(4) Our unwillingness to face the unpleasant reality that the Taiwanese nationhood is a noble but lost cause. True, the Formosan American communities do have a long history and tradition of supporting the cause of the Taiwanese independence. That's why we are unwilling to face the unpleasant reality that the U.S. government has kept stating it does not support the idea of an independent sovereign Taiwan. We keep ignoring the fact that the U.S. government dealt so many serious blows to the Taiwanese Independent Movement. We forget that President Chen Shui-bian at one time stated, "I can't make it. I can't make it. Even Lee Teng-hui can't make it, either. We have to stop fooling ourselves." Taiwanese independence is a lost cause already. We'd better face the cruel reality and change our course.


(5) Our reluctance to accept the fact that the Taiwanese population are in a totally different situation from ours. Taiwan is just about 150 miles away from China. The Taiwanese people are under the China threat. More than 700 missiles are targeting them. This is very serious business. Unlike us Formosan Americans, the Taiwanese people see that their lives, properties, and freedom are in danger. The truth is that most residents on Taiwan do not want to risk their lives in search of de jure independence. So, why do we Formosan Americans push the independence agenda so hard in disregard of their paramount concern, that is, avoiding a cross-strait war? If we Formosan Americans really care about the well-being of the Taiwanese people, we must look for a much safer and better option for them as an alternative. We mean, the Formosan Statehood Plan.


(6) Our rash judgment and hasty rejection of statehood as impractical or impossible for Taiwan. It is very easy for us to be overwhelmed by the potential difficulties and complexity involving the process of statehood, and to abandon it without serious consideration and adequate effort. The final outcome of statehood is, on the contrary, very much up to us.


(7) Our lack of awareness that such a viable option as the statehood actually exists. We believe this is by far the most important reason why we haven't considered the statehood as an effective strategy for advancing the security of Taiwan and the well-being of her residents. We may have been so busy promoting Taiwanese independence that we failed to use statehood as a far better strategy. We have not been able to see the forest for the trees, so to speak. But now we can confront this awareness problem head-on by vigorously publicizing statehood.


What can we Formosan Americans do to help the cause of statehood? Plenty! We can exercise our civil rights by fully expressing our political perspectives and aspirations and promote them. Like participating in voting, such expression of political views is not only a privilege, but also a duty of a responsible citizen. The democratic process cannot flourish without our active participation.


And since the statehood agenda is entirely up to the people of Taiwan and the United States, we should express our views not only in America as U.S. citizens of Formosan origin, but also in Taiwan. To promote the pursuit of U.S.-statehood for Taiwan, we can write or talk to anyone in the world as we see fit, in informal as well as formal settings. We would urge our fellow Formosan Americans to do everything we can.


Certainly, any one of us, to promote the cause of statehood, can send letters/emails to the President of the United States, Congressional leaders, the Senator and Congressman in our constituency, Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, National Security Adviser to the President, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, Commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet, and Chairperson of the American Institute in Taiwan, etc. We, may write or talk to our community leaders, publishers and editors of our local media, school teachers, church leaders, librarians of our local library, leading figures of civic groups in our home town or city. We, of course, may from time to time write open letters to the national mainstream newspapers of our choice and ask them to publish.


We would urge our fellow Formosan Americans to set up a "U.S.-Taiwan Integration Society," an "Annexation Club," or an "Action Committee for the Formosan Statehood in the Union" on the city/township, county, state, or even national level. And, we hope someday these grassroots civic groups can help organize and finance petition, lobbying, and other activities in the States.


We would also urge our fellow Formosan Americans to make donations or financial contributions to the Taiwan-based or U.S.-based civic groups devoted to the cause of statehood and to the political figures championing specifically U.S.-statehood for Taiwan.



Since the statehood issue is entirely up to the people of Taiwan and the U.S., we should express our views not only in America as U.S. citizens, but also in Taiwan because it is our country of origin, and so we are entitled to special concern about its destiny. To promote statehood for Taiwan, we can write or talk to anyone in the world as we see fit, in informal as well as formal settings. We would urge our fellow Formosan Americans to raise the issue and do everything we can. For instance, we may ask the candidates for any offices to give their endorsements to the cause of the Formosan statehood.


Certainly, any one of us, if qualified, can also directly participate in the political advancement of the cause by becoming a candidate for political offices, in America or in Taiwan. Any Formosan American willing to become Taiwanese again for the purpose of direct participation in the political activities there for such a cause is admirable. But we are sure that most of us will leave this "dirty business of politics" to those true diehards who can stand the ugly side of it.


Should we involve our children and their peers? Most definitely. Some of them are already in their 30s or 40s, and they are more capable than the first-generation Formosan Americans in most aspects as productive citizens. As Formosan Americans, they should be expected to be interested in matters concerning Taiwan, Formosans, and Formosan Americans. But our experiences so far are not very encouraging. Most of them we have encountered believe that community matters of Formosan Americans are entirely the responsibility of us in the first generation, and they would just use "too busy" as an excuse to avoid any participation at all.


Should we blame our American-born or Taiwanese-born offspring for their indifference and inertia concerning our community matters? Probably not. If anything, we should blame ourselves first. We believe that most of us since their childhood have given them the idea that they should concentrate on their studies, career, marriage, and everything else for personal gain. We have indicated to them implicitly as well as explicitly that Taiwanese and Formosan-American community affairs should be the least of their concern.


In addition, since the age when they were able to read, write, and voice their own opinions, they have been almost completely excluded from our community meetings and community newspapers, and so depriving them of the opportunities to be influenced by us indirectly through our interaction with them in community settings. Most people in the world, from the most primitive to the most civilized, interact with their offspring in community settings on a daily basis, as a matter of course.


This almost total dislocation of our two generations has happened in America, not Taiwan, and so we alone are to be blamed. How can we blame the KMT alien regime for our children's woeful ignorance of Taiwan's history, culture, politics, and security concerns? How can we expect them to attend our community gatherings and read our community newspapers when we are still using language unintelligible to them? How can we suddenly expect them now to be eager to get involved in the U.S.-statehood for Taiwan?


Fortunately, we hope we still have some moral influence over them. After all, we have paid for their tuition, even up to graduate schools. Shouldn't we expect something in return? Not money. This is because our monthly social security income will be more than adequate at our ripe old age, without the danger of starvation, so we don't expect our children's financial assistance to us at all, do we? If not, then we are perfectly justified to expect them to pitch in their time and effort for this great cause of the US-statehood for Taiwan, as a repayment to us and the people of Taiwan, who have subsidized our own tuition in the first place. By the way, we must help them realize that they are exactly the ones who will be benefiting most once the cause of the Formosan statehood gets accomplished. With Taiwan's joining with the Union, the American-educated second-generation Americans of Formosan origin will certainly get their best chance to become the ruling elite in both the Continental America and in the State of Formosa, Just to remind our fellow Formosan Americans, Taiwan will rank top three in the American family in terms of economic power and population. And, this strength will be transformed into the political power and social status of our American-educated second-generation Formosan Americans.


What we are trying to say is: The active involvement of the second-generation Formosan Americans in fighting for the cause of the Formosan statehood best serves their own interests, not the interests of anybody else. Therefore, we reason, self-interest can be a driving force for our offspring to make their commitments to the great cause.


Our offspring are entirely capable of doing anything and everything for the cause, at least in America. The only thing they need now is a little discipline about the willingness to do for the community which we forgot to enforce on them before. Our suggestion to our fellow Formosan Americans now is to send a copy of this essay to them as a way to broach the issue or subject. But please make sure to follow up with checking for their real actions. We would stress the word "follow-up" because, without it, we might as well forget the whole thing. After our decades of neglect, they would most definitely need our frequent reminding now to get anything concerning community matters done. They will do it only if you really mean business. Too busy? All of us always have enough time for important matters. No exceptions.


Another suggestion to our fellow Formosan Americans is to to enclose some form letters, which are readily available on a couple of websites devoted to the cause. This is not only the simplest thing they can do now, but also the most effective "warm-up" exercise for their involvement in our community matters. The messages in those form letters may be routine to us, but they could be eye-openers for our children who have not been exposed to our community affairs for a long, long time. And this is the best way for us to start to rein in our influence over our children again, because what we expect of them is action, no matter how insignificant the action seems to be at first.


And we should always take these form letters seriously. Just like votes, you and I have only one vote each, and two votes don't mean much. But votes can be added up to be a formidable force if we can add them up to hundreds of thousands. Ditto for those form letters. The President may likely read, if at all, at the most only one or two of those form letters we have sent to him. But if what we have sent turns out to be hundreds of thousands when his assistants tally them up, the President will for sure take notice of our messages and appeals. If we need to send out hundreds of thousands of these letters to make a big impact on him, then every one of us should send one, considering the puny size of our ethnic community. Can we afford not to ask every one of our second generation to do likewise?


We, of course, also hope our children can offer their articles, treatises, essays, or letters to the media of all forms, national or local, to help promote the cause.


Yes, it's also not too early to speak to our grandchildren now, if we are fortunate to have them already, about the US-statehood for Taiwan. Even a child can understand that it is truly a blessing to be an American citizen. Just simply tell them that we are helping all the relatives and friends left behind in Taiwan, including every little cousin there, to become Americans, even if they choose to stay in Taiwan forever. We are sure our grandchildren will be eager to write and speak for the cause when they grow up. They will also be eager to champion for the cause one day when they become powerful political figures themselves.


It's not too early because the statehood may take a couple of decades or even half a century. It's not too early because it takes time to change and we cannot expect our own children to be able to instill in their children properly these community matters, can we? It's not too early because it takes time for ourselves to realize that our own lack of concern about community affairs is the real source of our children's indifferent attitude in the first place. Investing our time and effort on our grandchildren now is a necessary way to make up for our missed opportunity of indoctrinating our children during their childhood on the importance of serving our own community.


We believe that the attractive features of the pursuit of U.S.-statehood to most residents on Taiwan and the benefits to the Formosan Americans are almost self-evident. There is no need for further  iscussions.  All we have to do now is to follow our conscience and make our commitments and contributions to the great cause!




9G An Ardent Appeal

An Ardent Appeal to Uncle Sam, American Citizens of All Ethnic Groups, Formosan Americans, Chinese Americans, and Formosan Emigrants All Over the World


I. The Formosan Statehood Best Serves the Interests of the United States


1. As the victor in the Pacific War, the United States liberated all the islands ruled or occupied by the Japanese, including Formosa (Taiwan) and the Pescadores (the Penghu Islands).


2. Under the San Francisco Peace Treaty (SFPT) of 1952, Taiwan was ceded in limbo by Japan, presumptively and logically leaving America as the guardian of the Formosan sovereignty. Taiwan has been put under the regime of American quasi-trusteeship ever since as the United States was designated as ''the principal occupying power''.


3. Under the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979, a public law of the U.S., America has kept playing the role of protector of Taiwan. Taiwan has been the security, strategic, economic, and political interests of the U.S. since the Korean War.


4. With its legal status still undecided, Taiwan should be allowed to hold a plebiscite or plebiscites when the United States deems appropriate.


The people on Taiwan is entitled to giving its sovereignty to the United States and establishing a self-rule commonwealth, following the example of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.


5. The Formosan statehood will complete the final phase of the "American Pacific Empire" envisioned by Commodore Matthew C. Perry and Ambassador Townsend Harris of the 19th century.


6. The Formosa Statehood Movement (FSM) proposes "The Two-Phase Taiwan-U.S. Integration Project," by which Taiwan will be integrated into America peacefully and perfectly and then make Taiwan suitable and qualified for applying for admission into the Union as a full member.


7. The Formosan statehood will secure and advance the security, strategic, political, and economic interests of the United States.


8. The Formosan statehood will turn Taiwan into an ideal forward base for spreading the American values and culture in the Asia-Pacific.


9. With the status of Taiwan settled and secured in the hand of America, the potential conflict between the U.S. and China will be eased and avoided eventually, and thus enhance peace, stability, and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Region.


10. Taiwan, as a permanent base for the United States, will secure the military and political presence of the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific. Japan, China, India, and all countries of the Asia-Pacific will thus enjoy stable economic development and have a superpower America as the protector and power balance in the region.


11. The admission and addition of Taiwan as a state full of hard-working, educated, creative, intelligent, and law-abiding citizens is definitely a valuable asset to the United States.
A sizable economy, an army of restless and creative entrepreneurs and management class, an army of hard-working labor force, huge investment all over the world, and abundant capital will benefit the U.S. economically.


As Taiwan joins the Union, the United States, assuring the security of the island, can easily help make Taiwan a commercial, financial, and industrial hub of the Asia-Pacific region. That in turn will make Taiwan a much more valuable asset of the United States.


12. As Taiwan becomes part of the Union, the abundant oil and gas reserves in the East China Sea, the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea (known as the Second Gulf Area) can be explored and shared by the United States.


13. When Taiwan becomes part of the Union, the immense pool of Formosan talents will make a huge contribution to the United States because some ethnic groups of Taiwan have established valuable business and other connections with the Japanese, peoples in the Southeast Asia, and the Chinese in China proper and overseas.


II. The Formosan Statehood Best Serves the Interests of Formosan Americans, Chinese Americans, and American Citizens of All Ethnic Groups


1. During the U.S.-Taiwan Integration Period, Taiwan will create and offer a lot of job opportunities, for instance, English teaching, for American citizens of all ethnic groups, including Americans of Formosan heritage or of Chinese ancestry.


2. As Taiwan becomes part of the Union, lots of Formosans/Chinese would seek habitual residence (not "permanent residence" under the definition of the Immigration and Naturalization Act) in the Continental America, enlarging the size of Formosan/Chinese population in some states or areas, and thus helping ethnic Formosan/Chinese groups gain more seats in the U.S. Congress, state assemblies, and town/city councils. Overall, ethnic Formosan/Chinese will wield much more political, economic, financial, and social power and influence throughout the United States.


3. Once Taiwan becomes part of the United States, the relations between the U.S. and China will become less and less intense over the years, thus help secure Chinese Americans as a constructive force in American societies. On the contrary, if China grows to be a hostile and menacing power in Asia, Chinese Americans might become "the public enemy" to the suspicious American general public and fall victims to the American patriotism.


4. Once Taiwan becomes part of the U.S., Formosan/Chinese Americans will gain much better chance to build up their support base in Taiwan because they command much better English language, have better comprehension of the U.S., and establish much better connections with the Continental American societies.


5. The Formosa Statehood Movement wishes to help Formosan emigrants all over the world realize that they will gain much more benefits and obtain much more protection from the United States if Taiwan becomes part of the American Union.




9H Why Taiwan?


To: Taiwanese-Americans, Taiwanese, Chinese, the literate world, and most directly; the American people,


Politics are impersonal. Therefore, I have decided to write an epistle directly to the people regarding the current status of Taiwan. I do warn readers that this may be appear brusque, but please note that being offended at the truth is denial of it.


1. The Situation:


Taiwan has been stuck in a sort of limbo for decades and one decade is too long. It waits in the midst of a status quo that is better described as a form of national stasis. In this story there are three players: the United States, China and Taiwan. It should be clear that two of the three entities listed have no right to determine the existence of the third; Taiwan, yet the political tug-o-war persists. As will be discussed, the island has become the personification of the histories of the United States and China, histories that those countries should not wish to repeat.


2. The Experiential History of the United States


The United States views Taiwan in the light that is uniquely American, in which life and freedom are highly valued but over which the thundercloud of the American Civil War looms. Immediately after the election of Abraham Lincoln, the majority of southern American states seceded from the Union to form a nation called the Confederate States of America (CSA). Although the CSA had elected a president and began printing its own money, the entity was never recognized by the world to any significant degree as an independent nation-state. This was unimportant, however, due to the events that followed secession which were: war, the annihilation of the infrastructure, an end to the de facto Independence of the CSA, complete emancipation of slaves, restoration of the Union, and a damaged sense of national pride. This experience was one of the most important events in the history of the world, considering its implications and with this being the closest parallel the U.S. can show experience, what parallels we draw here are flawed for a number of reasons. For the sake of brevity, we will simply point out that the CSA was in all senses a region of an existing country and had attempted independence with the notion that the cornerstone of the Confederacy was inequality* while Taiwan, an outlying island, does not reflect similar enough circumstances for that level of comparison.


3. The Experiential History of China and The Current Position

What the world knows now as China has a divided history of kingdoms usurping kingdoms and territorial capriciousness. Tibet, Hong Kong, Western and Southern China are some of the hot buttons that trigger aggressive rhetoric and defensiveness. This alludes to the fact that China as a state was never actually in control of Taiwan. The Qing Dynasty had once claimed the honor but was unable to literally control the island, with no capacity to administer to the island. The Qing Empire even received complaints regarding aggression by some of the island's population against foreign powers. During a war with Japan, to avoid invasion of the mainland, the Qing Dynasty gave Taiwan to Japan. World War II struck and Japan attacked the United States, drawing America openly into the war. Upon surrender, Japan was instructed to have all troops in Taiwan surrender to the Republic of China, however a civil war in China forced the Kuomintang (KMT, nationalist party, representing the Republic of China) onto the island of Taiwan, leaving the victorious Communist party (represented by the People's Republic of China) in control of the mainland. Due to the civil war in progress, Japan did not mention who Taiwan's sovereignty was surrendered to but stipulated that the United States was the primary occupying power in Taiwan, legally and formally, a territory belonging to Japan. China's grasp on this situation is that Japan's aggression was wrongful against the Qing Empire and that the Qing Empire WAS China. The Chinese Civil War was still in its throes then and never truly ended. The democratic island of Taiwan remains de facto independent and the communist mainland of China enjoys world recognition as a de jure nation, in which Taiwan is a "rouge province" that must be reinstituted with their "One China Policy" and “any means of force necessary”**. Today, the world has tersely turned its back on Taiwan, switching its recognition of “China” from the ROC to the PRC, without even allowing for the recognition of both. And what's worse is that China possesses nuclear arms which makes “any means of force necessary” ring all the louder in one's ear. The tens of millions of people on Taiwan find themselves at the end of the Chinese fission gun and behind it lurks the gloom of the history of draconian communist rule.


4. The Wills and The Ways


The fear of one major power (PRC) is abated by the protection of a super power (USA), as provided by the Taiwan Relations Act which is a public law in the United States. The extent of this law is not merely arms sales but the protection of the island as if it were a state in the Union. While maintaining a threatening stance toward Taiwan, China adheres to a "one China" policy and aggressive expansionism into nations that may or may not want their rule based on loose historic ties. The will of China to be in direct control of Taiwan is the end to which the way of threatening war is the means. This stance is purely ethno-ego driven with no legitimate ties to Taiwan. The will of the United States is to keep the status quo until something can be worked out in compromise, even if it means that the Taiwanese people find themselves "wrongfully imprisoned" in a limbo between their aspirations and Communist China's, which are principally different and incompatible; this is the unending end of open conflict that the U.S. hopes will eventually spawn a solution. The means of this is the law. Both China and the United States vow to keep to their guns, literally and figuratively, to the use of force if necessary. It's evident that the will of the United States and the will of China are mutually exclusive and doomed to erode to nil. The final conclusion would inevitably be that China exercises military force to take Taiwan and the United States exercises military force to defend it. Either way, Taiwan loses; and quite possibly the rest of the world as well.


5. My Opinion


It's clear to me that the One China policy is evidence that the civil war is still going if even only in propaganda. If there is one China, there are certainly two powers claiming it. There is an inevitable war brewing, whether intentionally or otherwise, that puts Taiwan in the cross fire. The island in contest is, ironically, being ignored. The people of Taiwan, as well as the rest of the world, have the right of self-determination. An empire clamoring for more and more, resources and land, infringes on the civil rights of a people who were never a party to Communist China to begin with. It has been the way of the United States throughout history to protect freedom and preserve democracy in all lands (for better or for worse). Even if that freedom is to choose not to be free. Clearly, here, Taiwan's will is to be free but in doing so, the United States would no longer be legally obligated to defend the island. This gap would quickly be taken advantage of by China and a very bloody but brief encounter would be marked in the pages of history as "The Short Lived History of the Independent Nation of Taiwan". The state of Texas was looking down the barrel of the reinvigorated Mexican army as its border disputes remained front-and-center when it was finally accepted as a state in the Union. After acceptance, Mexico attacked a U.S. patrol sparking off the war, as it had intended to eventually retake the “rouge territory” of the Republic of Texas, and the United States rose up and crushed the Mexican army in what is known as the Mexican American war. Taiwan is now at the verge of war and inching closer by the day. Blood could be shed but a more peaceful and wise solution is available: statehood in the United States.


If the protection of the United States has thus far defended Taiwan from invasion and helped bolster the economy, imagine the mutual benefits of Taiwan joining the Union. Here are some arguments that you may have along with the most evident responses:


A1. It's too far away.


A2. They don't speak English.


A3. They're Chinese, not American.


R1. Guam happens to be in the same longitude as the northern island of Japan! Our friends from Guam have little trouble coming here and us Americans in the contiguous 48 states do not have trouble going to Guam, or Hawaii, or Alaska, or Asian countries. In fact, those of us who make frequent trips to Asia would find that Taiwan as a state would provide a much deeper discount on airline prices and a beautiful stop for vacation or layover.


R2. Originally, the people who settled in Louisiana did not speak English, they spoke French. This is still reflected in the state today which does not have counties; it has parishes. Many of the city names are French, and a completely original dialect is centered there. Many of our Hispanic friends and neighbors were raised speaking Spanish and many immigrants who came to the United States did not speak English. It is likely that your ancestors did not speak a word of English before arriving in the United States. One should also note that when children are born, they certain do not speak English. It is true that English is the international language and with this in mind people should not feel as though they will lose English in the United States. If anything, English will blossom in Taiwan for a better economy and social ties.


R3. Sure, they may be part Chinese and there's nothing wrong with that. Many of our friends may be Chinese or part Chinese. This effort at separating “us” from “them” is moot when remembering where our forefathers came from; mostly from all over Europe, many from Africa, some from Asia. But by far these three overshadow the native population. And the native population are the only ones who can really say “us” and “them”. Ethnicity is irrelevant in today's world, it is culture that makes one American or Chinese or European or African or otherwise.


The implications and the factual concrete outcomes of Taiwanese statehood are numerous and overwhelmingly beneficial. The United States is just that, a Union of States. The term state meaning: an independent governmental entity. However, we are all unified under a federal constitution and a national government. The term national meaning: an independent society of people. The American nation is a union of nations; of Ohioans, Californians, New Yorkers, Texans and why not Formosans (Formosa being another name for Taiwan)?


6. Why Taiwan?


The answers to “why?” are numerous and many of the answers are dire in their urgency. First, one should understand the financial implications. Initially the most obvious benefit is a boost in tax revenue by 23 million people. For the Taiwanese, there's a 350 million person tax increase. How would you like to get more back in your tax return and see better social programs? Better schools? Better hospitals? Of course, this would also mean that there are more people taking funds from these services but consider that Taiwan's GDP of roughly $450 billion and a healthy growth rate shows that the island has entrepreneurial strengths like that of the United States and would be ranked the 9th largest in Gross State Product (just below #8 Ohio and just above #10 Virginia). The less obvious benefits may not be as quickly perceived as the great financial and investment opportunities but are just as important, if not more.


Taiwan is suffering from a bully across the strait; China. China consistently threatens the island and even has more than 700 ballistic missiles targeting the island. Why has China not attacked yet to “retake” the island? I mentioned before that the Taiwan Relations Act, a public law here, provides that we must protect Taiwan in the event of war. China is not willing to jump into that ring so it is content with threatening until either the U.S. releases itself from the duty to protect Taiwan or until, essentially, no one is looking. If Taiwan were a state, China would be faced with a dilemma: retract all of the false claims it has to Taiwan and move on, or be trounced by a U.S. war machine. Any true peace loving society would certainly allow Taiwan to make its own choice rather than fight and lose to have its own choice overshadowed by the will of others. No man goes to his neighbor and says “You and I are similar and share a distant great uncle. Therefore I claim you and your house and you must now live under my rules”. That notion alone is ridiculous, but when you consider the atrocious lack of human rights in mainland China, it becomes clear that Taiwan is on the same moral footing as the United States regarding individual freedom. Back to the bully; if the U.S. were to have a military base or two in the new state of Taiwan, not only would China be inclined to tone down its posturing and bullying but the rest of the Asia-Pacific community as well. The bases currently in Asian nations could be consolidated and tensions in those host nations eased. These are the implications of peace. The United States has been, for decades, a symbol of justice and what many consider the “world police”. In defending Taiwan, the United States is defending the rest of Asia. No other nation in modern times can claim and maintain the responsibility of keeping peace in lands that are in other hemispheres. And in modern times, this has become increasingly more difficult just because of that distance. Here, the distance can be negated with the help of Taiwan, a partner in peace. Some would say “It would be imperialistic for the United States to exist in two hemispheres”, and again we look to Guam, which is in the eastern hemisphere. It would be prudent to also point to Alaska, which includes the Aleutian Islands which extend out and nearly touch Russia. It's not a matter of imperialism when both sides consent it becomes a matter of peaceful partnership. This is the only real way to provide for China leaving the besieged and internationally abandoned Taiwanese people alone.


7. In Conclusion


To conclude, let us recall the inscription on a statue that was given to the U.S. by a foreign people which has now become one of many symbols that the United States stands for:


The New Colossus


Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, with conquering limbs astride from land to land; Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame, "Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!" cries she with silent lips. "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore, Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" - Emma Lazarus


The people of Taiwan find themselves in a situation in which they can turn and walk toward the gallows erected to execute and eliminate their freedom, or they can turn and approach the “golden door”. Where they stand now is the road to freedom and independence, but it's just a road, on which there are two destinations. The United States turned its back on oppression, and in many other forms throughout its history as well the peaceful and civilized world has done the same. What we must do now is show the Formosan people that there is another way and to allow them their right to choose liberty.


By Christopher Jewells


* CSA Vice President Alexander Stephens' “Corner Stone” speech.
** Paraphrased from China's Anti-Secession Law




9I For more information on the Facebook page of the Formosa Statehood Movement, please use the following link: https://www.facebook.com/The-Formosa-Statehood-Movement-486092558141250/