justification for its claims on Taiwan.

On September 18, 2022, President Biden pledged that the U.S. forces would defend Taiwan if China invaded. The comments marked the clearest statement and the fourth time since his taking of office that Biden vowed that the U.S. would defend Taiwan militarily, effectively ending so-called U.S. “strategic ambiguity” on Taiwan’s defense.

When asked about what Xi should know about the U.S. commitment to Taiwan, Biden said that “[we] agree with what we signed onto a long time ago [with the People’s Republic of China (PRC)]” and that “there’s One China Policy.”

We believe that when dealing with Taiwan, the U.S. should focus more on the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) and the 1982 Six Assurances rather than the U.S.-PRC Three Joint Communiques — the basis of the U.S. One China Policy.

The U.S. “One China Policy” — which, though merely “acknowledges” China’s position over Taiwan — is not only misleading but also dangerous. It misleads the general public and international community into thinking that the U.S. “recognizes” the Chinese claim of sovereignty over Taiwan. It also emboldens China to invade and annex Taiwan by force.

As China continues to increase its military aggression and hasten an invasion of Taiwan, it is now time for Biden and his administration to publicly revitalize the U.S.’s longstanding position on Taiwan’s undetermined status, and make clear to Xi, the PRC, and the world that Taiwan is not part of China and use collective deterrence to prevent China’s invasion of Taiwan.

U.S. Longstanding Position on Taiwan’s “Undetermined” Status

Since the Japanese surrender to the Allied Powers in 1945, the United States has long maintained the position that China has never acquired sovereignty over Taiwan and that Taiwan’s international status remains “unsettled” or “undetermined.” Statements from various U.S. officials in the early post-war period attest to this point.

On November 21, 1946, the U.S. Department of State informed the Republic of China’s Embassy in the U.S. that “from the legal standpoint the transfer of Taiwan’s sovereignty remains to be formalized.” On April 15, 1949, Michael J. McDermott, Special Assistant to the Secretary of State for Press Relations, also stated that “[Taiwan’s] final status will be determined by the peace treaty if and when we get one” with Japan.

As Secretary of State John Foster Dulles explained on December 1, 1954, “technical sovereignty over Formosa and the Pescadores [i.e., Penghu islands] has never been settled. That is because the Japanese Peace Treaty merely involves a renunciation by Japan of its right and title to these islands. But the future title is not determined by the Japanese Peace Treaty nor is it determined by the Peace Treaty which was concluded between the Republic of China and Japan.”

Prior to 1970, the U.S. State Department repeatedly testified to Congress that the legal status of Taiwan remained “unsettled.” The State Department also wrote to the Senate during hearings in 1969 and 1970 that: “In neither [the San Francisco Peace Treaty of 1951 nor the Taipei Peace Treaty of 1952] did Japan cede this area [of Taiwan and the Pescadores] to any particular entity. As Taiwan and the Pescadores are not covered by any existing international disposition, sovereignty over the area is an unsettled question subject to future international resolution.”

Problems With the One China Policy

While the U.S. has never accepted China’s claim over Taiwan, its One China Policy is confusing and has led to dangerous misinterpretations. Its origins lie in a series of communications between the U.S. and China prior to their normalization of relations.

In the 1972 Shanghai Communique, the United States declared that it “acknowledges” — rather than “recognizes” — that “all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait” maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China, and also that the U.S. Government “does not challenge that position.”

When negotiating the Chinese translation of the U.S. policy statements in the Shanghai Communique, the Nixon administration insisted to the Chinese that the verb “acknowledge” be translated as “renshidao” (takes note of) instead of “chengren” (recognize) to make clear that the U.S. itself did not accept the Chinese position and territorial claim over Taiwan.

In the 1979 Normalization Communique, the U.S. again only “acknowledges” the Chinese position that there is but one China and Taiwan is part of China. And in the August 17, 1982 Communique, the U.S. just stated that it had already “acknowledged” the Chinese position of one China and Taiwan is part of China.

Although the U.S. did not “recognize” or “accept” the PRC’s territorial claim over Taiwan in the three U.S.-PRC Joint Communiques, the communiques’ statements gave the PRC an unnecessary opportunity to distort the U.S. position by equating a position of acknowledgment with one of recognition.

As such, the U.S. should abolish the One China Policy, as it provides the PRC with a legal “justification” to invade and annex Taiwan. Through a distortion of this confusing policy, the PRC has accused the U.S. of violating China’s territorial integrity and its sovereignty over Taiwan. Indeed, they often point to the joint communiques as evidence that the U.S. has “recognized” its claims over Taiwan.

Instead, the U.S. should rely on the Taiwan Relations Act and Six Assurances to define its relationship with Taiwan. The TRA has guided U.S. policy toward Taiwan in the absence of a diplomatic relationship since 1979. In passing the TRA, Congress mandated that Taiwan be treated like an independent sovereign country for the purposes of U.S. law: “Whenever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with such respect to Taiwan.” When emphasizing the One China Policy, however, this reality is often neglected.

The 1982 Six Assurances, too, has been adhered to by all subsequent U.S. administrations, assuring that the U.S. “[has] not altered its position regarding sovereignty over Taiwan.” Since 2016, Congress has passed several pieces of legislation reaffirming that the Six Assurances, together with the TRA, form the “cornerstone” of U.S. relations with Taiwan. Both the Trump and Biden administrations have explicitly recognized the Six Assurances as a cornerstone of U.S. policy toward Taiwan. Going forward, the U.S. should emphasize the TRA and Six Assurances, which are formal documents, rather than the One China Policy, which has provided the PRC with a pretext for annexing Taiwan.

The Biden Administration Should Challenge China’s Claim over Taiwan

The world has undergone dramatic changes since the 1970s, and the One China Policy no longer reflects current realities. Taiwan is now a vibrant democratic country, while China has become openly aggressive and belligerent. Polls consistently show that most Taiwanese identify themselves as “Taiwanese” rather than Chinese. The “One China Policy” is outdated.

The U.S.’s entire “One China” concept and its decision to establish diplomatic ties with the PRC (and cut off official ties with Taiwan) were predicated on Beijing’s commitment to resolve its differences with Taiwan peacefully. However, in the past five decades, Beijing has torn up its promises and routinely threatened to annex Taiwan by force.

The Taiwan Relations Act specifies that it is the U.S. policy to consider any non-peaceful means to determine the future of Taiwan “a threat” to the peace and security of the Western Pacific and of “grave concern” to the United States. It has also made clear that the U.S.’s decision to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC rests upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan “will be determined” by peaceful means.

Since China has significantly increased its military capability and seeks to accelerate its annexation of Taiwan, it has been long overdue for the U.S. to abandon its confusing and dangerous One China Policy, as the policy — as laid down in the three communiques — is supposed to be conditional on China’s peaceful approach to Taiwan.

Even if the U.S. is not prepared to formally recognize Taiwan’s independent statehood, President Biden should restate the U.S. longstanding position on Taiwan’s “undetermined” status when he meets with Xi, making clear that the U.S. regards that Taiwan is not part of China and that Taiwan’s status and future should be determined peacefully in accordance with the wishes and best interests of the people of Taiwan.

This article is first published in News Lens (2022/11/13)

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U.S. Representatives Introduce Resolution Calling For U.S.-Taiwan Diplomatic Relations And End To U.S. “One China” Policy

June Lin — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 20:25:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – April 10, 2013
Contact: (202) 547-3686

U.S. Representatives Introduce Resolution Calling For U.S.-Taiwan Diplomatic Relations And End To U.S. “One China” Policy

U.S. Representatives Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Robert Andrews (D-NJ) today introduced a resolution calling upon the United States government to resume diplomatic relations with Taiwan and to end the U.S. One China Policy.

Of the five countries in the world that the United States government currently does not diplomatically recognize (Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Bhutan and Taiwan), Taiwan is the only democracy. The resolution underscores that Taiwan “has been a steadfast ally of the United States and a responsible and compassionate member of the world community.”

Similar resolutions were introduced in previous Congresses by former Reps. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), John Linder (R-GA), and by Rep. McCaul himself – all staunch Taiwan supporters in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The McCaul/Andrews resolution urges that:

The President should abandon the fundamentally flawed ‘One China Policy’ in favor of a more realistic ‘One China, One Taiwan Policy’ that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign and independent country, separate from the Communist regime in Beijing;
The President should begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan; and
The President, the Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations, and other relevant United States officials should aggressively support Taiwan’s full participation in the United Nations and any other international organization of which the United States is a member, and for which statehood is a requirement for membership.

FAPA President Mark Kao Ph.D. states: “China’s Communist Government continues to force nations around the world to choose between Taipei or Beijing. However, maintaining separate recognition with both China AND Taiwan would be an excellent model for those nations which seek to have diplomatic ties with both governments in a mutually beneficial relationship.”

Dr. Kao, adds: “Introduction of the resolution reflects the sense within the U.S. Congress that the U.S. ‘One China Policy’ is increasingly untenable, as it is clearly outdated, and out of touch with the unmistakable reality that Taiwan is a free, democratic, independent and sovereign nation. By adopting a more realistic and pragmatic ‘One China, One Taiwan’ policy, the United States can set an example for other countries in the world to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan as well.”

美國聯邦眾議員提案呼籲美國重建與台灣外交關係並廢除一中政策

華府訊（2013年4月10日）─美國德州共和黨眾議員麥考（Michael McCaul）與紐澤西州民主黨共議員安德魯斯（Robert Andrews）於今天提案，呼籲美國政府重建與台灣之外交關係，並廢除一中政策。

美國政府目前在外交關係上，不承認的五個國家中（伊朗、北韓、古巴、不丹，以及台灣），只有台灣是民主國家。這項決議案並強調台灣「一直以來都是美國的穩定盟友，以及有責任心及同情心的國際社會成員。」

前科羅拉多州共和黨眾議員唐克多（Tom Tancredo）、前喬治亞州共和黨眾議員林德爾（John Linder）與麥考議員等美國眾院中的台灣支持者，都曾於過去的院會中提出過相似的決議案。

今次提出的決議案中呼籲：

美國總統應揚棄大有瑕疵的一中政策，改採符合現狀的「一中一台」政策以承認台灣為一主權獨立國家；
美國總統應展開與台灣復交的相關程序；
美國總統、美國常駐聯合國代表，以及其他相關之美國官員，應積極支持台灣完全參與聯合國及其他需以國家身份入會的國際組織。

台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士表示：「中共政府持續強迫世界各國於台北與北京中間擇一，然而，對尋求與雙邊政府都能有互利關係的國家而言，能與兩國皆保持外交關係是最好的依循模式。」

高博士補充：「此決議案的提案也反映出美國國會認為『一中政策』已愈發不何時宜，且已與台灣是一個自由、民主、主權獨立的國家這項事實背道而馳。美國如能採納較反應現況且實際的『一個中國、一個台灣』政策，並將對台灣關係正常化，將為其他國家樹立良好的典範。」

H.Con.Res.29

Photo Credit: CSUF Photos (Flickr)

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FAPA Urges Secretary Kerry To Stand Up For Taiwan’s Interests During Beijing Visit

June Lin — Mon, 08 Apr 2013 01:55:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – April 8, 2013
Contact: (202) 547-3686

FAPA Urges Secretary Kerry To Stand Up For Taiwan’s Interests During Beijing Visit

In a letter dated April 5, 2013, the president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), Dr. Mark Kao, urged United States Secretary of State John Kerry to “reaffirm America’s support for freedom and democracy in Taiwan” when Kerry meets with the Chinese leadership this coming weekend.

In his letter, Dr. Kao called for U.S. support for Taiwan’s membership in international organizations such as the UN and the WHO, for the U.S. to rethink the U.S. One China policy and replace it with a U.S. “One China, One Taiwan policy,” for Secretary Kerry to impress upon the Chinese to “renounce the use of force against Taiwan in general, and to dismantle the 1,600-plus missiles it presently has deployed against Taiwan in particular.”

Dr. Kao wrote: “I urge you to remind the Chinese leadership 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.”

He also commented: “Yes, we understand that in order to resolve many of the world’s major problems the United States needs to “engage” China. But the experience of previous US governments under Presidents Nixon, Carter, Clinton and Bush shows that all too often this was done at the expense of freedom and democracy in Taiwan.”

And “We therefore appeal to you that you insist, in your negotiations with the Chinese leaders, that China renounce the use of military force against Taiwan and that the offensive weapons directed at Taiwan be dismantled, so that the people of Taiwan can make a free and fully democratic decision on their future.”

Dr. Kao concludes: “The U.S. One China Policy is a remnant of the Cold War. It dates from the time when Taiwan was still under Martial Law and its government claimed to rule China. Today’s Taiwan is a democracy. It is therefore time that this obsolete policy be replaced by a One China, One Taiwan Policy that affirms the present-day reality that Taiwan is a free and democratic nation. With the 34th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act on April 10, 2013 imminent, I understand that the U.S. Congress will call for similar action soon as well.”

台灣人公共事務會呼籲美國國務卿凱瑞於訪中行程中捍衛台灣利益

台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士於4月5日致函美國國務卿凱瑞，籲其於本週末拜會中國政府領導階層時「重申美國支持台灣民主自由的立場」。

高博士於信中呼籲美國支持台灣加入聯合國、世衛等國際組織；以「一中一台政策」取代「一中政策」，並呼籲凱瑞國務卿敦促中國「放棄武力犯台，撤除中國對台部署的一千六百餘枚飛彈。」

高博士寫道：「我強烈呼籲您提醒中國領導階層，台灣的未來由台灣人民決定，並以和平的方式處理，才符合美國的核心利益。」

高博士亦寫道：「我們了解美國必須與中國交涉，才能解決世界上許多的問題，但是過去在尼克森、卡特、柯林頓以及布希政權的經驗顯示，這些交涉往往建立於犧牲台灣的民主自由之上。」

「我們在此籲請您在與中國高層交涉時，堅持要求中國放棄武力犯台，並撤除中國對台的武器部署，以利台灣人民在未來能做出民主自由的決定。」

高博士總結道：「美國的『一中政策』是冷戰時的遺物，其時空背景為台灣的戒嚴時期，而台灣政府宣稱對中國仍有統治權的時代。今天的台灣是一個民主社會，因此現在應該確立台灣為民主國家的『一中一台政策』來取代這個不符現實環境的政策。4月10日為台灣關係法的三十四週年紀念，我相信美國國會也會採取一樣的立場及行動。」

Letter to Secretary Kerry

Mr. John F. Kerry April 5, 2013
Secretary of State
Department of State
2201 C Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Mr. Secretary:
As you prepare your visit to China, I, as the president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), appeal to you to reaffirm America’s support for freedom and democracy in Taiwan, when you meet with the Chinese leadership.
As Taiwanese Americans, we feel strongly about the preservation and advancement of democracy in Taiwan, which was achieved only two decades ago through the hard work and sacrifice of the courageous pro-democracy activists in Taiwan, with support from the overseas Taiwanese community and friends in the US Congress, such as Senators Ted Kennedy and Claiborne Pell. It is in the interest of the United States that the democracy in Taiwan continues to succeed, so that it can serve as a beacon for other countries in Asia aspiring to liberalize their political systems.
I therefore urge you to remind the Chinese leadership 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.
As Taiwanese Americans we want our country of birth to be able to defend its sovereignty, freedom and democracy. We want the people of Taiwan to live their lives free from outside coercion and free from fear. We therefore want China to renounce the use of military force against Taiwan in general, and to dismantle the 1,600-plus missiles it presently has deployed against Taiwan in particular.
Furthermore, Taiwan wishes to be a full and equal member of the international community. Taiwan is a peace-loving nation that is willing and able to make significant contributions to multilateral organizations such as the United Nations and the WHO. Recent reports about the re-emergence of the H7N9 virus in China illustrate the necessity that Taiwan be given full membership in the latter organization. Infectious diseases know no boundaries, and Taiwan’s exclusion from these important international bodies not only deprives the world of the benefit of Taiwan’s considerable expertise, but also creates a gap in the global public health system with potentially dangerous consequences.
We therefore urge you to be proactive and creative in your support for Taiwan’s democracy and security, conform with the provisions of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which is the law of the land and which, together with the 1982 “”Six Assurances”” to Taiwan, has served as the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations for over 30 years.
Finally, for the past three decades, the US has clung to an outdated “”One China”” policy which has left Taiwan dangling in an increasingly isolated international position.
I therefore implore you to move towards a new US “”One China, One Taiwan”” policy which is based on our core beliefs of freedom and democracy, and which emphasizes that the Taiwanese people have the right to determine their own future.
As Taiwanese-Americans we have come to appreciate, and firmly believe in, the basic principles for which the United States stands and the values it supports. We also realize that our relatives and friends in Taiwan look to the United States for leadership and support on these issues.
Yes, we understand that in order to resolve many of the world’s major problems the United States needs to “”engage”” China. But the experience of previous US governments under Presidents Nixon, Carter, Clinton and Bush shows that all too often this was done at the expense of freedom and democracy in Taiwan.
We therefore appeal to you that you insist, in your negotiations with the Chinese leaders, that China renounce the use of military force against Taiwan and that the offensive weapons directed at Taiwan be dismantled, so that the people of Taiwan can make a free and fully democratic decision on their future.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely yours,
Mark Kao, President, Formosan
Association for Public Affairs

Photo Credit: Official Website of Department of State

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FAPA Urges U.S. Government To Protest China’s Continued Restriction Of Taiwan’s International Space

June Lin — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 01:02:00 +0000

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 18^th 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。」

Photo Credit: NCinDC (Flickr)

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U.S. Congressmen Introduce Bi-partisan Resolution Calling For U.S.-Taiwan Diplomatic Relations

June Lin — Tue, 08 May 2012 22:00:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – May 8, 2012
Contact: (202) 547-3686

U.S. Congressmen Introduce Bi-partisan Resolution Calling For U.S.-Taiwan Diplomatic Relations

On Monday, May 7, United States Congressmen Michael McCaul (R-TX), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), and Sam Johnson (R-TX) introduced a new resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives, calling on the United States government to resume diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

H. Con. Res. 122 urges the President to:

Abandon the fundamentally flawed ‘One China Policy’ in favor of a more realistic ‘One China, One Taiwan Policy’ that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign and independent country;
Begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan; and
Aggressively support Taiwan’s full participation in the United Nations “and any other international organization of…for which statehood is a requirement for membership.”

Similar resolutions were introduced in 2005 and 2007 by former Congressman and outspoken Taiwan supporter Tom Tancredo (R-CO), and again in 2009 by former Congressman John Linder (R-GA), another staunch Taiwan advocate in the U.S. House of Representatives prior to his retirement.

Furthermore, the resolution affirms that the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances form the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations and establishes “the reality that Taiwan has functioned as an independent and sovereign country for over half a century.”

Formosan Association for Public Affairs’ President Mark Kao, Ph.D. applauds introduction of the resolution, saying that: “The new resolution reflects the growing sense within the U.S. Congress that the United States’ ‘One China Policy’ is more and more untenable, as it is clearly out of touch with the unmistakable reality that Taiwan is a free and democratic nation that deserves to be accepted as a full and equal member in the international community.”

Dr. Kao continues: “The reluctance of the United States government to reassess this obsolete element in its foreign policy emboldens an authoritarian People’s Republic of China in its attempts to politically isolate a democratic Taiwan.”

Dr. Kao concludes: “The Taiwanese people brought about their momentous transition to democracy some twenty years ago, but US policy never adapted to that new reality. By moving to a more realistic and practical ‘One China, One Taiwan’ policy, and by normalizing relations with Taiwan the United States would set a shining example for other countries to follow.”

美國眾議員跨黨派提案呼籲美台建交

德州共和黨麥考眾議員（Michael McCaul, R-TX）、紐澤西州民主黨眾議員安德魯斯（Robert Andrews, D-NJ）與德州共和黨強生眾議員（Sam Johnson, R-TX）於5月7日星期一提出一決議案，呼籲美國政府與台灣恢復外交關係。

HCR122提案促使美國總統：

揚棄大有瑕疵的一中政策，改採符合現狀的「一中一台」政策以承認台灣為一主權獨立國家；
開始有關與台灣復交的相關程序；
積極支持台灣完全參與聯合國「及要求有國家身份以入會的任何國際組織。」

美國政府目前在外交關係上，不承認五個國家：伊朗、北韓、古巴、不丹及台灣。其中只有台灣是發展完全的民主國家。

長期支持台灣的前任科羅拉多州共和黨唐克多眾議員(Tom Tancredo, R-CO)曾在 2005年與2007年中兩度提出相似的決議案。亦為台灣強力支持者的喬治亞州共和黨林德眾議員(John Linder, R-GA)，也於2009年未退休前提出類似提案。

此外，該提案重申台灣關係法及六項保證為美台關係的基石，並闡述「台灣在過去50多年來，是以一個獨立並擁主權的國家在運行的事實。」

台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮讚許該提案，並表示：「此新提案反映了美國國會中，越來越多人認同『一中政策』已漸不合時宜，並背離台灣為自由民主國家，應被國際社會接受為其平等及完整的一員的不爭事實。」

他補充：「美國政府不願重新評估其外交政策中過時的條例，變相鼓勵了中華人民共和國在政治上孤立民主台灣的意圖。」

他最後表示：「台灣人民在二十多年前經歷重大民主轉型，但美國的政策從未因應該時勢而調整。美國如能採納較反應現況且實際的『一個中國、一個台灣』政策，並將對台灣關係正常化，將為其他國家樹立良好的典範。」

Press Release from Rep. McCaul and Andrews

As U.S. and China Hold Strategic Talks, McCaul-Andrews Call for Normalized Diplomatic Relations with Taiwan

McCaul-Andrews Legislation States that Taiwan is Separate from China

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the U.S.-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue (S&ED) opens in Beijing this week, Congressman Michael McCaul (R-TX) and Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ) call on President Obama to begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan and aggressively support Taiwan’s full participation in the United Nations and other international organizations.

“Taiwan is a vibrant democracy and has been a steadfast ally of the United States and a compassionate member of the international community,” said Congressman McCaul, a member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. “The people of Taiwan have never been under the jurisdiction of the People’s Republic of China, which continues to illegitimately claim sovereignty over Taiwan. President Obama should recognize this and support a ‘One China, One Taiwan’ policy that gives legitimacy to our Taiwanese friends and partners.”

“It is time the US government acknowledged Taiwan as the sovereign and independent state that it is, with the full diplomatic recognition that comes with that sovereignty and independence,” said Congressman Andrews. “Throughout our history we have supported the right to self determination for sovereign peoples throughout the world; in the case of Taiwan, it is time to stand on that principle once again.”

On Monday, May 7^th, Congressman McCaul and Congressman Andrews will introduce legislation that calls on the U.S. government to resume normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

H.Con.Res.122

Photo Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Flickr)

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Resolution Calling For Diplomatic Recognition Of Taiwan And End To One China Policy Introduced In U.S. House Of Representatives

June Lin — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 18:51:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – January 9, 2009
Contact: (202) 547-3686

Resolution Calling For Diplomatic Recognition Of Taiwan And End To One China Policy Introduced In U.S. House Of Representatives

Today, during the first week of the new 111^th Congress, long-time Taiwan supporter Rep. John Linder (R-GA) introduced a resolution urging the Administration to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Similar resolutions were introduced in 2005 and 2007 by then Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), who has since retired from Congress. Additionally, the resolution calls for end to the U.S. One China Policy and Taiwan’s full membership in international organizations.

Since 1979, the United States and Taiwan have not had formal diplomatic ties. Instead, U.S.-Taiwan trade and economic relations have been handled through “private” channels, by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

The resolution calls on the President of the United States to (A) abandon the fundamentally flawed `One China Policy’ in favor of a more realistic “One China, One Taiwan Policy” that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign and independent country, separate from the Communist regime in Beijing; (B) begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan; and (C) aggressively support Taiwan’s full participation in the United Nations and any other international organization of which the Unite d States is a member, and for which statehood is a requirement for membership.”

FAPA President Bob Yang, PhD says: “Last Thursday (January 1) marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S.-China diplomatic ties. The introduction of Rep. Linder’s resolution during the first week of 2009 when the new Congress gets back to work is extraordinarily poignant as a reaffirmation of United States Congress’ support for Taiwan.”

Yang continues, “Despite the severance of diplomatic ties by the U.S. thirty years ago, Taiwan has flourished into a fledgling democracy with impressive economic achievements. Now that the world knows Taiwan simply as ‘Taiwan’ and recognizes Taiwan as a beacon of freedom, Congress clearly feels the increasing need to ditch the outdated ‘One China’ concept.”

Yang concludes: “U.S. diplomatic recognition of Taiwan is an idea whose time has come. Such separate recognition by the U.S of China and Taiwan can be a model for those nations which seek to align both countries in a mutual co-existing relationship.”

美國國會提出決議案呼籲美台建交，並應廢除一中政策

在美國第111屆國會上任新會期首週，長期支持台灣的林德眾議員隨即於今日提出一決議案，呼籲美國政府承認台灣，與台灣建立外交關係，以展現對台灣民主的支持。決議案並支持台灣在聯合國等國際組織內的完整會員籍。甫退任的唐克多議員過去在第109與110屆會期（2005年與2007年）中便曾兩度提出這項決議案。

林德議員的這項決議案建議美國政府：(A)揚棄一中政策，改採符合現狀的「一中一台」政策以承認台灣為一主權獨立國家；(B) 開始有關與台灣復交等事宜的相關程序；(C)積極支持台灣完整參與聯合國以及美國為會員國等國際組織，即便國家身份為入會資格。

FAPA會長楊英育表示：「上週四(元月一日)適逢美中建交三十週年紀年。林德議員在新國會上任第一週特地選擇提出這項決議案，重申美國國會對台灣的堅定支持，意義格外重大。」

楊英育接著表示：「美國雖然在三十年前與台灣斷交，台灣卻仍蛻變為一經濟傲人的新興民主國家。當今天全世界都知道台灣的名稱就是台灣，加上全球已公認台灣為自由指標之一時，美國國會顯然認為揚棄過時的一中理念越來越有其必要性。」

楊英育最後表示：「美國與台灣建交的時機就是現在。美國如開啓分別承認之例，將可協助其他有意與台灣中國兩國保持良好關係的國家效法美國的典範。」

H.Con.Res.18

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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National Archives Shatters Beijing’s And KMT’s Claims

June Lin — Thu, 14 Jun 2007 19:11:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – June 14, 2007
Contact: (202) 547-3686

National Archives Shatters Beijing’s And KMT’s Claims

In a letter to FAPA dated June 5, Michael Kurtz, the Assistant Archivist for Records Services at the United States National Archives confirmed that the 1943 Cairo Declaration is neither a treaty nor an executive agreement, but merely a “communiqué.” This marks the first time the United States government officially goes on record elaborating on the lack of legal binding power of the Cairo Declaration, and thus voids the basis of both the Chinese Nationalist KMT party’s and Beijing’s mythic “One China Principle” claims.

Mr. Kurtz writes: “The National Archives and Records Administration has not filed this declaration under treaties. […] As you state, the declaration was a “communiqué”, and it does not have treaty series (TS) or executive agreement series (EAS) number.”

Over the past half century, the Cairo Declaration has been used by both the Communist government and the KMT as one of the key historic documents to bolster their “One China” claims. The KMT has long cited the Cairo Declaration as the legal basis for ROC’s claim on Taiwan. Interestingly enough, the Chinese Communist government also cites the Cairo Declaration to augment its claim that Taiwan is part of China. Former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, current Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and Premiere Wen Jiabao have in various public occasions invoked the Cairo Declaration to establish that Taiwan is an inalienable part of China.

FAPA President CT Lee states: “The 1943 Cairo Declaration is a document that wrapped up a meeting between Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt and Chiang Kai-shek. It merely is a moment in time – a declaration of intention about the world’s affairs among the three leaders. Although important at the time, it does not have any legal binding power almost 65 years later enabling either the KMT or the PRC to derive territorial claims from. The letter from the Archives codifies this fact that is already familiar to international legal scholars and Taiwan’s DPP government. The 1951 San Francisco Peace Treaty officially brought World War II to an end and supersedes all previous agreements. It is time that the Chinese Nationalist Party and the Communist Chinese government cease this political game of rhetoric.”

美國國家檔案室打破北京與國民黨的一中迷思

美國國家檔案室在一封6月5日致FAPA的信函裡表示，1943年的開羅宣言不是國際條約，也不是美國與他國簽署的行政協定，充其量只是一份公報聲明。這可說是美國政府首次公開承認開羅宣言不具有任何法律效力，粉碎了北京政權與中國國民黨多年來引用開羅宣言為佐證的一中迷思。

國家檔案室的柯爾茲先生在信函裡解釋，根據國家檔案室的規定，所有的國際條約、行政協定、或是一般條約與其他協定等文件均有其專屬的特定號碼，由國務院一併交由檔案室保管。開羅宣言並不符合上述性質，因為它不是條約，也不是行政協定。「誠如您在信中所提到的，開羅宣言僅是一份公報聲明」，柯爾茲先生表示。

近半世紀以來，開羅宣言對於中國國民黨與中國共產黨的一中迷思，佔有極重要的歷史與法理地位。中國國民黨引用開羅宣言，證明日本將台灣歸還中華民國；有趣的是，在同時，中國共產黨也是引用開羅宣言來佐證台灣是中國的一部份。從過去的江澤民、到今日的中國外長李肇星、總理温家寶等，中國政府與學界均在不同的國內外公開場合一再引用開羅宣言來證明台灣是中國領土不可分割的一部份。

FAPA會長李青泰表示：「開羅宣言最多僅是代表美、中、英三國領袖對於當時國際局勢的片面聲明，在當時也許有特別涵義，但是宣言本身並不具任何法律效力，更遑論可以用來佐證中國領土涵蓋台灣的法律根據，不管是中華民國或是中華人民共和國。美國檔案室今天公開證明這項一般國際法學者與民進黨政府早已確認的史實。」1951年的舊金山合約是歸結二次世界大戰的戰後合約，依照國際法原則，理應取代之前制訂的法律條文，何況是沒有法律效力的公報宣言。FAPA呼籲中國國民黨與中國共產黨不要再為了一己之私的政治目的，刻意誤導與扭曲史實。

Photo Credit: EdBrown05 (Wikimedia Commons)

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U.S. Representatives Introduce Legislation Calling For End To One China Policy

June Lin — Thu, 17 Feb 2005 23:01:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – February 17, 2005
Contact: (202) 547-3686

U.S. Representatives Introduce Legislation Calling For End To One China Policy

On February 16, Reps. Tancredo (R-CO) and International Relations Subcommittee Chair Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Mark Souder (R-IN), Edolphus Towns (D-NY), and John Shimkus (R-IL) introduced HCR 69 concluding that “the President of the United States should abandon the fundamentally flawed ‘‘One China Policy’’ in favor of a more realistic ‘‘One China, One Taiwan Policy’’ that recognizes the Republic of China on Taiwan as a sovereign government, separate from the Communist regime in Beijing.”

In a clear reference to former Secretary of State Colin Powell’s and former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage’s remarks last year that Taiwan is not a sovereign state, the resolution further states that “President Ronald Reagan issued the ‘‘Six Assurances’’ to Taiwan in July 1982, including the assurance that ‘‘[t]he United States would not formally recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan’’

The resolution also concludes that “Taiwan should be permitted to participate as a full member in international organizations for which statehood is a requirement for membership.”

FAPA president Ming-chi Wu, Ph.D. says: “With the Anti-Secession Law looming, this resolution calling for an end to the One China policy comes at a crucial time. The very existence of the Anti Secession Law illustrates the danger the One China Policy poses. With the U.S. acknowledging Beijing’s claim over Taiwan, as laid down in the One China Policy, the One China policy poses dangerous ramifications for Taiwan’s security. If the US would abolish the One China Policy and thus abolish its acknowledgment of Beijing’s claim over Taiwan, there would be zero US tolerance for Beijing’s threat to use force against Taiwan. And, most importantly, there would have been no Anti Secession Law.”

美眾議員提出決議案，呼籲揚棄一中政策，改採一中一台政策

眾議員唐克多(Thomas Tancredo, R-C))於2月16日，與蘿絲列敦娜(Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL)、寨得爾(Mark Souder, R-IN)，湯斯(Edolphus Towns, D-NY)與史科斯 (John Shimkus, R-IL)等數位議員共同提出第69號決議案，呼籲美國總統廢除本質上有嚴重瑕疵的「一中政策」，並改以「一中一台政策」取而代之，承認台灣為一主權完整，獨立於北京共產政權之外的國家。

這個決議案很明顯是回應前國務卿鮑威爾，與前副國務卿阿米塔吉在去年底宣稱台灣不是一個主權國家的不當言論，也因此，這個決議案裡很清楚地引用了雷根總統的「六項保證」來反駁前面兩者的言論，因為根據六項保證之一，美國並沒有正式承認中國對台灣的主權。

這幾位議員們並藉由這個決議案呼籲美國政府應該開始展開與台灣關係正常化的相關程序，並支持台灣參與所有的國際組織。

FAPA會長吳明基表示：「正當中國即將在下個月通過反分裂國家法之際，唐克多議員等人要求美國政府廢除一中政策，並以一中一台政策取而代之，這個決議案來得正是時候。反分裂國家的存在，突顯出美國一中政策的危險。因為如果當美國認知中國對台灣的主權時，正如現在模糊的一中政策所宣稱地，則一中政策本身藏著嚴重影響台灣安全的隱憂。

吳明基接著表示：「如果美國廢除一中政策，就表示美國不認同北京擁有對台灣主權，也就表示著美國絕不會容許北京對台灣有任何動武的舉動；如果是這樣，中國今天也就不會引進所謂的反分裂國家法來威脅台灣了。」

H.Con.Res.69

Photo Credit: Wally Gobetz (Flickr)

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Taiwanese American Organizations Call Upon White House To Refer To Taiwan As Taiwan And Nothing Else

June Lin — Thu, 08 May 2003 17:55:00 +0000

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – May 8, 2003
Contact: (202) 547-3686

Taiwanese American Organizations Call Upon White House To Refer To Taiwan As Taiwan And Nothing Else

In a May 8, letter to the White House, Taiwanese American organizations expressed their dismay about the occurrence on the front page of East Asia and the Pacific section of the State Department’s newly released 2002 Country Report on Human Rights of the reference to Taiwan as ‘China’ (Taiwan only.)

The letter states: Taiwan’s president, Mr. Chen Shui-bian, has repeatedly stated that Taiwan no longer maintains that there is only “One China.” In recent statements, he has been quite clear about the separate sovereignty of Taiwan. On August 3, 2002, he declared, “Taiwan is not a part of any other country, nor is it a local government or province of another country. Taiwan can never be another Hong Kong or Macau, because Taiwan has always been a sovereign state.”

The letter continues “there is no such thing as a “divided China” today, that Taiwan is not a province of China, and that thus Taiwan can not be referred to as “China (Taiwan only.)”

The letter concludes: “We ask that you consistently refer to Taiwan as “Taiwan” in the next Human Rights Report and your other publications”.

Ming-chi Wu, Ph.D., President of FAPA, states: “Taiwan is not part or province of China. Taiwan today is a sovereign nation and there is no dispute about its de facto independent status. It is high time that the rest of the world in general and the United States, in particular, accepts this reality.”

「台灣就是台灣」，台美人聯署致函布希總統

數個台美人社團於五月八日聯署致函布希總統，對於國務院日前公佈的2002年各國人權報告中，將台灣列為「中國（只限台灣）」，表達強烈的不滿。

在這封致布希總統的信函中表示，布希總統上任以來對台灣的友好與支持是有目共睹的，因此台美人對於國務院2002年度世界各國人權評估中將台灣標示為「中國（只限台灣）」，感到相當地驚訝。

台美人在信中接著表示：「陳水扁總統一再的表示台灣已經不再死守著過去的一個中國政策。陳水扁總統在近來諸多言論中清楚地表示台灣的主權地位。去年的八月三日，他更宣佈台灣不是任何國家的一部分，也不是一個地方政府或是任何一個國家的一省。台灣不是另一個香港或是澳門，因為台灣自始致終為一個主權國家。」

台美人在信中最後表示，今日很明顯地已經沒有所謂「一個分裂的中國」，台灣不是中國的一省，因此，台灣在國務院的報告中絕不應該被稱為「中國（只限台灣）。」

帶領台美人社團簽署此封信的台灣人公共事務會會長吳明基表示：「如果台灣不叫台灣，台灣關係法今天就不叫台灣關係法，這樣的道理非常地清楚。布希總統在擔任德州州長時曾訪問過台灣，我們相信，親身經歷使他清楚瞭解到台灣並不是中國的一部份。台美人希望布希總統能指示國務院修正報告，將『台灣與中國，一邊一國』的台海現狀真實反映在往後的相關報告甚或是政策執行上。」

Photo Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid (Wikimedia Commons)

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One China Policy Archives - Formosan Association for Public Affairs

Beyond Strategic Clarity: Biden Should Make Clear to Xi That Taiwan Is Not Part of China

By Chih-Jung Huang (黃致榮) | FAPA Policy Fellow

U.S. Longstanding Position on Taiwan’s “Undetermined” Status

Problems With the One China Policy

The Biden Administration Should Challenge China’s Claim over Taiwan

This article is first published in News Lens (2022/11/13)

U.S. Representatives Introduce Resolution Calling For U.S.-Taiwan Diplomatic Relations And End To U.S. “One China” Policy

For Immediate ReleaseWashington DC – April 10, 2013Contact: (202) 547-3686

U.S. Representatives Introduce Resolution Calling For U.S.-Taiwan Diplomatic Relations And End To U.S. “One China” Policy

美國聯邦眾議員提案呼籲美國重建與台灣外交關係並廢除一中政策

Photo Credit: CSUF Photos (Flickr)

FAPA Urges Secretary Kerry To Stand Up For Taiwan’s Interests During Beijing Visit

For Immediate ReleaseWashington DC – April 8, 2013Contact: (202) 547-3686

FAPA Urges Secretary Kerry To Stand Up For Taiwan’s Interests During Beijing Visit

台灣人公共事務會呼籲美國國務卿凱瑞於訪中行程中捍衛台灣利益

Letter to Secretary Kerry

Photo Credit: Official Website of Department of State

FAPA Urges U.S. Government To Protest China’s Continued Restriction Of Taiwan’s International Space

For Immediate ReleaseWashington DC – March 23, 2013Contact: (202) 547-3686

FAPA Urges U.S. Government To Protest China’s Continued Restriction Of Taiwan’s International Space

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

Photo Credit: NCinDC (Flickr)

U.S. Congressmen Introduce Bi-partisan Resolution Calling For U.S.-Taiwan Diplomatic Relations

For Immediate ReleaseWashington DC – May 8, 2012Contact: (202) 547-3686

U.S. Congressmen Introduce Bi-partisan Resolution Calling For U.S.-Taiwan Diplomatic Relations

美國眾議員跨黨派提案呼籲美台建交

Press Release from Rep. McCaul and Andrews

Photo Credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection (Flickr)

Resolution Calling For Diplomatic Recognition Of Taiwan And End To One China Policy Introduced In U.S. House Of Representatives

For Immediate ReleaseWashington DC – January 9, 2009Contact: (202) 547-3686

Resolution Calling For Diplomatic Recognition Of Taiwan And End To One China Policy Introduced In U.S. House Of Representatives

美國國會提出決議案呼籲美台建交，並應廢除一中政策

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

National Archives Shatters Beijing’s And KMT’s Claims

For Immediate ReleaseWashington DC – June 14, 2007Contact: (202) 547-3686

National Archives Shatters Beijing’s And KMT’s Claims

Photo Credit: EdBrown05 (Wikimedia Commons)

U.S. Representatives Introduce Legislation Calling For End To One China Policy

For Immediate ReleaseWashington DC – February 17, 2005Contact: (202) 547-3686

U.S. Representatives Introduce Legislation Calling For End To One China Policy

美眾議員提出決議案，呼籲揚棄一中政策，改採一中一台政策

Photo Credit: Wally Gobetz (Flickr)

Taiwanese American Organizations Call Upon White House To Refer To Taiwan As Taiwan And Nothing Else

For Immediate ReleaseWashington DC – May 8, 2003Contact: (202) 547-3686

Taiwanese American Organizations Call Upon White House To Refer To Taiwan As Taiwan And Nothing Else

Photo Credit: AgnosticPreachersKid (Wikimedia Commons)

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – April 10, 2013
Contact: (202) 547-3686

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – April 8, 2013
Contact: (202) 547-3686

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – March 23, 2013
Contact: (202) 547-3686

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – May 8, 2012
Contact: (202) 547-3686

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – January 9, 2009
Contact: (202) 547-3686

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – June 14, 2007
Contact: (202) 547-3686

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – February 17, 2005
Contact: (202) 547-3686

For Immediate Release
Washington DC – May 8, 2003
Contact: (202) 547-3686