PCT joins other civil society organizations in shedding light on the Treaty of San Francisco

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

3106 Edition

September 5-11, 2011

General Assembly News

PCT joins other civil society organizations in shedding light on the Treaty of 
San Francisco

Reported by Chiou Kuo-rong

Written by Lydia Ma

Taiwan Nation Alliance (TNA) held a rally on September 4, 2011 in Taipei to 
remember the Treaty of San Francisco, signed on September 8, 1951, between 
Japan and the Allied Powers. Participants convened in front of Wanhua Train 
Station carrying signs and chanting slogans. They demanded that President Ma 
stop using the “1992 Consensus” as a means to fool Taiwanese people and 
undermine Taiwan’s sovereignty.

As a member of TNA, PCT, including General Secretary Andrew Chang and other 
officials, were also present in this rally. Chang led a group of PCT members 
with the cry “Protect sovereignty. Love Taiwan!”. He was also invited to lead 
all participants in a closing prayer when the rally reached its final 
destination on Ketagalan Boulevard.

The Treaty of San Francisco officially renounces Japan’s treaty rights derived 
from the Boxer Protocol in 1901 and its rights to Taiwan, but its language is 
ambiguous as to which country has control over Taiwan.

Chang said that PCT’s participation in this rally is a way for the church to 
act on its statement of faith. He added that the public statement “A 
Declaration on Human Rights by the PCT” issued in 1977 underscored the church’s 
stand that Taiwan should get rid of the name “Republic of China” and firmly 
establish a new and independent country.

To understand the reason and significance of this rally, Chang said the Treaty 
of San Francisco has always been excluded from all “Republic of China” history 
curriculum, so, very few people know about this treaty that plays an important 
role in justifying Taiwan’s sovereignty. It is now up to civil society 
organizations to raise awareness on this significant piece of Taiwanese history.

Chang also said that the future of Taiwan depends on Taiwanese coming to their 
senses and realizing that if Taiwan doesn’t have complete sovereignty, all 
efforts to boost the national economy will one day be for naught. He added that 
Taiwan’s expulsion from the United Nation and other international organizations 
in the past 30 years have both marginalized Taiwan and prevented the 
international community from benefitting from Taiwan’s achievements.

Hence, as a Christian church fulfilling her calling from God, Chang said it was 
only fitting for PCT to participate in this rally and speak up in support of 
justice and peace.

********************

Taiwan Church News is published weekly in Taiwan's local languages. 

You may translate and re-use our articles online only if you acknowledge the 
source as "Taiwan Church News" and list the names of the reporter and writer. 
Contact us before reprinting any of our articles for print publications. 

Direct comments and questions about this article to: enews@pctpress.org

Visit our website for more news at: http://enews.pctpress.org/ (English) or 
http://www.pctpress.org (Chinese) 

********************

 

========================
Lydia Ma   
English Editor and Secretary
Taiwan Church Press
334 Youth Road, 3F
Tainan City, Taiwan 70144
Tel: +886-6-235-6277 ext.136
Fax: +886-6-237-8882
Email: enews@pctpress.org
Website: http://enews.pctpress.org/
========================