President George W. Bush July 9, 2003
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We are proud to be citizens of this great country, one whose foreign policy you have declared to be "to stand firmly
for the nonnegotiable demands of human dignity: the rule of law; limits on the absolute power of the state; free speech
freedom of worship; equal justice; respect for women; religious and ethnic tolerance; and respect for private property."
As Taiwanese Americans, we are also proud of our homeland, Taiwan, where human dignity is now being upheld and
which Secretary of State Colin Powell has called a "success story." In your National Security Strategy you have
applauded Taiwan as one of the United States' friends where "we see democratic processes take hold."
President Chen Shui-bian's Administration is making Taiwan's democratic processes more reflective of the will of the
Taiwanese people through judicial, legislative and Constitutional changes.
One such change is a referendum law through which Taiwan's citizens might express their will on issues of vital concern.
The future of Taiwan must be determined peacefully and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan. A democratic
mechanism such as a referendum to determine Taiwan's future would be appropriate. As the foremost promoter of freedom
and democracy around the world, the U.S. can ill afford to tell the people of Taiwan not to hold a referendum. The
United States should be fully supportive of this drive to institutionalize the right of the people of Taiwan to express
themselves. There can be no double standard when it comes to exercising democracy.
We ask that you and your Administration assure Taiwan's citizens of your support for this strengthening of democracy.
Sincerely yours,
Formosan Association for Public Affairs
North American Taiwanese Medical Association
Taiwanese American Citizens League
Chen Wen Chen Memorial Foundation
Taiwanese Collegian
World United Formosans for Independence
North America Taiwanese Women's Association
Formosa Foundation
Taiwanese Association of America
North American Taiwanese Engineers' Association
Center for Taiwan International Relations
Intercollegiate Taiwanese American Students Association
Taiwanese American Aeronautics and Space Association
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