Representatives from seven organizations representing Taiwanese-Americans presented around 9,000 letters to US President George W. Bush Wednesday urging him to support the March 20 referendum, in return receiving what one member of the delegation felt was a sense of "tacit support" for the referendum.
The group spent an hour with Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asia Randall Schriver delivering the letters, which were signed by US citizens of Taiwanese descent and their friends during a two-month signature campaign by the organizations, and discussing the referendum issue.
According to group members, Schriver agreed to deliver the letters to the White House and assured the group that the White House knew of the contents of the petition.
"I left with the impression that the referendum was enjoying tacit support by the US government," Bob Yang (
Schriver quoted a recent statement by Secretary of State Colin Powell as the definitive US policy toward the election, according to Yang. In that statement, delivered in answer to a question while addressing a Feb. 11 hearing of the House International Relations Committee, Powell said that Taiwan is a "democratic place," and "if they choose to have a referendum, they can have a referendum."
Powell also said the administration does not see the need for a referendum, and cautioned against actions to change the "situation" in the Taiwan Strait, although he did not use the phrase "status quo."
The most important message to come out of the group's meeting with Schriver is that the referendum was Taiwan's choice, Yang said.
The meeting also dwelt on US defense commitments to Taiwan. Yang quoted Schriver as saying that the commitment to provide defensive arms to Taipei is as strong as ever, although Washington is still concerned over Taiwan's lack of progress in committing funds to buy the weapons the US has promised.
In this, Schriver singled out the failure of the Legislative Yuan to approve adequate funds.
In the letter to Bush, dated Jan. 16, the signatories warned that US non-support for the referendum could have serious negative consequences for Taiwan and the region.
"It would be self-defeating for the US to pressure President Chen Shui-bian (
"President Chen's disappointed supporters could abstain from voting en masse to protest his betrayal of democracy. The electoral victory of the KMT-PFP pan-blue alliance will most likely result in Taiwan's capitulation to China within a couple of years."
"This will terminate our [America's] role as the guarantor of peace in East Asia and usher in seminal turmoil in the region," the letter said.
The letter urged Bush to reaffirm that the status of Taiwan must be settled peacefully with the assent of its people, and urges him to bolster the US military presence in the Western Pacific in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, and the Pentagon's own recommendations, "to deter Chinese military action against Taiwan."
In a press conference prior to the Schriver meeting, the group criticized Bush's statements after meeting last December with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (溫家寶).
Bush "seems to have sided with China when he met with Wen," said Formosan Association for Public Affairs vice president Chen Yen-sen, an opinion shared by other delegation members.
The group wants Bush to "make a more favorable comment regarding the referendum," said Milton Chen, president of the North American Taiwanese Professors' Association.
He also said Bush should make a statement urging China to withdraw the 500 missiles aimed at Taiwan.
Nora Tsai, president of the North American Taiwanese Women's Association, said "just a gesture" from Bush in favor of Taiwan "would say something."
Other delegates represented the Formosan Association for Human Rights, the Formosan Association for Public Relations, and the Taiwanese Association of America.
BAIL APPEALS: The former vice premier was ordered to be held incommunicado despite twice being granted bail and paying a total of NT$12 million in bond The Taoyuan District Court yesterday ordered the detention of former vice premier Cheng Wen-tsan (鄭文燦), who is being investigated for alleged corruption while serving as Taoyuan mayor from December 2014 to December 2022, and that he be held incommunicado. The court made the ruling during a bail hearing after prosecutors appealed its bail ruling twice. Cheng on Saturday was released after posting bail of NT$5 million (US$153,818). However, after prosecutors lodged an appeal, the High Court on Monday revoked the original ruling and ordered the Taoyuan District Court to hold another bail hearing. On Tuesday, the district court granted bail to Cheng a second
The Thai government on Friday announced that Taiwanese would be allowed to stay in the country for up to 60 days per entry, under the Southeast Asian country’s visa-free program starting from today. Taiwan is among 93 countries included in the Thai visa-waiver program, which has been expanded from 57 countries, with the visa-exempt entry extended from 30 to 60 days. After taking office last year, Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has vowed to grant more visa waivers to foreign travelers as part of efforts to stimulate tourism. The expanded visa-waiver program was on Friday signed by Thai Minister of the Interior Anutin
PEACE AND SECURITY: China’s military ambitions present ‘the greatest strategic challenge to Japan and the world, Japan’s annual defense white paper said yesterday Japan yesterday warned that China risked escalating tensions with Taiwan with an increase in military exercises that appeared aimed in part at readying Beijing’s forces for a possible invasion. Japan’s annual assessment of security threats, including those posed by China, North Korea and Russia, comes as Taiwan closely monitors Chinese People’s Liberation Army air and sea exercises, including one with the Shandong aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean. The drills are the latest in a series including maneuvers in the Taiwan Strait last year that a senior US general said would be key to any invasion. “Because of that increase in military activity,
HAN KUANG: The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers said The armed forces would for the first time test new rules of engagement (ROE) at this month’s annual Han Kuang exercises, the Ministry of National Defense (MND) said yesterday. The exercises, which are to run from July 22 to 26, will feature unscripted war games, and a decentralized command and control structure, military officers told a news conference in Taipei. ROE cards would be issued to select combat troops to test their ability to function without tight control, they said. The most recent edition of the rules was published last year, they said. One of the cards’ two templates identifies enemy targets that soldiers