United States of Congress

Washington, DC 20515

March 17, 2004

To the people of Taiwan:

The Preamble to the U.S. Constitution is clear and straightforward: "We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."

This assertion of self-determination is fundamental to our nation and our national psyche.  It is also fundamental to our desire to share the ideals and benefits of democracy with our neighbors.  As Members of Congress, we are committed to both protecting this democratic tradition and to ensuring that our nation follows a foreign policy that supports democracies around the world.

We believe that you, the people of Taiwan have consistently demonstrated your passion for human rights, transparency, and the democratic process.  Your 23 million citizens have earned the right to decide for yourselves the issues affecting your well-being and security.  You have earned the right to hold exclusive responsibility for determining the future of Taiwan and to exercise democratic processes.  This includes holding referenda free from intimidation or threat of force from any country including communist China."  

Rob Andrews, Joe Barton, Michael Bilirakis, Sherrod Brown, Allen Boyd, Richard Burr, Dennis A. Cardoza, Julia Carson, Steve Chabot, Jerry Costello, Chris Cox, Jo Ann Davis, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, Peter Deutsch, Tom Feeney, Scott Garrett, Mark Green, Joel Hefley, Patrick Kennedy, Steve King, James Langevin, Nita M. Lowey, Michael R. McNulty, Bob Ney, Frank Pallone, Dana Rohrabacher, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Pete Sessions, David Scott, Chris Smith, Mark E. Souder, Cliff Stearns, Tom Tancredo, Edolphus Towns, Anthony Weiner, David Wu

美國聯邦眾議員連署

致函台灣人民的一封公開信

致台灣人民：

美國憲法的序言開宗明義地表示：「我們美利堅合眾國的人民，為了組織一個更完美的聯邦，樹立正義，保障國內安寧，提供共同防衛，增進全民福祉和確保我們自己及我們後代能安享自由帶來的幸福，制定並創立這一部美國憲法。」

這種堅持人民自決的權利，是我們國家與我們立國精神的基石。這也是我們與鄰邦們分享民主的信念與果實的一個基本的渴望。身為美國國會的一份子，我們承諾要保障這個民主的傳統，並且確保我們國家所遵循的外交政策是支持全球各地的民主制度。

我們相信你們，台灣人民，已經持續地展現了對人權、透明（化）、和民主進程的熱愛。你們二千三百萬人民已經贏得了能夠自行決定足以影響你們福祉與安全等議題的權利。你們也贏得了專屬（你們）的責任權，來決定台灣前途並實踐民主進程。這其中包含了，在不受任何國家、包括共產中國的恐嚇或是使用武力的威脅之下，舉行公民投票。