Taiwanese students conclude visit, talks with US Congress

Thirty Taiwanese youths participating in a series of visits to members of the US Congress wrapped up their activities Friday, according to Terri Giles, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles-based Formosa Foundation.

The "goodwill Taiwan ambassadors" visited about 180 members of Congress since late June to discuss with them issues including the possibility of Taiwan entering the World Health Organization, the signing of a Taiwan-US free trade agreement and Taiwanese leaders and high-ranking US officials participating in official visits, Giles said.

Arms Budget Talk

The major concern expressed by most of the members of Congress visited was with Taiwan's proposed arms procurement deal, according to Wang Pei-hsin, a political science student at National Taiwan University. He said that when it came to cross-Taiwan Strait issues, the US politicians knew the main points but did not have detailed ideas about the issues.

Yeh Yi-chun, a student at the Graduate Institute of National Development at National Taiwan University, said she was surprised to learn that some of the assistants of the members of Congress dismissed warnings in the media in Washington, DC concerning the possibility of a rising China, referred to as the "Red Storm."

The 30 young adults, 10 of whom are college students from Taiwan and the remaining 20 who live in the US, had taken courses on communication techniques, crisis management, the Asia-Pacific situation, Taiwanese history and culture, as well as US-Taiwan relations in preparation for their role as "goodwill ambassadors."

Cooperation

The Formosa Foundation, a non-profit organization established in 2001, is aimed at promoting understanding and support for Taiwan within the US, encouraging and offering opportunities for Taiwanese youth to participate in US politics, as well as promoting friendship among people in the Asia-Pacific.