FAPA member Thomas T. Hwang had the letter published in the Poughkeepsle Journal of August 30, 2000

U.S. Should Welcome Taiwan's President

          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 fiercely muzzled and democracy activists were jailed for their beliefs.  We found freedoms here that we cherish deeply.  We worked hard to see these same freedoms flourish in Taiwan, and, thankfully, they now are rooted in the island's political soil.

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

          The 23 million people of Taiwan have built, through many years of sweat, blood and political struggle, a mature democracy. Taiwan's president surely should have the right to speak freely about the accomplishments his country has made and its plans to support U.S. interests in Asia. The people of the United States and their representatives also have the right to hear him out.

          It is ironic that the State Department's policy is to provide a red-carpet reception for President Jiang of China at the White House but not even allow Chen to speak in public.  It is time for a policy change, one that allows high-level Taiwanese officials including the president to openly visit the United States and to speak to all who wish to listen.