Letter: FAPA thinks outside the box

Although we at the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) believe that our organization does not deserve the scathing treatment you awarded it in your editorial ("FAPA's misguided pie in the sky," Dec. 8, page 8), we appreciate the publicity you gave to our idea of having the AIT director confirmed by the Senate.

We want to emphasize that this idea is not meant as a criticism of former, current or future AIT directors. This is about making Taiwan a "normal" country and taking another step toward normalizing its relations with the international community, including the US.

We agree that Director Stephen Young is doing a good job, but that is beside the point. The point is that a formal confirmation would give the Senate the opportunity to discuss the substance of US policy towards Taiwan with the designated candidate who will represent the US in Taiwan. As it is, there are too few opportunities for such an exchange.

As for "pie in the sky," most issues FAPA has taken up over the years seemed impossible at first. When we started in 1982, the main issues were human rights and democracy in Taiwan as well as ending martial law and the KMT's one-party rule. Many people told us that this would be impossible, but through hard work and persistence we succeeded.

Other topics we raised have been realized, such as enabling Taiwanese-Americans to list "Taiwan" as place of birth in their US passports instead of "China" and getting the US to explicitly support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the WHO.

We agree with you that holding the moral high ground is the best strategy, but disagree that Taiwanese can just sit back and watch the Chinese government evolve or dissolve. In light of China's size, rise and importance, ingenuity will be required to safeguard Taiwan's freedom, democracy and security.

Finally, Taiwan has enjoyed bipartisan support in Congress. In fact, we may modestly say that this is in part the result of our work with Congress over the past 24 years.

But each new Congress provides new opportunities, and experience has taught us that congressional support for Taiwan comes easier when the administration and Congress are controlled by different parties. Therefore, this new Congress may be more willing to challenge some of the established positions and wisdoms.

The basic question is whether we should think outside the box and explore all possibilities to help Taiwan become a normal country, or sit back and risk gradual erosion of Taiwan's international position.

Let your readers be the judge.

C.T. Lee
President
Formosan Association for Public Affairs