For immediate release                                           October 23, 2003

U.S. SENATORS EXPRESS SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN REFERENDUM

Today, two key U.S. Senators, founder of the Senate Taiwan Caucus Senator George Allen (R-VA) and strong Taiwan supporter Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ), wrote a letter to President Bush urging him to support the right of the people of Taiwan to hold a referendum.

The Senators wrote: "We believe that a Taiwan referendum law is a basic democratic right that should be supported by your Administration. We believe that the future of Taiwan must be determined peacefully, with the express consent of the people of Taiwan. Since its establishment, the United States has been the foremost champion of liberty and democracy in the world. We can, therefore, not afford to tell the people of Taiwan not to hold a referendum. There can be no double standard when it comes to exercising democracy."

Representatives Robert Andrews (D-NJ) issued a similar statement on June 26, 2003, urging his fellow Members of Congress "and the Administration to support Taiwanese efforts to hold a referendum vote on the issue of admittance into the WHO."

FAPA President Ming-chi Wu states: "It is significant that the Senators send this letter on the very same day that Vice President Annette Lu kicked of the referendum campaign in Taiwan by lighting a "referendum torch" at the southern tip of Taiwan to drum up support for the major referendum rally to be held in Kaohsiung this Saturday."

"FAPA believes that the will of the 23 million people of Taiwan needs to be heard loud and clear, and that a referendum is the best way to voice this will of the people. Being the foremost champion of democracy around the world, it is only logical and consistent that the United States supports this step by Taiwan towards democracy. "