The attack on the US by radical Islamists has turned our attention away from the threat posed by Communist China to US interests. A flashpoint in the not-too-distant future will be Taiwan, an island claimed by the Communist Chinese. The claim is dubious. Since when did an empire (modern Chinese borders are the result of Chinese imperial expansion, with some adjustments such as those done by Russian imperialism) have a sacred right to every bit of territory that it ever claimed? In the case of Taiwan, the claim does not stand up to close scrutiny. And, believe it or not, an American mainline denomination this summer will consider a resolution in support of an independent Taiwan. (cont.)

The Reformed Church in America (RCA), my denomination, will consider the following overture at our national meeting in June. If you read the sections I have put into boldface, you will see that China's claim to Taiwan is not that strong. My denomination, like most mainline denominations, issues statements of support to the oppressed after they are being oppressed. In this instance, we have the opportunity to support people before oppression begins. I will be a delegate and plan to support this overture. And, as a US citizen, if we truly support democracy in the world, we will support Taiwan.

Taiwan and the “One China Policy”
2. The Classis of Queens overtures the General Synod to follow up on and strengthen their support of the General Synod actions regarding human rights and democracy on Taiwan and the realization of Taiwan’s acceptance as a member country in the World Health Organization (WHO (MGS 2003,R-34,pp.41-42,131) and the United Nation(U.N.) (MGS 1995,R-8,p. 88); and further, to request the general secretary on behalf of the Reformed Church in America to write letters to the President of United States of America, the Secretary of the U.S. Department of State, the leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate, the Prime Minister of Canada, the leaders of the Canadian Parliament, the General Secretary and the President of the World Health Organization and the General Secretary of the United Nations to express the concern and support of the Reformed Church in America that the unrealistic and unjustifiable “One China Policy” should be ended. And therefore, the Nation of Taiwan may be accepted as a member country in WHO and the U.N. for humanitarian, realistic, and truthful reasons, and for enhancing the peace and security of the people of the whole world;and further, to request all congregations of the RCA to pray to almighty God for the survival of Taiwan as an independent and free country, to speak out for truth and human rights and to ask for guidance in ways we might give our witness to this difficult issue. Also, to call on the RCA, its members, consistories, congregations, and assemblies, to write letters to their congressmen and congresswomen and senators to express the RCA’s support of Taiwan’s memberships into WHO and the U.N.

Reasons:
1. There is no consent of the Taiwanese people on the “One China Policy.” The “One China Policy” was formed in three communiqués: the Shianghai Communiqué of 1972 [1,2], the Normalization Communique of 1978 [1,2,3], the August 17 Communique of 1982 [1,2,4], and the Taiwan Relation Act of 1979 [1,2,5]. In the Shianghai Communiqué of February 1972, The U.S. side declared: “The United States acknowledges that all Chinese on either side of the Taiwan Strait maintain there is but one China, and that Taiwan is a part of China. The United States Government does not challenge that position” [1,2]. This statement does not represent the will of the Taiwanese people. Eighty-five percent of the Taiwanese population inhabited Taiwan for hundreds of years prior to the invasion from China. In the seventeenth century (1624-1684) Taiwan was occupied by the Dutch, the Spanish, and pirates of the Ming Dynasty. In 1684 the Ching Dynasty unilaterally claimed Taiwan as part of its territory. Two hundred and twelve years later, in 1895, China ceded Taiwan to Japan. During this so-called occupancy period, China not only did not do any development, but also prohibited the Chinese from going to Taiwan by describing Taiwan as a dangerous place environmentally and personally [6]. Ironically, in the much shorter period of fifty years of colonization, Japan modernized Taiwan in all aspects. At the end of the World War II, in 1945, Japan concluded its rule over Taiwan but ceded Taiwan to nobody. The Allied Forces then instructed the Chinese Nationalist government to “temporarily occupy Taiwan” [8]. Unfortunately, four years later, in 1949, the Nationalists were defeated by the Communists and fled to Taiwan. Along with their soldiers and civilians, the Nationalists accounted for 15 percent of population in Taiwan. The Nationalists, striving to keep their legitimacy intact, ruled Taiwan under Martial Law from 1949 to 1987. This was the longest period of martial law ever declared in the world [12]. In order to control educated Taiwanese, the so-called “Republic of China” or “Free China” used terrorism and a bloody regime. It massacred at least twenty thousand elite Taiwanese leaders and youth in the 228 (Feb. 28)incident in 1947. This tremendously tragic experience became a significant historic turning point for native Taiwanese. It woke up the majority of the Taiwanese people to the cruel reality of Chinese rule. Then the independence movement, self-determination, and the democracy movement actively progressed in Taiwan and overseas. Obviously, the majority of Taiwanese people say “No” to China [13, 14, 15]. How could Taiwan be a part of China? One massacre is enough.
2. De facto, Taiwan is an independent and democratic country now. In 1972, the Republic of China (R.O.C., the name rarely used now for Taiwan in the international community) was expelled from the United Nations and was replaced by the People’s Republic of China (P.R.C.). Since Chiang Kai Sheik’s regime (R.O.C.) refused the U.N.’s offer to sit in the U.N. with the name of Taiwan, Taiwan has become an international orphan. Taiwan is a beautiful and a de facto independent and free country. It meets all the requirements of a state, as the international community determined at the 1933 Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States. The conditions for statehood are that a state has a permanent population, a defined territory, a form of government, and a capacity to enter into relations with other states. Taiwan clearly passes all tests [16]. Taiwan became a true democratic country in 1966 with the direct election of the president and the vice president for the first time in Taiwan history and with the Democratic Progressive Party’s 2000 defeat of the Nationalist Party’s fifty-five years of ruling Taiwan.

3. Suppression of the survival of Taiwan in the international community by the propaganda of “One China Policy.” China (P.R.C.) blocked the representation of Taiwan in the international community and refuses assistance by claiming Taiwan is part of China and China has taken care of Taiwan already. This is totally contrary to the facts. For example, China obstructed critical and timely medical assistance needed from WHO and the Red Cross for the Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreak in 2003 [14, 20, 21] and rescue efforts from the Red Cross and Russia during the severe earthquake in 1999 [17, 18, 19]. It rejected the attendance of Taiwanese representatives to the International Tsunami Conference in spite of Taiwan being at the top of the list of donations in 2004 [22, 23]. Taiwan helps poor countries with medical, technical, and economical support. But when Taiwan needs helps, who cares for her? The propaganda and application of “One China Policy” represents an evil force against Taiwan and her people.

4. To ensure peace and the security of the Taiwan Strait, the western Pacific, and the whole world. China (P.R.C.) not only restricts Taiwan’s survival in the international community by diplomatic pressure, but also expands its military force by putting eight hundred and accelerating numbers of missiles facing Taiwan across the Taiwan Strait. Last year China passed its own so-called “anti-secession law,” attempting to use it as an excuse to take Taiwan by force. The U.S.’s adherence to a “One China Policy” only reinforces China’s military buildup and expansion, which indeed will endanger the peace and security of the Taiwan Strait, the western Pacific, and the whole world.

5. To ensure the right direction of the evangelical mission in China. Taiwan is pleased to see the RCA planning evangelical missions in China. But if the RCA compromises with the P.R.C. government at the price of sacrificing Taiwan or enhancing the persecution of underground and non-registered Chinese churches by its own government, the RCA may face the consequences of apologizing to the sacrificed churches and people later, much as German Christian churches did for letting Nazis kill Jews by remaining silent. It also would resemble Japanese Christian churches letting Japan’s emperor persecute churches in Southeast Asia without raising their voices. The Lord says, “Here is my servant, whom I strengthen—the one I have chosen, with whom I am pleased. I have filled him with my spirit, and he will bring justice to every nation...He will not break off a bent reed, nor put out a flickering lamp. He will bring lasting justice to all. He will not lose hope or courage; he will establish justice on the earth” (Isaiah 42:1, 3-4, Today’s English Version). The Classis of Queens therefore urges the Reformed Church in America to exercise Christian faith, not to break off or put out the hopeless Taiwanese people; to speak out the truth and concern and support the end of the unrealistic and unjustifiable “One China Policy.”

References:
1. Three Communiqués and Taiwan Relations Act (usinfo.org).
2. “Stating America’s Case to China’s Hu Jintao: A Primer on U.S.-China-Taiwan Policy,” John Tkacik Jr., The Heritage Foundation Backgrounder, No. 1541; April 26, 2002.
3. “Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China” (http://usinfo.org/docs/basic/prc_e.htm).
4. U.S.-P.R.C. Joint Communique(http://usinfo.org/docs/basic/817_e.htm).
5. Rethinking “One China,” edited by John J. Tkacik Jr. The Heritage Foundation (2004), pp. 169-179.
6. Quick Read of Taiwan History, by Hsiao-Fong Lee. Yu-Shan Press (2002), pp. 30-31.
7. Formosa, 1895-1945: Licensed Revolution and the Home Rule Movement, George H. Kerr. The University Press of Hawaii, Honolulu (1974).
8. Quick Read, p. 81.
9. Formosa Betrayed, George H. Kerr. Houghton Miffin, Boston. The Riverside Press, Cambridge (1965).
10. An Introduction to 2-28 Tragedy in Taiwan for World Citizens, edited by Tseng-Yi Lin. Taiwan Renaissance Foundation Press (1978).
11. Self-Determination: The Case for Taiwan, edited by Choan-Seng Song. First edition published by Formosan Christians for Self-Determination, 475 Riverside Dr., 18th Fl., New York City (1988); second edition published by Taiwan Church Press, Taiwan (1998).
12. “Martial Law, Examples in and of Various Countries, Republic of China” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martial_Law).
13. “U.S. Adherence to the China Policy Only Benefits Communist Dictators: Let Taiwan Speak Out for a Lasting Peace,” Kwang-Ming Kuo. Taipei Times, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2004, p. 4.
14. “Protesting the Deterring of the Joining of Taiwan to WHO: Taiwan Says No to China.” Taiwan Church News, No. 2674, June 1, 2003, p. 8.
15. The Poll Results on the Rejection against the Reunification of Taiwan and P.R.C., Nov. 25-27, 2005 (http://www.mac.gov.tw).
16. Montevideo Convention on the Rights and Duties of States, Article 1(www.Taiwandocuments.org/Montevideo01.htm).
17. “The Presbyterian Church in Taiwan Protests the Inhumane Treatment of PRC to Earthquake Catastrophe in Taiwan,” Taiwan Church News, No. 2483, Oct. 3, 1999, p. 2.
18. “Chinese Christian Council Claiming Taiwanese Church Hurting the Relationship of Both Sides of Taiwan Strait,” Taiwan Church News, No. 2484, Oct. 10, 1999, p.7.
19. “921 Earthquake in 1999—China Blocking the International Rescue Effort and Assistance” (www.libertytimes.com.tw, Sept. 24, 1999).
20. “During the Severe Endemic Period of SARS, China Blocking Taiwan Joining WHO” (www.can.com.tw, May 20, 2003).
21. “Taiwan needs the WHO, the WHO needs Taiwan” (www.Taiwan-for-WHO.org.tw/English/say/say_area/content.asp?id=8).
22. “China Deterring Taiwan’s Attendance of Taiwan to the WHO Conference on the Hygienic Issue Caused by 2005 Tsunami” (www.can.com.tw, May 5, 2005).
23. “Taiwan, Love and Care South East”(summary of after-tsunami explanation meeting, www.MOFA.gov.tw/webapp/ct.asp?xI=16015&ctNote=306, Jan. 14, 2005).
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The document may be accessed at the RCA website. The overture begins on page 149.