作者：Nancy Pelosi 来源：Washington Post
Some 43 years ago, the United States Congress overwhelmingly
passed — and President Jimmy Carter signed into law — the Taiwan Relations Act, one of the most
important pillars of U.S. foreign policy in the Asia Pacific.
The Taiwan Relations Act set out America’s commitment to a
democratic Taiwan, providing the framework for an economic and diplomatic
relationship that would quickly flourish into a key partnership. It fostered a
deep friendship rooted in shared interests and values: self-determination and
self-government, democracy and freedom, human dignity and human rights.
And it made a solemn vow by the United States to support the
defense of Taiwan: “to consider any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by
other than peaceful means … a threat to the peace and security of the Western
Pacific area and of grave concern to the United States.”
Today, America must remember that vow. We must stand by Taiwan,
which is an island of resilience. Taiwan is a leader in governance: currently,
in addressing the covid-19 pandemic and championing environmental conservation
and climate action. It is a leader in peace, security and economic dynamism:
with an entrepreneurial spirit, culture of innovation and technological prowess
that are envies of the world.
Yet, disturbingly, this vibrant, robust democracy — named one of
the freest in the world by Freedom House and proudly led by a
woman, President Tsai Ing-wen — is under threat.
In recent years,
Beijing has dramatically intensified tensions with Taiwan. The People’s
Republic of China (PRC) has ramped up patrols of bombers, fighter jets and
surveillance aircraft near and even over Taiwan’s air defense zone, leading the
U.S. Defense Department to conclude that China’s army is “likely
preparing for a contingency to unify Taiwan with the PRC by force.”
The PRC has also taken the fight into cyberspace, launching
scores of attacks on Taiwan government agencies each day. At the same time,
Beijing is squeezing Taiwan economically, pressuring global corporations to cut
ties with the island, intimidating countries that cooperate with Taiwan, and
clamping down on tourism from the PRC.
In the face of the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) accelerating
aggression, our congressional delegation’s visit should be seen as an
unequivocal statement that America stands with Taiwan, our democratic partner,
as it defends itself and its freedom.
Our visit — one of
several congressional delegations to the island — in no way contradicts the
long-standing one-China policy, guided by the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, the
U.S.-China Joint Communiques and the Six Assurances. The United States
continues to oppose unilateral efforts to change the status quo.
Our visit is part of our broader trip to the Pacific — including
Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea and Japan — focused on mutual security,
economic partnership and democratic governance. Our discussions with our
Taiwanese partners will focus on reaffirming our support for the island and
promoting our shared interests, including advancing a free and open
Indo-Pacific region.
America’s solidarity with Taiwan is more important today than
ever — not only to the 23 million people of the island but also to millions of
others oppressed and menaced by the PRC.
Thirty years ago, I traveled in a bipartisan congressional
delegation to China, where, in Tiananmen Square, we unfurled a black-and-white
banner that read, “To those who died for democracy in China.” Uniformed police
pursued us as we left the square. Since then, Beijing’s abysmal human rights
record and disregard for the rule of law continue, as President Xi Jinping
tightens his grip on power.
The CCP’s brutal crackdown against Hong Kong’s political
freedoms and human rights — even arresting Catholic Cardinal Joseph Zen — cast the promises of “one-country,
two-systems” into the dustbin. In Tibet, the CCP has long led a campaign to
erase the Tibetan people’s language, culture, religion and identity. In
Xinjiang, Beijing is perpetrating genocide against Muslim Uyghurs and other
minorities. And throughout the mainland, the CCP continues to target and arrest
activists, religious-freedom leaders and others who dare to defy the regime.
We cannot stand by as the CCP proceeds to threaten Taiwan — and
democracy itself.
Indeed, we take this
trip at a time when the world faces a choice between autocracy and democracy.
As Russia wages its premeditated, illegal war against Ukraine, killing
thousands of innocents — even children — it is essential that America and our
allies make clear that we never give in to autocrats.
When I led a congressional delegation to Kyiv in April — the
highest-level U.S. visit to the besieged nation — I conveyed to President
Volodymyr Zelensky that we admired his people’s defense of democracy for
Ukraine and for democracy worldwide.
By traveling to Taiwan, we honor our commitment to democracy:
reaffirming that the freedoms of Taiwan — and all democracies — must be
respected.
来源时间：2022/8/2 发布时间：2022/8/2
旧文章ID：28016
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