HAPA-NA cosign the letter addressed to president Obama

January 12, 2011

President Barack H. Obama
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Obama:

As you prepare to welcome China's President Hu Jintao to Washington, we, the undersigned representatives of Taiwanese-American organizations, appeal to you to reaffirm America's support for freedom, democracy and human rights in Taiwan.

We understand that in order to solve many of the world's major problems, the United States needs to engage China. However, such engagement should not be done at the expense of America's core values-freedom, democracy and human rights, as embodied in the nation of Taiwan.

In November 2009, during your visit to Beijing, Chinese leaders asserted that Taiwan was one of China's so-called "core interests." We ask you to remind Mr. Hu that it is a national interest of the United States that the future of Taiwan be resolved peacefully and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan. We also request that you refrain from proffering U.S. respect for China’s "sovereignty and territorial integrity" as China lays specious claim over Taiwan.

We believe that it is in the best interest of the United States to take a clear position on the following issues as well.

We ask you to prod China to dismantle its 1,600 missiles targeted at Taiwan and renounce the threat or use of force against Taiwan. To safeguard Taiwan is to embrace freedom, democracy and human rights. This is the best way to maintain peace and stability in Asia and consistent with the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act. In so doing, America will be looked upon with respect and trust by the multitude of nations in that part of the world.

We also implore you to impress upon the Chinese delegation that it is essential to end Taiwan's international political isolation. Taiwan is a peace-loving country. It is able and willing to carry out United Nations Charter obligations. Taiwan deserves an equal place in the international family of nations, and its people should be fully represented in international organizations such as the U.N. and the World Health Organization.

Thank you for your attention.

Sincerely yours,