Taiwanese-Americans Call upon President Obama to Stand by Taiwan during Xi Jinping Meeting
(Washington, D.C. – September 21st 2015) – In a letter dated, September 21st , 2015, Dr. Mark Kao, president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), a Taiwanese‑American grassroots organization that promotes freedom, human rights and democracy for the people in Taiwan, calls upon President Obama to stand by Taiwan during his upcoming meeting with President of China Xi Jinping.
Dr. Kao writes: “We understand that the United States needs to engage China. However, such engagement should not come at the expense of America’s core values – freedom, democracy and human rights, as embodied in the country of our birth, Taiwan.”
He urges President Obama “…to remind Mr. Xi 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. We also urge you to refrain from proffering U.S. respect for China’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” as China lays unjustified claims to sovereignty over Taiwan.”
Dr. Kao concludes: “To safeguard Taiwan is to embrace freedom, democracy and human rights. This is the best way to maintain peace and stability in Asia and is consistent with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.”
Meanwhile, On Friday, September 25th 2015, from noon – 2:00pm, a broad coalition of Tibetans, Uyghurs, Chinese human rights activists and Taiwanese Americans will hold a rally in front of the White House at Lafayette Square during Xi’s White House visit to protest Chinese repression in China, Tibet, and East Turkestan, and its aggressive stance against Taiwan.
台美人呼籲歐巴馬總統在與習近平會面時須支持台灣
台灣人公共事務會會長高龍榮博士於2015年9月21日致函美國總統歐巴馬，呼籲其在與中華人民共和國主席習近平會面時，務必與台灣站在同一陣線。台灣人公共事務會為一倡議台灣人民自由、人權，以及民主的草根性台美人組織。
高博士寫道：「我們了解美國需與中國交涉，然而，這種交涉不能以美國的核心價值，亦即體現於我們母國台灣的自由、民主，以及人權做為代價。」
高會長要求歐巴馬總統：「…提醒習近平先生，台灣的未來須以和平，並獲得台灣人民同意的方式決定，才符合美國的核心利益。中國對台灣主權的主張是錯誤的，因此，我們也要求您不可提出美國尊重中國的『主權及領土完整』這種說法。」
高博士總結道：「固守台灣就是擁抱自由、民主，以及人權，也是確保亞洲和平穩定的最佳方式。同時，這也符合1979年訂定的『台灣關係法』。」
另外，由圖博人、維吾爾人、中國人權運動人士，以及台美人所組成的連線，將於9月25日（星期五）中午十二時至下午二時，習近平訪問白宮時，在白宮前面的拉法葉廣場舉辦遊行，抗議中國政府在中國境內、圖博、東突厥斯坦等地進行的鎮壓，以及其對台灣所採取的侵略立場。
President Barack H. Obama Washington, September 21st 2015
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear President Obama,
As the president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), a Taiwanese‑American grassroots organization that promotes freedom, human rights and democracy for the people in Taiwan, I write to you today to relay to you the concerns of Taiwanese-Americans.
As you prepare to welcome China’s President Xi Jinping to the White House, we appeal to you to reaffirm America’s support for freedom, democracy and human rights in Taiwan.
We understand that the United States needs to engage China. However, such engagement should not come at the expense of America’s core values -‑ freedom, democracy and human rights, as embodied in the country of our birth, Taiwan.
As you know, the people of Taiwan have developed a vibrant democracy, and the country is now looking forward to presidential and legislative elections in January 2016, which will in all likelihood bring the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) to power.
During the past months, the PRC has threatened of “consequences” if the DPP wins. We believe this is an unwarranted interference in Taiwan’s internal affairs, and urge you to prevail on President Xi to accept Taiwan as a friendly neighbor and move towards normalization of relations with its democratically- elected government.
We ask that you remind Mr. Xi 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. We also urge you to refrain from proffering U.S. respect for China’s “sovereignty and territorial integrity” as China lays unjustified claims to sovereignty over Taiwan.
We also ask that you impress upon Mr. Xi that China dismantle its 1,600 missiles targeted at Taiwan and renounce the use of force against Taiwan. To safeguard Taiwan is to embrace freedom, democracy and human rights. This is the best way to maintain peace and stability in Asia and is consistent with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act.
Lastly, it is essential that China end Taiwan’s international political isolation. Taiwan is a peace‑loving country that is able and willing to carry out United Nations Charter obligations. Taiwan deserves an equal place in the international family of nations, and its people should be fully represented in international organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization and others.
Thank you, and we look forward to hearing from you on these matters that are so important to our Taiwanese-American community.
Thank you very much. Sincerely yours,
Mark Kao Ph.D.
President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs
