For immediate release

Thursday February 9, 2006, Tainan, Taiwan - Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian's plan to abolish his country's National Unification Council (NUC) was met with wholehearted approval by the Formosan Association for Public Affairs (FAPA Canada). The NUC is an outdated remnant of the Kuomintang regime that has not met during Chen Shui-bian's tenure as Taiwan president. Because the vast majority of Taiwanese oppose unification with China, FAPA Canada supports the abolishment of the NUC.

"The National Unification Council should have been abolished years ago," remarked Dr. Harry Chen, the president of the FAPA Canada. "The future of Taiwan should be decided by the Taiwanese people, and not by an autocratic Kuomintang council."

"The existence of the NUC goes against democratic principles that the Taiwanese people have worked so hard for," added Harry Chen. "President Chen Shui-bian should be lauded for respecting the wishes of Taiwanese citizens."

"With the consolidation of democracy, we are seeing a growth in Taiwan consciousness and increasing support for maintaining Taiwan's sovereignty," stated Stan Lai, the vice-president of FAPA Canada. "The Taiwanese people firmly reject the idea of unification with China, a country that continues to commit horrendous human rights abuses."

For more information please contact:
Stan Lai
35 Charles St. W. Unit 1812
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M4Y 1R6
(416) 926-0969
info@fapacanada.org