Click here for the text of the letter

Contact: Iris Ho at 202-547-3686/ 202-255-1593

For Immediate Release                                                                                                                                                            August 5, 2005

CONGRESSIONAL TAIWAN CAUCUS URGES NEW KMT CHAIRMAN

MA YING-JEOU TO PASS ARMS PROCUREMENT PACKAGE

In a letter dated August 1, co-chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives Reps. Robert Wexler, Sherrod Brown and Steve Chabot urged newly elected KMT chairman Ma Ying-jeou to do what he can to have the Legislative Yuan pass the special arms procurement package. This is the second time Members of Congress directly approach the KMT on the matter. In late May, thirty-three Members of Congress wrote to incumbent KMT chairman Lien Chan urging him to help expedite the arms package. 

The co-chairs write: “In particular we urge you, as the new chairman of the KMT, to lead efforts in Taipei to ensure that the Legislative Yuan quickly passes a special arms procurement package or increases its annual defense spending.  We believe as you do that cooperation between Taipei and Washington is paramount to Taiwan's security and is in the mutual interest of both nations.”

Furthermore, in the letter which congratulates Ma with his election as KMT Chairman, the co-chairs reaffirm the U.S. commitment to Taiwan. They add: “As you begin your term as chairman, we want to reassure you that the United States and the American people are fully committed to the security, prosperity and future of the people of Taiwan. All of us in the Congressional Taiwan Caucus (CTC) are long-time friends and supporters of Taiwan and have closely followed Taiwan's remarkable path towards a flourishing multiparty democracy that respects human rights and the rule of law.”

A the end of the letter, the co-chairs invite Ma to visit Washington this September in an obvious attempt to hear first hand from Ma on why the opposition parties in Taiwan continue to obstruct the passage of the arms budget and how Ma can help expedite passage as the new KMT chairman.

眾議院台灣連線呼籲國民黨新任黨主席馬英九儘快通過軍購預算

 新聞聯絡人何燕青 202-547-3686/ 202-255-1593

【FAPA 新聞稿】                                                                                                                                        【2005年8月5日】

所謂「對症下藥」，繼五月底，三十三位眾議員大規模聯署致函前國民黨主席連戰，要求他結束反對黨對軍售案的杯葛；眾議院台灣連線主席們特於8月1日致函新當選國民黨主席的馬英九市長，促請他在接任國民黨黨主席一職後，能夠儘力協助通過擱置在立法院長達數年的軍購預算案。

台灣連線主席們在信裡表示：「我們尤其希望您身為國民黨新上任的主席，能夠在台北領銜，確保立法院快速通過特別軍售案，或是增加年度國防預算。您應該與我們一樣相信台北與華府之間的相互合作對台灣安全相當重要，也是兩國之間的共同利益。」

台灣連線也不忘在這封信裡強調美國對台灣以及台灣人民的支持。他們在信裡表示：「我們要重申美國以及美國人民對於台灣安全、繁榮以及台灣前途的承諾。我們台灣連線的全體成員是台灣長久以來的朋友與支持者，也一直長期密切注意台灣邁向多黨民主，尊重人權與法治的傲人旅程。」

台灣連線最後並邀請馬英九在九月份訪問華府。議員們很明顯的是想要親自聽聞反對黨為何一再杯葛軍購特別預算，讓美國各界認為台灣沒有自我防禦的決心；他們也想藉這個機會瞭解馬英九如何能協助預算案快速過關。