December 12, 2003

The Honorable

The Senate of the United States

Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Senator :

I appeal to you now as a resident of your state, and as an American citizen of conscience that supports democracy, freedom, and the right of all people to express their views without the threat of military force. In light of Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s visit to Washington this past Wednesday, I find the latest statements by President Bush, that discourage Taiwan from holding a referendum, to be disturbing and disappointing.

For more than a decade now, the 23 million people of Taiwan have been living under the privileges of a full democracy, just as you and I do. However, the grave difference between their ability to exercise that democracy, and our ability to exercise our democracy as Americans, is this: China has continually had missiles (numbering 500 now, with the addition of over 50 per year) aimed at democratic Taiwan, and—as in 1996, when China fired missiles into the Taiwan Strait in an effort to intimidate Taiwanese voters from choosing a president—China has demonstrated its willingness to use them.

The future of Taiwan must be determined peacefully without force, nor the threat of force from China. The referendum law in Taiwan is a basic democratic right, and holding a non-policy, non-binding referendum allows the people of Taiwan to express their nervous concern over China’s missiles and military threats to the world. There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the 23 million people of Taiwan do not want to be attacked nor taken over forcefully; and it is a shame that the United States, the champion of liberty and democracy in the world, has recently complied with China and stifled Taiwan’s voting rights to say so.

I thank you for your time and concern over this extremely important issue. While President Bush’s recent statements have unfortunately caused the U.S. to take large steps back in its longstanding support of Taiwan’s democracy, I urge you to use all your powers in leadership to continue building the relations between the U.S. and Taiwan so as to ensure Taiwan’s continued freedom. By doing so, the United States can send a message to the world that America will not waver in its support for democracy, nor allow intimidators of democracy to succeed.

Respectfully,

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