A letter to the White House
Dear Mr President
First of all, congratulations on your re-election to lead the US and the world for the next four years, and hoping you are able to make a historic contribution to the prosperity of your country and world peace.
I would also like to ask you to be alert to what is going on in Taiwan, a strategically important nation which is crucial to the stability of the western Pacific region and the national security of the US. Your support for the right of Taiwanese to choose their political future, making it clear that its sovereignty is up to Taiwanese to choose, is crucial.
As you may be aware, since the Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) regained power in 2008, it has been steadfastly pushing policies and taking measures to tie Taiwan closer to China, which has been trying to envelop Taiwan economically and politically for years. In fact, on several occasions, President Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九), who is known to dream of “reunification,” has shown his true colors by cuddling up to China.
Case in point: the ECFA (Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement) signed between the KMT and China; a political tool masquerading as a trade agreement to make Taiwan a special economic zone like Hong Kong. Indeed it will lock Taiwan into China’s fold economically and make Taiwan a basket case; for what Taiwan needs is free trade agreements.
Mr President, Taiwanese have suffered so much for more than half a century since the corrupt and cruel KMT regime took power — the massacre of two generations of the Taiwanese elite while the hapless population lived under a reign of terror until the end of the 1980s. Now the specter of terror is again rearing its head with the KMT’s control of the judicial system and erosion of human rights.
Taiwanese are hungry for justice — a righteous hope and legitimate right.
The persecution of former president Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁), accused of corruption, which was more rampant and outrageous under the KMT, has recently attracted the attention and concern of human rights groups.
Your policy of a “pivot to Asia” is timely and the right way to maintain stability and safeguard democracy in Asia. It is encouraging and welcomed by all countries in the Asian Pacific region under the threat of a hegemon so assertive and strident that they feel their national security is at stake.
An independent, democratic Taiwan is crucial, economically and strategically, to the countries of east Asia. It is also a politically powerful inspiration, a beacon of hope and a model for oppressed peoples in Asia.
Free peoples in the world admire and appreciate your great nation, which made so many sacrifices in combatting Fascist Germany and the totalitarian regime of the USSR during World War II and the Cold War.
The world still needs the US as a champion and supporter of freedom and human rights. Indeed, it is an undeniable fact and reality that the US is the steward of peace and stability in the world.
We would like to ask you to allow us to have the audacious hope that you inspired four years ago, not only for the people of your great nation, but the many struggling for freedom and human rights throughout the world.
Taiwanese must have the freedom and right to choose their own future. That would be one of the greatest legacies of your administration.
Thank you.
Andrew Chang
Arizona, US
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