Taiwan Church News

2995 Edition

July 20~26, 2009

PCT issues open letter to President Obama on behalf of Taiwan

Reported by Lin Yi-ying

Written by Lydia Ma

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT) will soon issue an open letter to U.S. President Barack Obama in anticipation of meetings between Chinese and U.S. top officials in upcoming months. Because of increased interaction between Chinese and U.S. top officials, and the U.S. government’s silence on Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou’s China-leaning policies, the PCT felt compelled to write this open letter entitled “An appeal of the People of Taiwan” to President Obama to emphasize that human rights are God-given rights and Taiwan’s future must be decided by Taiwanese people as a nation.

The letter also calls the Obama administration to acknowledge the reality that Taiwan and China are distinct and separate entities and more than 80% of Taiwanese people nowadays oppose unification with China. The PCT hopes that U.S. leaders will re-examine U.S. policies on China and Taiwan and join other countries in opposing Chinese invasion of Taiwan by military force or other means.

PCT top officials and delegates from PCT presbyteries, districts and committees gathered in Tamsui on July 16^th~17^th, 2009, for a two-day symposium on the future of Taiwan, emphasizing on upcoming meetings between U.S. and Chinese top officials.

During his opening sermon, General Assembly Moderator Leonard Lin used the story of Moses in the book of Exodus to encourage Taiwanese people to take heart and not be afraid. He also urged Taiwanese people to stop scaring themselves by magnifying China as it is only by not being intimidated by the enemy’s threats that Taiwan can enjoy this “land flowing with milk and honey” given by God.

During the symposium, several guest speakers were invited to speak on the undefined international status of Taiwan, including Taiwan Administrative Law Association CEO Cheng Chung-mo, Formosa Nation Legal Strategy Association Secretary General Roger C.S. Lin, and news commentator Wang Yun-cheng.

Other guest speakers, including Taiwan Thinktank Director of Foreign Policy Studies Lai I-chung, Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Department of International Affairs Director Hsiao Bi-khim, and former Secretary of Defense Tsai Ming-shian, were invited to give their take on whether there is a way out for Taiwan based on the current relationship between Taiwan, China, and the U.S. Attendees were divided into six groups after the symposium to work on the open letter to President Obama.

After the letter has been discussed, revised, and approved by the PCT General Assembly Executive Committee, it will be translated into English, Japanese and other languages and sent to President Obama, as well as Christian churches and organizations around the world.

The letter will be personally delivered to the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) by Moderator Leonard Lin so that it can be forwarded to President Obama.

According to Lin, the purpose of this letter is to inform the U.S. government of Taiwanese people’s sentiments, but it also serves to encourage Taiwanese people not to give up on any opportunity to be masters of their own country. Though Taiwan may face challenges because of President Ma’s China-leaning policies, it is only by keeping alive faith, hope, and love and choosing to face problems instead of escaping from them that we can continue to make progress.

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