Taiwanese American Organizations
Call upon State Department to Correct
Errors in Reference to Taiwan
Taiwanese American Organizations
In a letter to the Secretary of the U.S. State Department, Taiwanese American organizations urge the department to correct errors on four pages of its website regarding Taiwan. The letter was dated May 9, 2003 and signed by the heads of more than a score of Taiwanese American organizations.
The letter states, “The errors appear in heading, subheading and map portions of various webpages. These individual errors tend to compound and reinforce one another as the reader peruses the State Department website. We are concerned that these errors, taken together, can easily give the false impression that the United States has officially recognized Taiwan as a part of China.”
Citing the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the principle law that governs the relations between the United States and Taiwan, the letter reiterates that the Act clearly treats Taiwan as a country in its own right. The letter continues, “As one of America’s long-term allies, ‘Taiwan is a multiparty democracy’ according to the State Department’s Country Report on Human Rights Practices-2002. Taiwan is not subservient to authoritarian Communist China.”
The letter states that the errors are contrary to the letter and spirits of the official U.S. policy on Taiwan and urges the department to correct them as recommended.
Professor Bob Yang, Ph.D., Chairman of the World United Formosans for Independence, the U. S. Headquarters (WUFI-U.S.A) states: "It is one thing for non-governmental groups to shove Taiwan into the arms of China, but quite another for the United States government to follow suit… Therefore, it is important for us to prevent the erosion of the long-standing U.S. policy with regard to the status of Taiwan vis-a-vis China. I believe it is worth our time and effort to demand that the State Department correct its mistakes.”
May 9, 2003
The Honorable Colin L.
Powell Secretary of State U.S.
Department of State 2201 C
Street NW
Washington, DC 20520
Dear Secretary Powell:
As representatives of leading Taiwanese-American associations, we are writing to call your attention to errors on four pages on the website of the U.S. Department of State (http://www.state.gov/). All the errors pertain to the sovereignty status of Taiwan and are attached with our recommended corrections for your reference. With the highest regards for your leadership, we sincerely request that these errors be corrected to genuinely reflect Taiwan’s political reality and America’s diplomatic stance on it. The errors appear in heading, subheading and map portions of various webpages. These individual errors tend to compound and reinforce one another as the reader peruses the State Department website. We are concerned that these errors, taken together, can easily give the false impression that the United States has officially recognized Taiwan as a part of China.
In regard to American foreign policy towards Taiwan and China, the Shanghai Communique of 1972 states, "The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China." This statement merely expresses American government’s acknowledgement of the Chinese political stand on the Taiwan-China relationship. It in no way implies U.S. recognition of Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan. Furthermore, absent from the Shanghai Communique is the consent of the Taiwanese people. The Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 declares, “Whenever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with such respect to Taiwan.” The Act clearly treats Taiwan as a country in its own right. As one of America’s long-term allies, “Taiwan is a multiparty democracy” according to the State Department’s Country Report on Human Rights Practices-2002. Taiwan is not subservient to authoritarian Communist China.
Secretary Powell, we strongly believe that the errors we have cited are contrary to the letter and spirit of the official U.S. policy on Taiwan. Would you please correct them as we recommend? Thank you for your attention. We look forward to hearing from you*.
Sincerely yours,
*This letter has been signed by the heads or representatives of twenty-one Taiwanese- American associations shown in the table below. The signature pages are available upon request. Please direct all inquiry to:
Bob In-yu Yang, Chairman
World United Formosans for Independence-U.S.A.
9732 Russell St.
Shawnee Mission, KS 66212-1548
| Association | Name of Signer | Position/Title | Phone Number |
|---|---|---|---|
| America Taiwan Society | Benny Lee | Chairman | 816-746-0874 |
| Berkley Students for a Severeign Taiwan | Andy Chang | President | 510-849-1860 |
| Center for Taiwan International | David W. Tsai | President | 202-543-6287 |
| Chhong-Bi Memorial Fund | Adam S. Huang | President | 914-723-0008 |
| Dr. Kang-Lu Wang Memorial Foundation | Michael S.K.Chen | President | 610-966-5830 |
| Formosa Foundation | Li-Pei Wu | Chairman | 213-625-1991 |
| Formosan Association for Human Rights | Henry Lee | President | 865-983-0870 |
| Formosan Association for Public Affairs | Ming-Chi Wu | President | 817-735-2140 |
| North America Taiwanese Engineers’Association | Jimmy Li | President | 408-354-8139 |
| North America Taiwanese Professors’Association | Chih-Ping Yeh | President | 248-932-0796 |
| North America Taiwanese Women's Association | Amy Chen | President | 408-919-6865 |
| North American Taiwanese Medical Association | Jen-Chin Wang | President | 576-889-7447 |
| Professor Chen Wen-Chen Memorial Foundation | Long-Rong Mark Kao | Chairman, BOD | 609-936-1352 |
| Taiwan Elite Alliance | Josephine Pan | Dep. Secretary | 626-793-8588 |
| Taiwan Environmental Action Network | Weng-Ling Tu | Co-Chair | 510-527-2297 |
| Taiwan Study Society at Arizona State University | Mike Ho | President | 480-966-0669 |
| Taiwanese Association of America | Philip Wu | President | 925-833-8250 |
| Taiwanese Collegian | Jolan Hsieh | Spokesperson | 480-964-3032 |
| World Federation of Taiwanese Associations | C.K.Kao | President | 770-642-8620 |
| World Taiwanese Congress | C.K.Kao | Coordinator | 770-642-8620 |
| World United Formosans for Independence-U.S.A. | Bob In-Yu Yang | Chairman | 816-235-2567 |
Errors and Recommended Corrections at the U.S. Department of State Website
April 30, 2003
1. http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ci/
A. Errors: (i) The column on the left side of the page with the heading Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs/ Country Information alphabetically lists all the countries in the region except Taiwan. (ii) On the map to the right of the above column, the names of all the countries, except Taiwan, are shown in capital letters. (iii) When one clicks on “Taiwan” on the above map, a webpage entitled “China” pops into view. B. Recommended corrections: (i) Add to the column on the left side of the page an entry called “Taiwan”. This should be an html entry so that a click on “Taiwan” should bring up a new webpage entitled “Taiwan” (ii) On the map to the right of the above column, use capital letters to spell the country “TAIWAN”. (iii) When one clicks on “TAIWAN” on the above map, a webpage entitled “Taiwan” should pop into view. 2. http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ci/ch/ A. Errors: (i) Background Notes, Taiwan is listed as a sub-heading of China. (ii) The map shows Taiwan with the same color as China whereas all other countries, including North Korea, South Korea, Japan and the Philippines, are given a different color. (iii) On the map, the names of all the countries, except Taiwan, are shown in capital letters. B. Recommended corrections: (i) Remove Background Notes, Taiwan from the webpage entitled “China”. Instead place Background Notes, Taiwan under a new webpage entitled “Taiwan”. Include an enlarged map of Taiwan. (ii) On the existing map, i.e., http://www.state.gov/p/eap/ci/ch/ (see A(ii), show Taiwan in the same color as that used for all non-Chinese countries. (iii) On the above-mentioned map, use capital letters to spell the country “TAIWAN”. 3. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/c8696.htm A. Error: Under the heading, East Asia and the Pacific, Taiwan is listed as China (Taiwan only). There is not an independent entry for Taiwan. B. Recommended correction: Remove the entry, China (Taiwan only). Insert the entry Taiwan in html format in the appropriate location in the alphabetical list. 4. http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2002/18240.htm A. Error: The heading of this page is China (Taiwan only). B. Recommended correction: Use the correct heading Taiwan for this page.
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