Taiwan President Deserves the Protocol of a Democracy

          The State Department's refusal to allow more than 10 members of Congress to meet with Taiwan's democratically elected president, Chen Shui-bian, on Aug. 13 in Los Angeles was an affront to all that we hold dear as U.S. citizens.

          Most Taiwanese-Americans came to this wonderful country in the 1960s, leaving behind a land where political dissent was muzzled and democracy activists were jailed.  We found freedom here and cherish it deeply.  We worked hard to see freedom flourish in Taiwan, and it now is rooted in the island's political soil.

          The same is not true of China, where democracy's tender shoots are constantly trampled. Yet the State Department listened to China's objections to President Chen meeting the Democratic and Republican Representatives who wanted to share ideas with him.

          We let a democratically elected leader like Chen enter the country only if he pretends he is not here.  It makes no sense.

          The 23 million people of Taiwan have built, through years of sweat, blood and political struggle, a mature democracy.  Taiwan's president should have the right to speak freely about his country's accomplishments and its plans to support U.S. interests.  High-level Taiwanese officials should be allowed to visit the United States and speak to all who wish to listen.