Taiwanese-Americans deeply concerned about CNN statements by Taiwan President Ma

The Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA), a Washington-based grassroots organization representing Taiwanese-Americans, today expressed deep concern about statements made by Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou during an interview with CNN on Friday April 30th.


In the interview with Christiane Amanpour, Mr. Ma stated that “… we will never ask the Americans to fight for Taiwan.”


FAPA President Bob Yang said in response: “Of course we are clearly in favor of a peaceful resolution, but that can only be achieved if Taiwan shows the resolve to defend itself. A statement as made by Mr. Ma actually invites aggression from China, which has been threatening Taiwan’s free and democratic existence for many years. It amounts to pre-emptive surrender by the Chinese Nationalist Kuomintang government in Taiwan.”



Professor Yang added: “President Ma’s remarks also fly in the face of US commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act, which states that the United States will maintain the capacity … to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan.”



Professor Yang also said that President Ma’s remarks are totally at odds with the basic US policy of strategic ambiguity, which leaves an aggressor like China guessing at the way the US will respond, and is therefore a strong deterrent against provocative action by China. “Mr. Ma’s remarks leave China the impression that this ambiguity is removed, thereby undermining the deterrence provided by the US presence in the region.”


Professor Yang concluded that it would be essential for President Ma to issue a clarification, and make it crystal clear that his government adheres to the basic policies on which the strong relations with the US are based, and refrains from making any moves which undermine Taiwan’s freedom, democracy and independence.