LET TAIWAN BE TAIWAN

Statement read by FAPA president Wen-yen Chen, on behalf of the Coalition for Taiwan Sovereignty

Washington, D.C. April 8, 1999

Whereas Taiwan

• has a defined territory ·
• is populated by 22 million freedom-loving Taiwanese
• is governed by a democracy with a freely-elected president
• has a vibrant economy
• contributes generously to world charity and peace causes
• has never been ruled for even a single day by the People's Republic of China.

Whereas China

• remains the largest Communist country in the world
• sustains the most unrepentant totalitarian regime on this earth
• abuses the human rights of its own people
• oppresses religious freedom
• continues its brutal occupation of Tibet
• exports nuclear technology to Iraq and Pakistan
• attempts illegal takeover of the Spratly Islands in the western Pacific
• perpetrates imperial territorial claims over Taiwan
• tried to undermine the 1996 Taiwanese presidential election
• now aims many of its missiles at Taiwan
• constantly threatens the use of force against Taiwan
• pilfers American rocket technology
• steals atomic secrets from the United States
• engages in espionage against American defense establishment
• conducts unfair trade practices resulting in huge U.S. deficits.

Therefore we call on President Clinton and the U.S. government to

• insist on the release of jailed Chinese dissidents.
• urge substantive negotiations between Tibet and China.
• demand Chinese renunciation of the use of force against Taiwan.
• promote Taiwan's entry into world organizations, including WTO, WHO and the U.N.
• extend the theater missile defense umbrella to Taiwan.
• uphold American ideals of freedom and democracy and let the 22 million people of Taiwan determine their own future.