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Lee draws support, critics in US

Former president Lee Teng-hui, center, raises his glass during a toast at a New York restaurant on Sunday during a dinner with representatives from more than 40 overseas Taiwanese associations in the US. PHOTO: CNA

On Sunday night, more than 1,000 Taiwanese from the New York area gathered at Cipriani restaurant in Manhattan to meet with former president Lee Teng-hui (李登輝).

Lee spoke at the function, calling on all Taiwanese to prevent a non-democratic political party from taking power in the 2008 presidential elections, and to support Taiwan's democratic rule.

Participants in the event were largely drawn from Taiwanese overseas communities, and Lee was given a rousing welcome, with many people calling out "Uncle Lee, we love you."

Lee criticized the administration's position that the "Republic of China [ROC] is Taiwan," saying that the ROC only sojourned in Taiwan, and that it was now time for it to take its leave.

During his speech, Lee emphasized that if 75 percent of the nation's population would acknowledge Taiwan's identity, this would greatly raise the level of the nation's security and consolidate democracy. He said that many Taiwanese had become disillusioned in recent years, but that many others continued to fight against obstacles to achieve the normalization of Taiwan's status.

Lee said that the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 and the 2010 World Exposition in Shanghai would be a critical time in China's efforts to annex Taiwan, and that Taiwanese should maintain a high level of alertness.

He said there were four points of particular importance.

First, he said, Taiwanese at home and abroad should gather together the strength of a "new generation" to work for Taiwan.

Second, he said, everyone should feel they are frontline troops in Taiwan's diplomatic offensive.

Third, everyone should resist annexation by China, making their voice heard in the international community and reminding everyone that Taiwan has never been part of China, he said.

Fourth, everyone should support the sovereignty of democratic Taiwan, and in the 2008election, people must not allow a non-democratic party to take power, thus preserving Taiwan's democracy, which has been achieved only through great effort and sacrifice, he said.

Meanwhile, pan-blue Taiwanese expatriates were preparing a series of demonstrations against Lee's visit to Washington, while pan-green supporters were getting ready to give Lee a royal welcome.

Lee was scheduled to arrive in the US capital yesterday for the third leg of his two-week private visit to the US.

Ahead of Lee's arrival, pan-blue and pan-green supporters placed advertisements in the Chinese-language Washington News daily.

The ad placed by the pan-greens featured a grand welcome for "President Lee Teng-hui -- Mr. Taiwan Democracy and our hero."

The pan-blue ad read "Lee Teng-hui, you are not welcome in the US."

The ads were published on the same page in the Sunday edition of the daily.

Meanwhile, the Washington-based Formosa Association for Public Affairs (FAPA) is organizing a grand welcoming dinner party at the Hilton Washington hotel for tomorrow night.

Hundreds of Taiwanese expatriates are expected to attend the US$100-a-plate event.
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