|
The
text of the Letter to President Chen
May
17, 2002
President
Chen Shui-bian
Office of the President
122 Section 1, Chung-chin South Road
Taipei, Taiwan
Dear
President Chen:
As
Co-Chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, we want to
congratulate you on the 2nd anniversary of your
inauguration as President of Taiwan on May 20, 2002. As
Congress and the American people continue their commitment
and support for the people of Taiwan, it is important that
we highlight this momentous occasion and the unbreakable
bond between our two peoples.
Over
the past two years, Taiwan's democracy has grown stronger
and more resilient. We are extremely impressed by your commitment
to the political and economic success of the people of Taiwan
who share your unbridled enthusiasm and determination for
a better future.
As
the model of a successful free market economy, Taiwan is
one of the world's major trading countries and a significant
voice in the global economy. We want to congratulate you
and your government on Taiwan's historic accession to the
World Trade Organization, which we believe was long overdue.
Taiwan is America's seventh largest trading partner, and
we look forward to upgrading and expanding our trade and
economic relationship.
In
addition to Taiwan's economic success, we fully support
your recent decision to improve cross-strait relations with
the People's Republic of China (PRC). We welcome your bold
initiative to revive cross-strait talks and support your
efforts to discuss direct transport, postal and trade with
the PRC. This initiative, if received positively in Beijing,
will greatly help to diffuse tension in the Taiwan Strait
and could lead to greater cooperation between Taiwan and
China. However, please know that although we are working
to promote peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, U.S.
policy must state, in no uncertain terms, that the future
of Taiwan must be resolved peacefully with the express consent
of the people of Taiwan and free from outside threats, intimidation,
or interference.
We
want to express our support for your government and the
people of Taiwan as an important economic and strategic
ally of the United States. The Congressional Taiwan Caucus
(with over 100 members) was recently formed to build on
the already strong relations between Tapei and Washington.
Over the next year, we look forward to working with you
and your government in a number of areas, including a renewed
effort to support Taiwan's bid to obtain observer status
at the World Health Organization, upgrading overall trade
relations, the continuation of high-level meetings between
American and Taiwanese cabinet members and a concerted effort
to reinvigorate cross-strait talks to help preserve peace
and stability in the Taiwan Strait.
Again,
congratulations on the 2nd anniversary of your
inauguration as President of Taiwan. We know that Taiwan's
future as a bastion of democracy and freedom will continue
to shine brightly in the new millennium.
Sincerely,
Rep. Robert Wexler Rep. Steve Chabot Rep. Sherrod Brown
Rep. Dana Rohrabacher
|
