Jan. 22, 2000 --- Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Trent Lott, Jesse Helms, Patrick J. Leahy, Edward M. Kennedy, Dianne Feinstein, Orrin G. Hatch, George W. Bush
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Taiwan Tati Cultural
And Educational Foundation
B16F, No.3 Ta-Tun 2St.
Taichung, Taiwan, ROC
January 22, 2000.

Dear Mr. President Bill Clinton,
   Mr. Vice President Al Gore,
   Mr. Trent Lott,
   Mr. Senator Jesse Helms,
   Mr. Patrick J. Leahy,
   Mr. Edward M. Kennedy,
   Mr. Dianne Feinstein,
   Mr. Orrin G. Hatch,
   Mr. George W. Bush,

The United States prides itself for its democracy, human rights, and justice. Yet on the Taiwan issue, the United States has conducted itself unjustly.

For instance, bowing to pressure from China. The U.S. government refused to allow President Lee Teng-hui to enter the United States, thus depriving President Lee the opportunity to personally explain Taiwan’s two-states formula to U.S. politicians. As a result, the President will have to explain the nature of the two states formula to the U.S. politicians through video tape on January 20.

Indeed, what an irony it is for the United States, a country that values democracy and freedom of speech so much.

DDP Presidential candidate Chen Shui-bian said Jan. 18, 2000, Taiwan’s security is not only Taiwan’s business. “Japan and the United States also share grave concerns on this issue. If elected, Chen said, he will work forcibly on internationalizing the “Taiwan question.”

On religious issues, the government-in-exile of the Dalai Lama has said it will not approve the enthronement under Beijing’s auspices of a 2-year-old boy as an important “living Buddha” in the Tibetan religion.

On political issues, immediately after President Lee’s “nation-to-nation relations” remarks. Beijing launched an intimidation campaign against Taiwan. Chinese officials accused Taiwan of steering towards a “monumental disaster” and even warned the island will face “calamity.”

Across the Pacific, some U.S. academics echoed the Chinese assertion that Mr. Lee’s statements were “provocative”, various other American officials, civil and military, have joined the confused chorus, attacking Taiwan’s leadership on and off the record as if he was the one fomenting war.

On the country, President Lee simply stated, the basic fact that Taiwan and China are two separate states, and that they should coexist in peace next to each other. According to a survey, more than 77% of Taiwanese stood behind President Lee’s statement.

In the course to seek international recognition of its de facto sovereignty, Taiwan has never been “provocative”.

As the Boston Herald said in an editorial on 14 July 1999: “There is nothing provocative in a recognition of reality.”

For the last words, Taiwan needs your help. That following the justice of U.S. spirits.

 

Yours Sincerely,

Yang Hsu-Tung.
President
Taiwan Tati Cultural
And Educational Foundation

 

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