wfn.org | TCN: PCT issues open letter to U.S. President on behalf of Taiwan

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

>      Taiwan Church News

>2997 Edition

>August 3~9, 2009

PCT issues open letter to U.S. President on behalf of Taiwan

>Provided by Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

In view of the pending meeting and talks on the US-China relations  between U.S.

President Barack Obama and Chinese President Hu Jin-Tao, the  Presbyterian

Church in Taiwan (PCT) issued an open letter to President Obama  dated 17 July

2009. The following is the text of the open letter:

An Open Letter of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan

>to

>The U. S. President Barack Obama

>An Appeal of the People in Taiwan

>Dear Mr. President:

Your upcoming meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao, and the  possibility that Taiwan

may be discussed, raises again the dilemma of Taiwan’s  uncertain status and is compounded

by the changing situation in the Taiwan Strait. The future of  Taiwan and our destiny as a

>people in Taiwan may be in jeopardy.

The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan has been identified with the  people here for almost a

century and a half; we feel the anxiety of the people of this  island. Believing that the Church

is the fellowship of God’s people, called to proclaim the  salvation of Jesus Christ, called to

be ambassadors of reconciliation, rooted in this land and  identified with all its inhabitants, and

through love and suffering called to be a sign of hope, we issue  this appeal to you.

Under the daily threat of over thirteen hundred Chinese missiles,  the yearly expansion of its

military forces, and its constant obstruction of Taiwan’s  participation in the international

organizations, the people in Taiwan feel the threat to our  personal lives, the violation of our

national sovereignty and basic human rights. We are concerned  that, if Taiwan were taken

over by dictatorial China, not only would the hard earned  democratic system in Taiwan be

destroyed, but the welfare of people here would be sacrificed, and  the peace and stability of

>Asian Pacific region would be threatened.

Taiwanese people heartily love freedom and cherish deeply our  democratic achievements.

We do not want to live under totalitarian rule. This can be seen  in the results of a recent poll

that over eighty per cent of people in Taiwan are opposed to  unification with China. The

people of Taiwan will adhere to the principles of justice and  peace, and will steadfastly

>defend the right of self-determination.

We believe that human rights are God-given. The right of  self-determination is a principle

stated in “The Charter of the United Nations,” and is a  basic right guaranteed by “The

Universal Declaration of Human Rights.” Therefore, we appeal  to the Government of the

United States to review its policy toward Taiwan and China, to  recognize that Taiwan and

China are two separate countries, and cooperate with all peace and  justice loving countries

in the world to prevent China from taking over Taiwan by force or  any other means. We

also appeal to the international communities to be attentive to  the wishes of Taiwanese

people, assisting Taiwan to participate in international affairs  as an independent country, so

that the people of Taiwan will be given an opportunity to  contribute to the justice, peace, and

>welfare of the whole human race.

“He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the  Lord require of you? But

to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your  God.” (Micah 6:8)

The General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan,

>July 17th, 2009, in Tamsui, Taiwan

>The Rev. Leonard Tsung-Jeng Lin

>Moderator, 54th General Assembly

>The Rev. Andrew Te-Chien Chang

>General Secretary

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