Dear Mrs. Jenny Shipley,

Taiwan as a state is founded on the principles not to oppress the undefended, nor fear the aggressive. More particularly, it is not willing to violate poets or break faith and thus destroy the righteous principles governing the relations of mankind.

TAIPEI, Sep. 11 ---
New Zealand has apologized to the Taiwan delegation at the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum following a verbal clash between Taiwan and mainland China at a news conference on Friday in Auckland. ROC Foreign Affairs Minister Jason Hu said yesterday.

Mainland Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan's attitude at the APEC press conference fully demonstrated Beijing's hegemonic mentality against Taipei, and cast a sour note over the event, according to Hu.

Republic of China Economics Minister Wang Chih-kang said yesterday that Taiwan does not accept mainland China's description of Taiwan as only a separate customs territory.

Following a verbal clash a day earlier at a press conference following the end of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum ministerial meeting in Auckland with mainland Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan, he also dismissed a mainland demand that Taiwan's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) must come mainland China's.

Wang pointed out that Taiwan has been striving for WTO accession for ten years with measures such as tax reductions, lifting of tariff and non-tariff barriers, and intellectual property rights protection measures.

Hu said he received information immediately after the incident occurred, and swiftly instructed Foreign Ministry officials to contact Wang and suggests that he lodge a protest to the host country.

"We cannot accept such a result and we believe that most of the countries should have also made a judgement of the situation," the foreign minister said, noting that New Zealand made an apology to the ROC delegation following the press conference.

At the Friday news conference which marked the end of the APEC two-day ministerial meeting, New Zealand Foreign Minister Don McKinnon attempted twice to prevent Taiwan reporters from raising questions related to the island's bid to join the World Trade Organization, saying: "I am just going to say I have attended now nine APEC meetings, they are becoming more and more dominated in the press conference by journalists from Chinese Taipei."

McKinnon did not allow ROC Economic Affairs Minister Wang Chih-kang to answer related questions, but instead allowed Tang to answer a question posed by a mainland Chinese journalist.

However, Tang answered the question Wang had been refused permission to answer, claiming to "correct ignorance on history," and asserting that Taiwan cannot join an international organization such as the WTO as a separate state because it is "part of China."

Wang then refuted Tang, pointing out that Taiwan has been seeking WTO membership for more than 10 years and that "our application is independent, separate from other economies." Tang responded in answer to another reporter by insisting that Taiwan's accession to the WTO must come after mainland China's.

The spate between Taipei and Beijing led McKinnon to end the new conference earlier than scheduled, saying that the other ministers present had to leave.

Communist China is stronger than before, if China follows at the heels of the nationalistic and militaristic nations, China's ascendancy to power, would not only be useless, but harmful to humanity.

The only glorious and honorable path for us to pursue is to maintain in full force the old policy of "helping the weak and curbing the strong."

This is the dream of Taiwanese people ... Taiwan ought to decide at this hour what is to be the fundamental policy for which the nation is to stand and where our hope and our greatness lie. When the days of our prosperity come, we must not forget the pain and misery which we are now suffering from the pressure of military and political forces of powers. When our country becomes powerful, we should assume the responsibility of delivering those nations which suffer in the same way as we do now.

Taiwan should use its old moral values and love of peace as the foundation of national reconstruction, and look forward to the day when we shall becomes a member of U.N. that reconstruct in the lines of international justice and good will.

Any country could believe Taiwan more than communist China. In a democratic and free society like ours, a policy is bound to fail which deliberately violates our pledge and our principles, our treaties and our laws. It is not possible for a free and open society to organize successfully a spectacular.

Would you please let Taiwan more voice? Instead of missile threat that Beijing's way of blackmail.

Taiwan needs your help.