On the behalf of Taiwan Tati Cultural & Educational Foundation, I would like to express concern and outrage as well as sympathy for Iranian protesters demanding a fair voting system after watching CNN reporting from Tehran last night. The headlines are troubling. We are particularly concerned about the violation of freedom of speech in that the Iranian government openly requires permission for foreign media reporting…
We would also like to commend on the integrity of former President Clinton’s deputy assistant secretary of state: Susan Shirk. We not only praise assistant secretary Shirk’s action but also very much in agreement with her view on ECFA that Taiwan should never underestimate the risk of such an arrangement, particularly on Taiwan’s economy and hard-won democratic polity. We, too, agree that Taiwan’s government (if not, then the opposition party) should further investigate and beware of Beijing’s motive behind ECFA. Taiwan has an “efficient government” with regular, democratic elections, assistant secretary Shirk also mentioned. Therefore, if the public is worried that China might eventually absorb Taiwan’s economy; the people should express their concern with their ballots.
Furthermore, we find it encouraging seeing DPP Chairwoman Tsai Ing-Wen initiating a campaign urging the Taiwanese public to sign a petition asking the government to hold a referendum on ECFA. Today, the moral courage shown by Susan Shirk and Tsai Ing-Wen are in short supply. We hope that more Americans will join their rank. We pray that more around the world will voice support for democracy, liberty, and human rights. In Taiwan, China, and elsewhere.
History shows that the Chinese communists are not trustworthy. We don’t. Neither should the United States nor her western allies.
Best Regards,
Yi-Chang (Leo) Wang
Taiwan Tati Cultural & Educational Foundation
Note: Letter was written on Sunday, June 21, 2009