Formosa Foundation Urges U.S. to Reaffirm Commitment to Taiwan’s Security:

[Los Angeles, CA] The Formosa Foundation applauds the statements by U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell clarifying that the United States seeks “peaceful resolution” of the issues between Taiwan and China, but continues to express its dismay at Secretary Powell’s statements that Taiwan is not a sovereign state.

Earlier this week, in two separate interviews on October 24 and 25, Secretary Powell told reporters that the United States does not want either Taipei or Beijing “to take any unilateral action that would prejudice an eventual outcome, a reunification that all parties are seeking” and that “Taiwan is not independent. It does not enjoy sovereignty as a nation, and that remains our policy, our firm policy.” In a subsequent interview on October 27, Secretary Powell clarified his “peaceful reunification” statement by stating that U.S. policy “is to have a peaceful resolution of the problem . . . that is our policy and remains our policy.”

“Secretary Powell’s initial statement that all parties are seeking reunification was just plain wrong and represented a sharp departure from past administration policy,” said Donald Lee, Chairman of the Formosa Foundation. “We appreciate his clarification. The Taiwanese people should have the most important voice in determining their own future.”

Secretary Powell, unfortunately however, did not retract or change his statement regarding Taiwan’s sovereignty. “China continues to modernize and build its military while aiming more than 600 missiles at Taiwan, raising the constant specter of using military force to take over Taiwan. Secretary Powell's comment that Taiwan is not a sovereign state only emboldens the hardliners in China to think that the U.S. is not very committed to the future of democracy and free markets in Taiwan,” said Mr. Lee. “We strongly urge the Bush administration to clearly articulate its commitment to Taiwan's security.”

About the Formosa Foundation:

Based in Los Angeles, California, the Formosa Foundation is a non-profit corporation formed in 2002 to promote greater understanding of the relationship between Taiwan, the United States and the People’s Republic of China, and to preserve and enhance the democracy, human rights and freedom of the people of Taiwan.

For more information about the Formosa Foundation, visit www.formosafoundation.org