On July 18, Heritage Foundation cofounder Edwin Feulner — a staunch supporter of Taiwan throughout his life — passed away at the age 83.
As a junior staff member, I was instructed to guide Feulner during his visit to Taiwan in the middle of August 1982. Washington and Beijing were undergoing intense negotiations regarding the signing of what would become the third joint communique — following the 1972 Shanghai Communique, which states that the US “acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China and that Taiwan is a part of China,” and the 1979 Joint Communique on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, which prohibited government-level contact between Taiwan and the US.
The third communique was aimed at limiting US arms sales to Taiwan. On Aug. 17, 1982, the US and China issued the Joint US-China Communique on Arms Sales, dealing yet another heavy blow to Taiwan-US ties.
Following the signing, there was a somber atmosphere at a banquet for Feulner and his delegation hosted by Fredrick Chien (錢復), who was soon to become Taipei’s representative to the US and was later minister of foreign affairs. Unable to hide his indignation, Feulner said that he would express his position to the White House and mobilize the US Congress and civil society to urge the administration of then-US president Ronald Reagan to abide by its commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act and ensure security in the Taiwan Strait.
Feulner established the Heritage Foundation’s strong, pro-Taiwan stance — a position that has not wavered to this day.
Washington is home to many think tanks that specialize in areas from national security and international diplomacy to domestic politics and economic issues. They serve as forums for intellectual exchange, and vehicles to identify and cultivate political talent. The Heritage Foundation rose to prominence after Reagan became president in 1980. Under four decades of Feulner’s leadership, it grew into a major policy research institution with more than 200 employees and is a force in US politics.
Feulner led more than one generation of the conservative movement in the US — although he never held office — and he was well-respected across party lines for his integrity and experience. He had no enemies in Washington — no small feat.
During my three official postings to Washington, I was fortunate to maintain close contact with Feulner and sought his advice many times. He introduced me to many high-level contacts and generously shared countless insights. He was tireless in his support for Taiwan’s security, prosperity and economic freedom, always willing to provide suggestions and assistance when he could. He even played a discreet, but pivotal, role in the historic telephone call in December 2016 between then-president Tsai Ing-wen (蔡英文) and Donald Trump shortly after his first presidential election win.
Feulner was a staunch believer in liberal democracy, free-market economy, limited government intervention, low taxes, pro-business policies, anti-communism, a strong national defense and international alliances. He put those values into action and became a pioneer for an entire generation of conservative thought.
However, changes in domestic and international circumstances have given rise to movements such as neo-conservatism and — more recently — the far-right populism associated with Trump, some of which have deviated from traditional conservative values and policy lines, but Feulner remained steadfast in his support for Taiwan.
His legacy will be remembered fondly.
Stanley Kao was Taiwan’s representative to the US from 2016 to 2020.
Translated by Kyra Gustavsen
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