C.T. Lee (李青泰), former president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), passed away on Jan. 9 at the age of 82, the association announced today.
Lee served as the association’s national president from 2006 to 2007, during which time he promoted the normalization of US-Taiwan relations and increasing US support for Taiwan, FAPA said in a statement.
In an interview with the Taipei Times in 2007, he called for lifting restrictions on high-level visits between Taiwan and the US and Taiwan’s entry into international organizations such as the UN.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
“FAPA's standpoint on Taiwan's independence is that Taiwan is already a ‘de facto’ nation, but it has not yet been recognized by the international community,” Lee said at the time.
“C.T.’s unwavering dedication and tireless advocacy have left a lasting impact on the movement for Taiwan’s independence and international recognition,” the statement said.
During his time as a member of the organization advocating for Taiwanese self-determination, Lee secured support from lawmakers in the state of Ohio who have gone on to support pro-Taiwan legislation, the statement said.
The statement named former US senator Rob Portman, former congressman Steve Stivers and former congressman Steve Chabot as politicians who Lee engaged with.
Lee connected with Chabot in 1994, who then became a major ally of Taiwan within Congress, the statement said.
Chabot went on to sponsor or cosponsor “nearly every pro-Taiwan legislative effort,” it added.
Chabot’s list of supported initiatives includes the 2018 Taiwan Travel Act, which allows for high-level visits between officials in both countries, and a concurrent resolution in 2016 that reaffirmed US commitment for Taiwan, the statement said.
The 2018 law was “a historic achievement for FAPA,” it added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who cosponsored the 2016 concurrent resolution with Chabot, said during his confirmation hearing last month that US support for Taiwan remains based on the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 and the “six assurances” of 1982, the statement added.
“We reflect on one deep regret: he did not live to see the fulfillment of our shared dream,” the statement said, adding a promise to “carry his torch forward and continue the fight.”
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