US REPRESENTATIVES URGE AMBASSADOR HALEY TO PRESS CHINA TO STOP BLOCKING TAIWAN TOURISTS FROM ENTERING THE UN BUILDING IN NEW YORK

美眾議員敦促美國駐聯合國大使海利應施壓中國停止阻撓台灣遊客進入紐約聯合國總部大樓

Photo Credit: Wally Gobetz (Flickr)

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U.S. Representative Introduces “UN for Taiwan” Legislation

In light of the opening of the annual General Assembly session in New York on Tuesday, September 15, U.S. Representative Scott Garrett (R-NJ) introduced H.Con.Res.76 on September 9 concluding “That it is the sense of Congress that Taiwan and its people deserve membership in the United Nations.”

The resolution quotes from the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act stating: “Nothing in this Act may be construed as a basis for supporting the exclusion or expulsion of Taiwan from continued membership in any international financial institution or any other international organization.”

It also lauds the “close relationship that has existed for the past 50 years between the United States and Taiwan, which has been of major economic, cultural, and strategic advantage to both countries” and emphasizes Taiwan’s long time desire to join the United Nations.

FAPA President Mark Kao, Ph.D. states: “Taiwan is an independent country that fulfills all conditions for statehood:  a permanent population, a defined territory, government, and capacity to enter into relations with other states.There are no legal obstacles for Taiwan to join the UN, just one political obstacle: the People’s Republic of China. The PRC opposes Taiwan’s membership in the UN for such membership would constitute international recognition of the reality that Taiwan is an independent country. The time is now for the international community to form a coalition to jointly stand up against China and support Taiwan’s entry into the UN.”

Dr. Kao concludes:  “This coming Saturday September 12, Taiwanese Americans will gather on New York’s Times Square to rally in support of Taiwan’s membership in the UN.”

美眾議員提案支持台灣加入聯合國

為因應9月15日於紐約開幕的年度聯合國大會，紐澤西州共和黨議員蓋瑞（Scott Garrett）於眾議院提出編號H.C.R.76的法案。此法案主要內容為表達「美國國會認同台灣及其人民有權享有聯合國會員身分」的支持。

本決議案引述一九七九年台灣關係法之條文：「本法律任何條款均不得被解釋為，美國贊成把臺灣排除或驅逐出任何國際金融機構或其他國際組織。」

該決議案更進一步強調「美國與台灣過去五十年來的緊密關係，對兩國在經濟、文化及戰略方面，均有相當助益」，並強調台灣長久以來期望加入聯合國的意願。

台 灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士指出：「台灣是個獨立國家，符合國家需要的所有條件，包括固定的人口、既定的國界、政府，以及與其他國家發展關係的能力。台 灣加入聯合國沒有任何法律障礙，只有一項政治攔阻－中華人民共和國。中國反對台灣加入聯合國，因為若台灣成功加入聯合國，將意味著國際間認同台灣為一獨立 國家。現在便是國際社會共同反制中國，支持台灣加入聯合國的最佳時機。」

高博士總結道：「台美人將於本週六（9月12日）在紐約的時代廣場發起遊行，支持台灣加入聯合國。」

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore (Flickr)

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U.S. Representatives Introduce “UN for Taiwan” Legislation

On, September 17, 2013, the very day that the United Nations opened its annual General Assembly session in New York, Representatives Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Joe Barton (R-TX) and Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX) introduced a resolution (H.Con.Res.55) concluding “That it is the sense of Congress that Taiwan and its 23,000,000 people deserve membership in the United Nations.”

The resolution quotes from the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act stating: “Nothing in this Act may be construed as a basis for supporting the exclusion or expulsion of Taiwan from continued membership in any international financial institution or any other international organization.”

It also lauds the “close relationship that has existed for the past 50 years between the United States and Taiwan, which has been of major economic, cultural, and strategic advantage to both countries” and emphasizes Taiwan’s long time desire to join the United Nations.

FAPA President Mark. Kao, Ph.D. states: “”his legislation sends 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 full and equal membership in international organizations such as the UN should be based on how Taiwan can contribute to and benefit from international organizations – not on Chinese attempts to annex Taiwan.”

Dr. Kao concludes: “The Chinese leadership should stop obstructing Taiwan from playing its natural and necessary role in meeting global challenges by joining international organizations. When an international outcry in support of UN membership for Taiwan is strong enough, Beijing will back down. Such pressure needs to and will continue.”

美眾議員提台灣加入聯合國議案

於二零一三年九月十七日，在紐約的聯合國年度大會所召開的日子，紐澤西州共和黨眾議員蓋瑞(Scott Garret)、德州共和黨眾議員巴頓(Joe Barton)及強森(Eddie Bernice Johnson)提出了第55號決議案指出「國會認為台灣以及其兩千三百萬人民應成為聯合國的會員。」

該決議案更進一步強調「美國與台灣過去五十年來的緊密關係，對兩國在經濟、文化及戰略方面，均有相當助益。」並強調台灣長久以來期望加入聯合國的意願。

本決議案引述一九七九年台灣關係法之條文，「本法律任何條款均不得被解釋為，美國贊成把臺灣排除或驅逐出任何國際金融機構或其他國際組織。」

台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士指出：「本決議案對聯合國及其會員國釋出了一項訊息，即聯合國應立即敞開讓台灣加入的大門，並也同時向美政府表示，台灣對國際組織的參與，應立基於其對此些組織的貢獻與獲益，而非以中國對台灣的杯葛作為主要考量。」

高博士表示：「中國的領導階層應停止阻礙台灣加入國際性組織，使台灣扮演其對國際社會的必要且自然角色。一但國際上支持台灣加入聯合國的聲音夠大，北京方面便得退一步，也因此我們必須對北京不斷的施壓。」

Photo Credit: Wally Gobetz (Flickr)

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U.S. Representatives Introduce UN-for-Taiwan Resolution

U.S. Representatives introduce UN-for-Taiwan resolution as UN General Assembly convenes for annual session.

On September 14th 2010 — the same day the annual session of the General Assembly of the United Nations kicked off in New York — Representatives Scott Garrett (R-NJ), John Duncan (R-TN), Mike Coffman (R-CO) and Walter Jones (R-NC) introduced Congressional resolution HCR316 calling for Taiwan’s full membership in the United Nations. The resolution concludes that “it is the sense of the Congress that Taiwan and its 23,000,000 people deserve membership in the United Nations”.

Over the years, several resolutions in support of full UN membership for Taiwan have been introduced in and passed by the United States Congress. Congressman Garrett himself introduced HCR250 in the previous 110th Congress.

Other resolutions in support of meaningful participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization have been introduced and passed by Congress as well.

Rep. Garrett states: “The people of Taiwan and their freely elected government continue to be ignored by the United Nations. […] Not only is this continued ignorance clearly counter to the lofty goals of the United Nations, it is also dangerous. Because of Taiwan’s difficulties in gaining recognition with the world body, they have been excluded from many of the World Health Organization’s structures to prevent the international spread of disease.”

In response to the introduction, FAPA President Professor Bob Yang, stated: “We warmly welcome Congressman’s Garrett’s initiative. It is important that this message from the U.S. Congress is sent out to the world today that the 23 million people of Taiwan are left out of the family of nations. The fact that the resolution is introduced on the same day the UN General Assembly opens its annual session is very symbolic.”

Dr. Yang continued: “We want to remind the international community that Taiwan’s membership in the UN is not only to the benefit of the people of Taiwan, but that Taiwan is ready, willing, able and anxious to fully contribute to the United Nations and the international community as well.”

Dr. Yang concluded: “Taiwan’s full and equal membership in the United Nations and other international organizations is long overdue. The rationale of the world community in 1971 was that they were righting one wrong in giving China a seat in the United Nations. Now it is time to right the wrong created at that time, namely the U.N. disenfranchisement of Taiwan’s citizens.”

Text of “Dear Colleague” letter

September 14, 2010

Support Taiwan’s Admission to the United Nations
The Taiwanese People Remain Unrepresented in the World Body

Dear Colleague:

The people of Taiwan and their freely elected government continue to be ignored by the United Nations. The world body continues to pretend that the unelected communist government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) truly represents the interests of the 23 million people living in Taiwan.

Not only is this continued ignorance clearly counter to the lofty goals of the United Nations, it is also dangerous. Because of Taiwan’s difficulties in gaining recognition with the world body, they have been excluded from many of the World Health Organization’s structures to prevent the international spread of disease. Several years ago, the PRC waited 10 days before sending along an important WHO alert. Clearly, mainland China is not looking out for the health and welfare of those living in Taiwan.

Taiwan is the only democratically-governed nation in the world who is not represented in the United Nations. Taiwan is not asking to represent all of China in the UN or to control the Chinese seat on the Security Council. It is only fitting that 23 million people who freely elect their own government should have one vote in the General Assembly of the United Nations.

We, the democratically elected legislators of the United States should stand up for our counterparts in Taiwan. Please consider cosponsoring the attached resolution which calls for our nation to work toward a proper recognition of Taiwan in the world body. To cosponsor or for more information please contact etc…

Sincerely,

Scott Garrett
Member of Congress

Photo Credit: 阿仁(Wikipedia Commons)

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Representatives Urge President Bush To Support Taiwan Referendum

On March 19, 2008, Reps. Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), John Linder (R-GA) and Scott Garrett (R-NJ) wrote a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice stating: “On March 22 Taiwan will hold a referendum on whether to join the United Nations under the name “Taiwan.” We strongly urge the United States to support the referendum.”

The Members continue: “The Taiwanese people have the right, as all people do, to self determination.” And  “For too long Taiwan has stood its ground as a bulwark of democracy against the encroaching aspirations of an authoritarian communist regime.  We should not condemn or oppose the dreams of those who want only to remain free and take their place in the international community.”

They conclude: ” I hope that you will support democracy in Taiwan by SUPPORTING the Taiwanese people on the eve of their referendum.”  (Note: Capitals)

FAPA President Bob Yang, PhD, states: “The weakness of U.S. policy versus China is that we abandon our principles for economic benefits. Our foreign policy must not be based on trying to avoid making China angry. That would be tantamount to giving them veto power over our actions. The U.S. should encourage Taiwan’s referendum.”

Dr. Yang concludes: “The people of Taiwan should be proud that they are able to vote! We therefore urge all Taiwanese to go out and vote on the 22nd.”

Photo Credit: White House photo by Eric Draper

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Taiwan Caucus Co-Chairs Express Dismay About Administration’s Opposition To Taiwan’s Referendum Plans

In a letter to President Bush dated March 5, 2008 three co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus urge the President to “remain silent on [Taiwan’s UN referendum] for the remainder of the ongoing presidential election campaign in Taiwan.  The US should not be perceived as taking sides, and should let the democratic process in Taiwan run its course.”

Reps. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Steve Chabot (R-OH) state: “We are […] disturbed by the fact that over the last few months of 2007, several senior officials of your Administration made statements in which they expressed opposition to Taiwan’s planned referendum, calling it ‘provocative’ and ‘a mistake’.”

They conclude: “Only by standing firmly with democratic Taiwan will we uphold our principles in promoting freedom worldwide.”

FAPA President Bob Yang, PhD, states: “The 23 million people of Taiwan have a right to hold such a referendum. And clearly, Taiwan’s Referendum is not a ‘provocation’, except to those who view it through China’s lenses. Referendum is a peaceful exercise of the purest form of democracy as seen in many countries around the world. We therefore urge every eligible voter in Taiwan to participate in this important democratic exercise.”

眾議院台灣連線主席對美行政部門反對台灣入聯公投深表失望

眾議院台灣連線主席於上週(5日)聯署致函布希總統，呼籲布希總統不要就台灣即將舉行的入聯公投表示任何反對意見。他們在信中表示：「美國不應該被視為選邊站，應該讓民主程序順其自然地發展。」

柏克麗、羅拉巴克與夏波議員表示：「對於去年年底數位行政部門數位官員一再強烈反對台灣的入聯公投，宣稱此舉挑釁並是一個錯誤，我們感到困擾。」「只有堅定地與民主的台灣站在一起，我們才能謹守（美國）提倡世界自由的原則。」

FAPA會長楊英育表示：「台灣兩千三百萬人民有權利舉行公投。只有透過中國的菱鏡來看，才會認為此舉是挑釁的行為；世界各國早已舉行過無數次公民投票，因為這是民主體制中最基本的一個表彰。我們誠摯呼籲台灣的選民能支持這個重要的民主程序。」

Photo Credit: April Brady/Project on Middle East Democracy (Flickr)

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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。」

Photo Credit: 阿仁(Wikipedia Commons)

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FAPA writes Deputy Secretary Negroponte, urging support for Taiwan entry into the UN

On August 30th 2007, the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) sent a letter to US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte, urging the US Administration to make it clear that the US does support a free and democratic Taiwan, and help it to join all international organizations, including the UN.  The Association added “Not doing so will be a grave mistake.”

The Association’s letter was in response to Mr. Negroponte’s remarks to Phoenix Television in Honk Kong on Monday, August 27^th 2007.  FAPA wrote that it appreciated Mr. Negroponte’s statement that the US is committed to the defense of Taiwan through the Taiwan Relations Act, but that it took issue with the Bush Administration’s opposition to the proposed referendum on joining the United Nations under the name “Taiwan.”

FAPA emphasized that the proposed referendum “..underlines the popular desire of the people in Taiwan to be a full and equal member in the international community.  It is also designed to counter China’s – quite successful – strategy of isolating Taiwan internationally.”

FAPA wrote Mr. Negroponte that “By stating the American position in this fashion, the US Administration is playing into China’s cards and is angering and frustrating those in Taiwan who have worked long and hard to achieve democracy on the island.  The US is playing into China’s cards, because the Beijing authorities are manipulating the US Administration to do their bidding.”

FAPA stated that “Taiwan has changed from being a repressive KMT fiefdom in the 1970s to a full-fledged democracy of world citizens.”  It added:  “US policy has not kept up with that sea change and still maintains an outdated “One China” framework dating back to the 1970s.”

The Association concluded: “As citizens of the US, we expect our government to support democracy around the world, and in the land of our birth in particular.  We believe that the US needs to nurture that democracy, but the statements coming out of the State Department have the effect of stifling it.”

FAPA is a grassroots organization of Taiwanese-Americans.  It was established in 1982, is headquartered in Washington, and has 56 chapters across the United States.

Full Text of the Letter

The Honorable John Negroponte
Deputy U.S. Secretary of State
Washington, D.C. 20520                                            

Dear Mr. Negroponte,

As American citizens of Taiwanese descent, we would like to express our views on your August 27^th statement to Phoenix Television in Hong Kong.

While we highly appreciate your statement that the US is committed to the defense of Taiwan through the Taiwan Relations Act, and your emphasis on the friendship between Taiwan and the United States, we take strong issue with your opposition to the proposed referendum regarding joining the United Nations under the name “Taiwan.”

We may emphasize that the proposed referendum underlines the popular desire of the people in Taiwan to be a full and equal member in the international community.  It is also designed to counter China’s – quite successful – strategy of isolating Taiwan internationally.

By stating the American position in this fashion, the US Administration is playing into China’s cards and is angering and frustrating those in Taiwan who have worked long and hard to achieve democracy on the island.  The US is playing into China’s cards, because the Beijing authorities are manipulating the US Administration to do their bidding: as democracy in Taiwan is growing and deepening, they have less influence over Taiwan.  Their tactic is clearly to scare the US into restraining Taiwan’s democracy – and, judging by your words and actions, they seem to be succeeding.

By making statements like this, the US Administration is also deeply disappointing those who worked for many decades to bring about democracy to Taiwan.  The leadership of the DPP – like President Chen – had to sacrifice much to make the transition to democracy happen.  You may know that President Chen’s wife is in a wheelchair.  President Chen and others in the leadership were imprisoned for their political belief in freedom and democracy under the former repressive Kuomintang regime.

So when the DPP gained power in 2000, they expected that the United States and other Western nations would welcome this new and fragile democracy with open arms.  Instead, they were sidelined, ignored, and neglected by the US Administration, operating under anachronistic “One China” policy guidelines.

“Taiwan” has changed from being a repressive KMT fiefdom in the 1970s to a full-fledged democracy of world citizens, who want to be a full and equal member of the international community.  US policy has not kept up with that sea change and still maintains an outdated “One China” framework dating back to the 1970s.

As citizens of the US, we expect our government to support democracy around the world, and in the land of our birth in particular.  We believe that the US needs to nurture that democracy, but the statements coming out of the State Department have the effect of stifling it.

Membership in the UN is an important issue for the people in Taiwan, and it would greatly benefit the international community if it could get a good sense of how the Taiwanese people view this issue.  It would even be a good example for the Chinese to see how democracy works.

We therefore urge you strongly to make it clear that the US does support a free and democratic Taiwan, and that it is US policy to bring Taiwan out of the isolation imposed on it by a totalitarian regime, and help it to join all international organizations, including the UN.  Not doing so will be a grave mistake.

Sincerely,

C.T. Lee M.D.
President
cc. Mr. Stephen Hadley, NSC

Photo Credit: Wally Gobetz (Flickr)

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