That's What Friends Are For!

The Republic of China had been an ally of the United States since World War 2, keeping the Japanese troops occupied for several years before the United States joined the Allied effort. During the 1960s and 1970s, the Nationalist government successfully developed the economy of Taiwan, which Western economists branded one of the Four Asian Tigers. It exported many products to the United States, which increased the standard of living in our country. The Republic of China was also instrumental in the American war effort during the Cold War in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars as a stalwart against the spread of communism.

The 68th anniversary of the founding of the Republic of China was a sombre day for the people on Taiwan and overseas Chinese across the world. On that day, the United States of America formally severed official diplomatic ties with Free China and recognised Red China. This was more than a slap in the face from a friend; this was a friend stabbing another in the back. President Jimmy Carter soon found that selling out democracy for the sake of making a profit did not settle well with the United States Congress, the representatives of the American people. Therefore, on April 10, 1979, both chambers of Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in an act of major condemnation of President Carter and the Executive Branch’s unilateral decision to forge ties with Communist China. The Carter Administration foolishly hoped that this recognition would bring about a peaceful resolution to the Chinese Civil War.

In the 30 years since the recognition of Communist China, the world has seen that despite unprecedented economic growth on the Mainland, it has been plagued with a rapid growth in income inequality, egregious human rights violations especially in terms of freedom of religion and speech (ex. Tiananmen Massacre and the Great Firewall of China), serious environmental degradation that continues to have global impacts, and the Chinese Communist Party’s continued support for authoritarian regimes around the world. On the other hand, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has not only seen maturation into a liberal democracy, but it is ranked perennially as one of the top champions of human rights around the world. However, the Chinese Communist Party continues to bully the international community into not recognising the accomplishments or the very existence of the Republic of China.

The 23 million people living on Taiwan have no representation in the United Nations. It has less than two dozen international allies, most of which are small Pacific islands. Athletes also cannot compete under the flag of the Republic of China nor can they sing their national anthem at any international sporting event. During the SARS and Avian Flu epidemic, the Chinese Communist Party blocked the Republic of China from accessing the resources of the World Health Organisation, which could have proved fatal for the global community. Moreover, the Chinese Communist Party has continually threatened using military action to conquer Taiwan for over a decade, hoping that these threats will deter the deepening of democracy on the island.

The United States Congress must reaffirm its commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act and help the Republic of China defend itself should the Chinese Communist Party decide to invade. The United States should also push for more meaningful participation internationally, especially by actively advocating for the Republic of China (Taiwan) to be a full member of the World Health Organisation. 30 years after switching official diplomatic recognition, the United States must realise that the majority of Chinese Americans hail from the Republic of China and our continued contributions to American society must mean more than just verbiage from our elected representatives. We deserve continued economic and cultural exchanges between the two sides of the Pacific and we deserve to know that the United States supports maintaining the territorial integrity of the home of our ancestors.

Call Senator Boxer (202.224.3553) today and ask her to support House Concurrent Resolution 55, reaffirming the commitment of the United States to the Taiwan Relations Act. 永遠記住﹐我們是龍的傳人!

遙遠的東方有一條江, 它的名字就叫長江
遙遠的東方有一條河, 它的名字就叫黃河

雖不曾看見長江美, 夢裡常神遊長江水
雖不曾聽見黃河壯, 澎湃洶湧在夢裡

古老的東方有一條龍, 她的名字就叫中國
古老的東方有一群人, 他們全都是龍的傳人

多少年砲聲仍隆隆, 多少年又是多少年
巨龍巨龍你擦亮眼, 永永遠遠的擦亮眼