福爾摩沙基金會 Formosa Foundation
Our Mission
The Formosa Foundation dedicates itself to the advancement of human rights, democracy, and the right to self-determination of Taiwan. It is our commitment to foster better understanding and exchange of ideas between the United States and Taiwan through sustained educational and advocacy efforts. Our Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit entity based in Los Angeles, California, promotes and supports the Taiwanese people’s right to self-determination in keeping with our belief that all people have a fundamental right to be free.
Since our founding in 2001, we have set out to encourage the development of new dialogues, ideas, informed attitudes and policy options which will better safeguard the vital interests that the United States and Taiwan share. The Formosa Foundation supports peace, freedom and vibrant regional and global economic and cultural relations that are the foundation for long-term stability in East Asia.
The Foundation views tension in the Taiwan Straits as harmful to U.S. interests and considers the U. S. policy of “strategic ambiguity” towards defending Taiwan as an important contributor to such tensions. The U.S.’s continued embrace of the One China Policy, at the expense of Taiwan’s international recognition, only serves to further embolden China in its claim over Taiwan and further justify its military build-up.
Our mission of promoting the best interests of both the U.S. and Taiwan could not be clearer given the aftermath of post-911. While the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq diverts U.S. attention and resources, China’s influence in Asia and internationally grows dramatically. It is even more imperative for the U.S. to support, recognize, and leverage old friends like Taiwan, which shares the same democratic and human rights value system and can help counterbalance the growing influence of China in the region.
Taiwan is a true friend, a shining example of democracy and human rights, and an economic partner that the U.S. cannot afford to lose. That is why the U.S. “One China” policy, which actually increases the strategic threat of China against Taiwan, is not in the best interest of the U.S.
http://formosafoundation.org/index.php
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Dear Friends and Supporters of Formosa Foundation,
After more than 15 years of advocating for human rights, democracy, and strengthening of U.S.-Taiwan relations, Formosa Foundation has decided to wind down its operations at the end of 2016. On behalf of the Foundation and its board, I would like to first thank our founder and honorary chairman, Mr. Li-Pei Wu, for his ongoing financial and strategic support. Mr. Wu’s support and guidance throughout the Foundation’s existence has allowed us to leave a lasting legacy through the many programs conducted by the Foundation. I also wish to thank the Taiwanese American community, our advisors, program speakers, and many others who have partnered with the Foundation throughout the years.
Formosa Foundation was founded in 2001, shortly after the first peaceful transition of power in Taiwan. At that time, Mr. Wu and other early supporters started Formosa Foundation as a non-profit organization based in the United States to support Taiwan’s young democracy and to train the next generation of advocates for Taiwan. Since then, Formosa Foundation’s flagship program, the Ambassador Program, has trained more than [300] student ambassadors who advocated for Taiwan every summer through one of the most intensive advocacy training program, followed by a week of meetings with Congressional members and staff. The Ambassador Program has been recognized by many on the Capitol Hill as one of the best advocacy programs.
In 2005, Mr. Wu asked me to join the Foundation and to help expand the Ambassador Program to participants from Taiwan. Since then, more than 100 students from Taiwan has participated in the Ambassador Program, providing the young people of Taiwan unparalleled access to advocacy training, policy insights, and unique opportunities to share their experience with U.S. Congressional members and other policy makers. By working together throughout an intensive “advocacy boot camp”, participants from Taiwan and those from North America are also able to build lasting friendships and partnerships. Many Taiwanese alumni of the Ambassador Program went on to become strong advocates of democracy in Taiwan.
“The Formosa Foundation Ambassador Program has been a life changing milestone in my life. The passion of my fellow Ambassadors and everyone leading the program inspired me to pursue law and eventually a lifelong career in advocating for Taiwan. All the Ambassadors that have walked through the halls of Congress the last decade have been and will continue to be the foundation for Taiwan’s transformation for this generation.”
– Chieh-Ting Yeh, AP Class ‘2005
In addition to the Ambassador Program, the Foundation has held several conferences on U.S.-Taiwan relations, hosted public policy forums and roundtables, and helped promote awareness of Taiwanese history by working with Formosa Films and the producer of “Formosa Betrayed”, a Hollywood film founded and supported by the Taiwanese American community to help others better understand Taiwanese people’s struggle for democracy and self-determination.
Taiwan is now a mature democracy, and the Formosa Foundation’s work with both American and Taiwanese students has played a role in the consolidation of Taiwan’s democracy. Many former ambassadors went on to start new ventures and programs to advocate for Taiwan in different ways. For example, a former ambassador started “Strait Talk,” a program at Brown University aimed to foster cross-strait dialogues through working with students from the U.S., Taiwan, and China. In 2016, former ambassador (and program coordinator) Chieh-Ting Yeh started, with several other former ambassadors, Global Taiwan Institute, a public policy incubator aimed to enhance Taiwan’s relationship with other countries, especially of the United States.
In January 2016, Taiwan completed its third peaceful transition of power, when Dr. Tsai Ying-wen became the first woman to be elected President of Taiwan. I had a chance to witness the election from inside Dr. Tsai’s campaign headquarter, at the invitation of several former ambassadors who were part of her presidential campaign. Since Dr. Tsai’s inauguration as President of Taiwan, the Taiwanese government has been able to make several break-through in its relationship with the United States.
As a new generation in both Taiwan and in the U.S. takes up the mantle of advocacy for Taiwan, the board of directors, after consulting with Mr. Wu, has determined that the timing is right for the Formosa Foundation to close. As a 501(c)(3) organization, the Foundation is distributing its remaining assets to Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) to continue the work of advocating for Taiwan.
> Please see attached letter from FAPA President Mr. Peter Chen <
Again, I want to thank Mr. Wu, our current and former board members, our supporters and advisors, and our alumni for contributing to the Foundation’s success in the past 15 years. While Formosa Foundation, as a legal entity, is coming to an end, the mission and the legacy of the Foundation will carry on through your continued effort to advance democracy in Taiwan and its recognition by the international community.
Sincerely yours,
Enoch Chang
Chair, Formosa Foundation, 2007-2016
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