RE: Revisions of Canada-Taiwan Policy and Relation

Greater Vancouver Taiwanese-Canadian Association　Oct 28, 2003

The Honourable Member of Parliament
House of Commons
Parliament Buildings
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0A6

Dear Honourable Member of Parliament,

Re: Revisions of Canada-Taiwan Policy and Relation

In response to the flip-flopping guidelines persistently pursued by the Foreign Affairs Department with regards to defending Canada’s sovereignty, we very much would like to, on behalf of 200,000 Taiwanese-Canadians and registered voters, express our disappointment and frustration with the way Canada has been handling the high-profile visits by Taiwan’s senior ministers over the past years.

Throughout the US-led invasion of Iraq, Canada had explicitly demonstrated its staunch opposition to the United States, the only super power in the world. However, when it came to defending the constitutional rights of 200,000 Canadians of the Taiwanese descent on the Canadian passport birthplace issue, the Foreign Affairs Ministry neither informed the concerned parties in advance nor issued an official protest against China’s outrageous, unilateral suppression on the Taiwanese-Canadian communities across the country. Such double standards exhibited by the officials of the Foreign Affairs Ministry when dealing with two different countries had puzzled 200,000 Canadians. What has further infuriated us is the constant political and procedural tactics employed by the Foreign Affairs Ministry and its officials in the Canadian Trade Office in Taiwan in delaying or interfering with the business and personal visits intended by Taiwan’s officials and lawmakers to Canada.

Inspired by the overwhelming support from both the House of Commons and the Senate for Taiwan’s observer status in the World Health Organization, as observed by the passage of the WHO motion in May, 2003, we would like again to have this honour to express our profound and sincere gratitude for those who have shown their continued support for Taiwan.

Most importantly, we urge you and your colleagues to revisit, revise, and abolish the outdated “One China,” to remove any obstacle that in any way obstructs a healthy diplomatic relation between Canada and Taiwan, to facilitate more high-profile visits by Canada’s senior ministers to Taiwan and by Taiwan’s senior ministers to Canada, and to assist Taiwan in gaining recognition and participation in international organizations.

Sincerely,
Jimmy Chen
President
Greater Vancouver Taiwanese-Canadian Association