Email from a Taiwan lobbyist, compiling the statements from U.S. Representatives Allen, Deutsch, Hoeffel, Garrett, Sessions, Scott, Hinchey, Feingold, Andrews, supporting Taiwan's 3/20 referendum.

-----Original Message-----
From: coenblaauw
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2004 11:11 AM
Subject: [fapa-board] Referendum Statements Highlights

Dear all:

This is an excerpt of all recent Congressional Statements re. a Taiwan
referendum - the highlights.

This might come in handy if you talk to Congressional offices or with
the press - like KC does in Los Angeles today.

Regards,

COEN

EXCERPTS FROM CONGRESSIONAL STATEMENTS SUPPORTING A TAIWAN REFERENDUM

SENATOR GEORGE ALLEN (R-VA) - February 5, 2004

Taiwan, our ally and friend, is a democracy. Its people have every
right to hold their referendum this March 20th. Taiwan's referendum law
is a basic democratic right that the United States should support rather
than denigrate. The future of Taiwan must be determined peacefully,
with the express consent of the people of Taiwan. Since its
establishment, the United States has been the foremost champion of
liberty and democracy in the world. We can, therefore, not afford to
tell the people of Taiwan not to hold a referendum. There can be no
double standard when it comes to exercising democracy.

REP. PETER DEUTSCH (D-FL) - February 25, 2004

The vast majority of the United States Congress is very supportive of
the actions of the Taiwanese Government in terms of putting a referendum
on the ballot regarding the defense options that Taiwan has. The vast
majority of the American people support the actions of the Taiwan
Government as well.

Taiwan is an independent country. As an independent country, it has the
right to determine its own future. The United States has supported that
right continuously.

REP. JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL (D-PA) - January 21, 2004

Asking the Taiwanese people whether Taiwan should purchase more
anti-missile defenses in response to this obvious threat does not
represent an escalation of tensions with China. On the contrary, this
``defensive referendum'' is an affirmation of Taiwan's democratic
system. We must support this exercise of the right of free expression,
which is consistent with our own values.

In this instance, China's inflammatory statements, not Taiwan's
referendum , threaten to upset the delicate balance that exists in the
region. The United States must remain firm in its support for the people
of Taiwan. And until China is ready to adopt a democratic system of
government and a free market economy, that means maintaining the status
quo.

REP. SCOTT GARRETT (R-NJ) - February 03, 2004

I feel the 23 million people of Taiwan have a right to hold such a
referendum. We mustn't allow China to intimidate Taiwan with talks of
overtaking Taiwan by force and other verbal threats.

REP. CHRIS BELL (D-TX) - February 04, 2004

This referendum is neither provocative nor a move toward Taiwanese
independence. It constitutes an effort to prevent Mainland China from
using force and unilaterally changing the status quo. China has never
renounced the use of force in the Taiwan Straits and has 496 missiles
targeting Taiwan . I urge China to withdraw those missiles, which upset
the military balance in the Taiwan Straits and whose continued presence
demonstrates China's hostile approach to cross-straits relations.

REP. DAVID SCOTT (D-GA) - February 06, 2004

In recent years, the PRC has steadily increased its missile build-up
along the south China coast opposite Taiwan , now deploying close to 500
missiles. As Taiwan faces military threats from China, the people of
Taiwan plan to express concern over their wellbeing and security in a
proposed referendum on March 20, 2004. Therefore, as the world's leading
democracy, we must support the people of Taiwan and their right to hold
this referendum .

REP. PETE SESSIONS (R-TX) - February 24, 2004

Taiwan has no intention to provoke China into conflict. It merely aims
to avoid war and free its people from the fear that they now face on a
daily basis. Taiwan, our ally and friend, is a democracy with a
competitive party system and they should have the inherent right to
self-determine their own policies and the future of the island without
the prospect of fear. I sincerely urge a continuation of peace across
the Taiwan straits as well as the good relations between the Taiwanese
people and Americans.

REP. MAURICE HINCHEY - February 25, 2004

The referendum offered by Taiwan's President, the Honorable Chen
Shui-bian, for the March 20, 2004 election ballot will not alter the
status quo of cross-strait relations. This referendum is intended to
express the Taiwanese people's immediate and legitimate concerns
regarding the peace and security of the region. Taiwan is a thriving
democracy that promotes freedom and the rule of law. The upcoming
referendum will allow its people to freely express their views, which is
a fundamental human right guaranteed by international law.

SENATOR RUSS FEINGOLD (D-WI)

On February 11, 2004, Chinese officials stated the referendum would
``provoke confrontation.'' Threats of violence by the People's Republic
of China only undermine efforts to resolve longstanding China-Taiwan
tensions.

REP. ROBERT ANDREWS - March 2, 2004

I rise today in strong support of the Taiwanese government's decision to
hold a referendum on March 20, 2004, thus allowing their citizens to
exhibit a true expression of democracy. It is clearly in the best
interests of the United States to promote the spread of democracy, and
to defend democracy wherever it exists, and I therefore urge my
colleagues as well as the current Administration to support Taiwan's
right to hold this referendum free from intimidation or threat of force
from any nation.

The people of Taiwan, and not the Government of the People's Republic of
China, should have the sole right and responsibility for determining the
future of Taiwan. Within this right of self-determination for the
Taiwanese people lies the undeniable right of the Taiwanese government
to hold referenda votes, when necessary, to assist the government in
making key decisions that will effect the lives of their constituency.

It is the right of the Taiwanese people to be the sovereign rulers of
their fate. I urge my colleagues and the administration to support this
right as well as the growth of democracy in Taiwan.

--------------------------------------

Sent: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 5:59 PM
Subject: [fapa-board] Rep. Deutsch: Majority in Congress Supports
Referendum - 022504

For immediate release February 25, 2004
U.S. REPRESENTATIVE: "VAST MAJORITY OF U.S. CONGRESS SUPPORTS
REFERENDUM."

In a February 25 statement, Rep. Peter Deutsch (D-FL) -currently running
for the United States Senate- states that he openly supports a
referendum during the March 20 elections in Taiwan.

* * * * * *

"Hi, I'm Congressman Peter Deutsch. I've been in the United States
Congress for 12 years. I was a founding member of the Taiwanese-American
Caucus. I want to take this opportunity to speak to the people who are
in Taiwan, right now, before the election. The vast majority of the
United States Congress is very supportive of the actions of the
Taiwanese Government in terms of putting a referendum on the ballot
regarding the defense options that Taiwan has. Vast majority of the
American people support the actions of the Taiwan Government as well.
Taiwan is a close friend of the United States over decades. In fact,
there is no closer friend in Asia, in that part of the world, to the
people of the United States and to the United States Congress than the
people of Taiwan. We have shown our commitment continuously towards the
treaties that secure both Countries. This action will in fact increase
that security for both countries.

Well, I tell you. I appreciate the heroism, the ingenuity, the spirit of
the people of Taiwan, but I do not get to vote in this election, in this
upcoming election. I hope all Taiwanese citizens who are eligible vote
in this election, I think it is very important that they exercise their
right to vote. It is critical to show the world, literally, to show the
entire world that this, the government of Taiwan, is in fact what it is
- Which is a participatory, transparent democracy. And it is up to the
people of Taiwan to determine what is in their best interest. Both
referendum issues I think are very important, they will send a clear
signal to the entire world that Taiwan is concerned about its
independence and is willing to take further steps to ensure that
independence working with the United States and other Countries.

I know there are some people who have been critical about the
referendum, trying to say that it is a confrontational issue. Taiwan is
an independent country. As an independent country, it has the right to
determine its own future. The United States has supported that right
continuously. There is obviously some ambiguity in terms of some
segments of the State Department that have been a little apprehensive.
But almost unanimously, the people of the United States, through their
Congress, have spoken about the reality on the ground and on the island
of Taiwan. I urge the Taiwanese people to exercise their rights, to
exercise their rights as a democracy, to choose their own future. The
United States stands 100% behind them in the actions of determining
their own future.

Song-Yi Lee: The DPP asked the people to come out to vote in the
referendum, the KMT ask the people not to, I find this very peculiar.

Well I think as in all elections, sometimes rumors, innuendos, and scare
tactics are used by political parties. And that is part of democracy. I
think people have to see through it, and cut through it and understand
what the truth is. There is an expression in American politics, probably
the same in Taiwanese politics that, "What's the real deal?" The real
deal is that the people of Taiwan have the ability to choose their
future. Taiwan has been a functioning, competitive, transparent
democracy. And as a part of that, as its own country, it has the right
of over 130 countries on the planet Earth today, It has the right and
obligation to defend itself, to secure itself. And obviously, in a very
complex world, that is not easy. But Taiwan and the people of Taiwan, by
the action of the referendum are solidifying that opportunity to choose
their own future.
I would tell you that the Taiwanese people have been a thoughtful,
resourceful, and courageous people for literally hundreds of years at
this point in time. And the election is just one more step in that
continuous, glorious history. I am proud to be part of, in a very small
way, that history as member of the United States Congress who has been
supportive of the freedom of the people of Taiwan to choose their own
destiny; whether it is independence, whether it is some type of
confederation. But ultimately, the people of Taiwan that is their right
to choose. And In fact, the United States government will do everything
physically possible to make sure that choice is exercised.

Let me be absolutely clear that I urge every eligible person on the
island of Taiwan to participate in the referendum and the election of
the new leader, or the continuation of the leader on the island of
Taiwan. It is your choice. You have had a glorious history in terms of
transparent, participatory democracy. The worst thing that people can do
is to waste their vote. Do not waste your vote by not participating in
the election. The entire world is watching you. You have that right, use
it!

* * * * * *