April 6, 1999

Taiwan is at a crossroads. During the past decade, the people on the island of Taiwan, with the support of the overseas Taiwanese community, have transformed the island from a repressive one-party dictatorship to a blossoming multi-party democracy.
In spite of this progress, Taiwan has not been accepted yet by the international community as a full and equal member. China continues to block its membership in international organizations, and threatens to attack if the island moves further in the direction of de jure independence.
In 1995-1996, during the run-up to the first direct presidential elections in Taiwan, the Communist Chinese militarily threatened Taiwan and launched missiles at the island, which finally prompted the Clinton administration -- after a considerable delay -- -to take action and send two aircraft carriers to the area.
In mid-1998, during his visit to China, Mr. Clinton went significantly beyond the careful ambiguity of earlier U.S. formulations, and pronounced the so-called "Three no's". no support for "Two Chinas" or "One China, One Taiwan", no support for an independent Taiwan, and no support for Taiwan's membership of any organization "for which statehood is a requirement''
Mr. Clinton's statements regarding Taiwan were subsequently rejected by the Congress and repudiated by almost unanimous votes in the U.S. House and Senate. They were also criticized by numerous commentaries in virtually all major U.S. publications. Still, they were a slap in the face of Taiwan's democratic movement, which has worked for more than four decades for self-determination, independence, and acceptance of Taiwan in the international community.
The next several years will be of crucial importance to the fixture of the island. At the end of 1998, elections for 225 seats in the Legislative Yuan (Taiwan's parliament) and the mayorships of Taipei and Kaohsiung were held. They showed that democracy is now firmly entrenched in Taiwan. Just over a year later, in March 2000, presidential elections will be held. At that time, the DPP may win the presidency.
At this critical juncture, we as Taiwanese citizens of the world, appeal to the international community -- and in particular to the United States, Canada and other nations that profess to adhere to democratic principles -- to:

1. Affirm that the people of Taiwan have the right to determine their own future under the principle of self-determination as enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations;

2. Urge China to renounce the use of force and accept Taiwan as a friendly neighboring state instead of perpetuating the hostility and rivalry dating from the Chinese Civil
War which they fought against the Kuomintang five decades ago; and

3. Accept Taiwan as a full and equal member of the international family of nations, including the United Nations.

LET TAIWAN BE TAIWAN

Statement of the Coalition for Taiwan Sovereignty
Washington, D.C.
April 8, 1999
Whereas Taiwan
* has a defined territory
* is populated by 22 million peace-loving Taiwanese
* is governed by a democracy with a freely-elected president
* has a vibrant economy
* contributes generously to international 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 l996 Taiwanese presidential election
* now aims many of its missiles at Taiwan
* constantly threatens the use of force against Taiwan
* sought to corrupt the 1996 U.S. presidential election
* 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 the American values of freedom and democracy and let the 22 million people of Taiwan determine their own future.

For additional information, please contact:
Dr. Wen-Yen Chen, President, Formosan Association for Public Affairs at (202) 547-3686