Chinese Taipei? Let's vote

Recently, Taiwan's residents finally became aware that being called "Chinese Taipei" is an insult. I believe the Chen administration will gladly change to Taiwan when a chance is given, except that the president promised on May 20 not to change it. Let's start by doing something that he cannot refuse: passing a national referendum on dropping the name Chinese Taipei or anything with China in it from our participation in all international organizations.

This is my suggestion: international organizations yield to Chinese pressure, and most likely will refuse such requests from Taiwan's government. Therefore, I believe the request has to come directly from the residents of Taiwan, which can be done through a national referendum to approve "dropping the name Chinese Taipei." To that end, we have to collect enough signatures. This will give the Chen administration the basis to request the name change in international communities. This can be the process used to join other organizations and to gain entry to the UN.

In the meantime, overseas Taiwanese communities can organize demonstrations or hunger strikes to support the request in front of the UN headquarters to "Stop Annexing Taiwan" or "Taiwan Political Apartheid." I will do whatever I can to help.

Rao Kok-sia
Boston, Massachusetts