C.T. Lee (李青泰), former president of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), passed away on Jan. 9 at the age of 82, the association announced today.
Lee served as the association’s national president from 2006 to 2007, during which time he promoted the normalization of US-Taiwan relations and increasing US support for Taiwan, FAPA said in a statement.
In an interview with the Taipei Times in 2007, he called for lifting restrictions on high-level visits between Taiwan and the US and Taiwan’s entry into international organizations such as the UN.
Photo: Fang Pin-chao, Taipei Times
“FAPA's standpoint on Taiwan's independence is that Taiwan is already a ‘de facto’ nation, but it has not yet been recognized by the international community,” Lee said at the time.
“C.T.’s unwavering dedication and tireless advocacy have left a lasting impact on the movement for Taiwan’s independence and international recognition,” the statement said.
During his time as a member of the organization advocating for Taiwanese self-determination, Lee secured support from lawmakers in the state of Ohio who have gone on to support pro-Taiwan legislation, the statement said.
The statement named former US senator Rob Portman, former congressman Steve Stivers and former congressman Steve Chabot as politicians who Lee engaged with.
Lee connected with Chabot in 1994, who then became a major ally of Taiwan within Congress, the statement said.
Chabot went on to sponsor or cosponsor “nearly every pro-Taiwan legislative effort,” it added.
Chabot’s list of supported initiatives includes the 2018 Taiwan Travel Act, which allows for high-level visits between officials in both countries, and a concurrent resolution in 2016 that reaffirmed US commitment for Taiwan, the statement said.
The 2018 law was “a historic achievement for FAPA,” it added.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who cosponsored the 2016 concurrent resolution with Chabot, said during his confirmation hearing last month that US support for Taiwan remains based on the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 and the “six assurances” of 1982, the statement added.
“We reflect on one deep regret: he did not live to see the fulfillment of our shared dream,” the statement said, adding a promise to “carry his torch forward and continue the fight.”
The Ministry of Economic Affairs has fined Taobao NT$1.2 million (US$36,900) for advertisements that exceeded its approved business scope and ordered the Chinese e-commerce platform to make corrections in the first half of this year or its license would be revoked. Lawmakers have called for stricter supervision of Chinese e-commerce platforms and more stringent measures to prevent China from laundering its goods through Taiwan as US President Donald Trump’s administration cracks down on origin laundering. The legislature’s Finance Committee yesterday met to discuss policies to prevent China from dumping goods in Taiwan, inviting government agencies to report on the matter. Democratic Progressive Party
Taiwan and its Pacific ally Tuvalu on Tuesday signed two accords aimed at facilitating bilateral cooperation on labor affairs, according to Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA). The governments inked two agreements in Taipei, witnessed by Foreign Minister Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) and visiting Deputy Tuvaluan Prime Minister Panapasi Nelesone, MOFA said in a news release. According to MOFA, the agreements will facilitate cooperation on labor issues and allow the two sides to mutually recognize seafarers’ certificates and related training. Taiwan would also continue to collaborate with Tuvalu across various fields to promote economic prosperity as well as the well-being of their
Taiwan would welcome the return of Honduras as a diplomatic ally if its next president decides to make such a move, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said yesterday. “Of course, we would welcome Honduras if they want to restore diplomatic ties with Taiwan after their elections,” Lin said at a meeting of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, when asked to comment on statements made by two of the three Honduran presidential candidates during the presidential campaign in the Central American country. Taiwan is paying close attention to the region as a whole in the wake of a
NEW WORLD: Taiwan is pursuing innovative approaches to international relations through economics, trade and values-based diplomacy, the foreign minister said Taiwan would implement a “three-chain strategy” that promotes democratic values in response to US tariffs, Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍) said. Taiwan would aim to create a “global democratic value chain,” seek to capitalize on its position within the first island chain and promote a “non-red supply chain,” Lin was quoted as saying in the ministry’s written report to the Legislative Yuan submitted ahead of the legislature’s Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee meeting slated for today. The Ministry would also uphold a spirit of mutual beneficial collaboration, maintaining close communication and consultations with Washington to show that Taiwan-US cooperation
RSS