Dear Member of Congress:                    April 7, 1997

   On March 30, Speaker Gingrich warned China's top leadership
that the United States would intervene militarily if Taiwan was
attacked by China. We Taiwanese Americans would like to take
this opportunity to express our strong support of that
statement.

   Taiwanese Americans are deeply concerned about the safety and
security of Taiwan, and about peace and stability in the region.
China has consistently vowed to take over Taiwan by military force.
Last year, China launched missile tests in the Taiwan Strait to
intimidate the people of Taiwan during their first democratic
presidential elections. The Speaker's message has sent a strong
signal to China's leaders that the United States will not stand
idly by when the free, democratic nation of Taiwan is threatened
by military force.

   To demonstrate the U.S. commitment to Taiwan's safety and
security, we believe that the time is ripe for Congress to
strengthen the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, which merely states
that any threat to Taiwan is "of grave concern" to the United
States.

   We also applaud the statement in Gingrich's speech at China's
Institute for Foreign Affairs of March 28, that "We see [U.S.
insistence on freedom] as the greatest gift we can offer the
world. " We Americans cherish these freedoms as guaranteed by
our Constitution. And as we promote freedom around the world, we
should not forget other peoples' right of self-determination,
the most fundamental freedom, which is laid down in article 1(2)
of the UN Charter.

   But we are disappointed by news reports that Mr. Gingrich
believes that the "one country, two systems" model that China
plans to apply to Hong Kong could suit Taiwan as well. A recent
opinion poll in Taiwan shows that the people of Taiwan have
overwhelming rejected this proposal. It should also be clear
that it is not up to the Beijing dictators to determine Taiwan's
future. It is our firm belief that nobody has the right to
determine the future of Taiwan but the people of Taiwan. The
right to choose their own future is their most fundamental right.

   We are also disturbed by the Speaker's statement that "The
U.S. Congress believes that Taiwan is a part of China." The facts
contradict this statement. Taiwan is not a part of China and,
except for the period of 1887-1895, it has never been a part of
China. More important, Taiwan is not a part of the People's
Republic of China. Since the communists came to power in 1949,
Beijing has not for a single day exercised any control over Taiwan.

   Taiwan is now a prosperous, free and democratic country, in
sharp contrast to China which remains an authoritarian police
state silencing political dissent, even massacring its citizens.
We believe that the people of Taiwan deserve the support of the
U.S. Congress in determining their own future. We would appreciate
if you would convey this message to the Speaker if you have a
chance. Thank you for your support for Taiwan.
                       Sincerely yours,

               Formosan Association for Public Affairs
               Taiwan Communique
               Taiwanese Collegian
               Dr. Kang-lu Wang Memorial Foundation
               Formosan Association for Human Right
               Center for Taiwan International Relations
               Taiwanese Americans Citizens League
               North American Taiwanese Medical Association
               North American Taiwanese Professors Association