More than 300 protesters gathered in front of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) yesterday to urge the US to recognize Taiwan as an incorporated territory and assume full authority for its “military occupation.”
Waving a self-designed US Military Government flag — the shape of Taiwan superimposed on a US flag — the protesters, led by attorney Roger Lin (林志昇), chanted anti-government slogans and called for the expulsion of the Republic of China (ROC) “government-in-exile.”
In December 2006, Lin and a group of expatriates sued the US government, arguing that although Japan relinquished its claim over Taiwan after World War II, it did not hand it to China.
PHOTO: CNA
Since the US took occupied Japan and its overseas territories following victory in the war, the US was responsible for the final disposition of these areas, including Taiwan, the group said.
Lin said yesterday that according to the US State Department’s definition of terrorist groups, the ROC military establishment shares many traits with al-Qaeda.
Lin presented information in a manila envelope to AIT press officer Christopher Kavanagh and asked him to relay it to US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Lin said if Clinton failed to respond to his plea, he would provide the information to major international media outlets.
The protesters were met by police who guard the AIT compound.
The crowd dispersed peacefully after Lin’s brief meeting with Kavanagh.
In Lin’s court case in the US, he said the San Francisco Treaty, which marked Japan’s surrender of Taiwan, did not say who should assume control of Taiwan and thus that it remains under the jurisdiction of the US. He said Taiwanese are entitled to be nationals, although not voting citizens, of the US, with US passports.
In April, the US Court of Appeal in Washington ruled in favor of the US government in an appeal of a district court ruling.
“Addressing [the] Appellants’ claims would require identification of Taiwan’s sovereign. The Executive Branch has deliberately remained silent on this issue and we cannot intrude on its decision,” the judges said.
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The Taipei Summer Festival is to begin tomorrow at Dadaocheng Wharf (大稻埕), featuring four themed firework shows and five live music performances throughout the month, the Taipei Department of Information and Tourism said today. The festival in the city’s Datong District (大同) is to run until Aug. 30, holding firework displays on Wednesdays and the final Saturday of the event. The first show is scheduled for tomorrow, followed by Aug. 13, 20 and 30. To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Disney Pixar's movie Toy Story, the festival has partnered with Walt Disney Co (Taiwan) to host a special themed area on
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