History of the Taiwanese Association of America –New York Chapter

Edited by the Taiwanese Association of America – New York Chapter

Beginning in the 1960s, Taiwanese students living on the East Coast began gathering together and formed the “East Coast Formosan Club.” This organization was the predecessor to the “East Coast Taiwanese Association,” but at the time it was still not fully formed. “East Coast Taiwanese Association” was a name that was decided upon later. The Formosan club was centered in New York, and each year, it would throw a large party on the weekend before or after Christmas. Most Taiwanese living in the East Coast rushed to participate in this event and socialize with one another. Many people wanted to get to know others through this party, and there were a number of couples who ended up marrying thanks to these events. Many people who now have children in their thirties attended these parties in the past.

Gatherings of overseas Taiwanese students in New York were usually held at the International House (I House) and Riverside Church near Columbia. They chose this location because, at the time, American Civil Rights Movement had not begun yet, and so American society was still quite conservative and close-minded. Thus, ethnic customs and people of different colors were only accepted in college areas. Therefore, many international students also lived in the nearby neighborhood. During this time, the rise of the Taiwanese consciousness was also quietly unfolding.

The Formosan Club itself was just a social club and did not emphasize any specific political views. However, when the overseas students gathered together and looked at America’s democratic politics, they naturally began thinking about their homeland. Inevitably, thoughts and discussions about advocating Taiwanese consciousness began to spread amongst the overseas students. Slowly, the Formosan Club became a political group. Attacks and slander coming from the then-Taiwanese government and other interested minority groups had the opposite effect of causing overseas Taiwanese students to actively embark on the path towards the overseas Taiwanese movement.

The term “Taiwanese Association” came into widespread use later. In addition to New York, Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and a number of other larger cities all created Taiwanese Associations, but New York, as the birthplace, remained the leader in organizing activities. On June 1^st, 1970, the East Coast Taiwanese Association. The Chicago Taiwanese Association, and the Los Angeles Taiwanese Association merged to form the “Taiwanese Association of America,” which was registered in Washington under the name “Formosan Club of America, Inc.” During the establishment of this organization, the East Coast Taiwanese Association was reorganized as the New York Chapter of the Taiwanese Association of America. The Boston, Connecticut, Ithaca, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. branches of the East Coast Taiwanese Association were also reorganized as chapters of the Taiwanese Association of America.

That era was time of grief, anger, and passion. The international situation had changed, Taiwan had been forced to leave the United Nations, and the United States established diplomatic relations with the Chinese Communist Party. With New York located in the center of the international political arena, Taiwanese Association members fully participated in various related activities. In 1978, when the UN General Assembly was held in New York, nearly 2,000 people gathered together to protest. The following year, another event was held in Washington D.C. In 1975, the second annual meeting of the World Federation of Taiwanese Associations was held in New York.

The Association’s activities gradually moved from being hosted at the International House to Hunter College High School in 1973-1974. In 1975, the Association moved to Senator Robert Wagner High School. For the next ten years, the Association’s activities continued to be lively, but experienced little change. Political programs attracted the most attendees, and these kinds of events had the greatest number of participants and enthusiasm. Starting in the 80s with the revision of the U.S.’s immigration laws, Taiwanese who weren’t students poured into the country. At the time. The Association also moved the location of its activities away from Manhattan where the students had lived to Queens, and especially the Flushing district, where people lived and worked. After the Taiwan Center was established, it became the activity center for the Taiwanese Association and a number of other groups.

In recent years, Taiwan has opened up in its politics and other various aspects, but the Taiwanese Association still speaks for Taiwan on the international stage that is the city of New York. The Taiwanese Association abides by the following principles:

Contact other Taiwanese to promote cooperation and maintain the welfare of Taiwanese Americans
Care for Taiwan, safeguarding the human rights and interests of the Taiwanese people
Promote Taiwanese culture and cultural exchanges between Taiwan and the United States.

The Taiwanese Association of America – New York Chapter is not just a sign of New York’s Taiwanese population; it is an unshakeable fortress for the Taiwanese community in New York!!