As a concerned Taiwanese American and President of the Chinese Benevolent Association of Sacramento, California, I am compelled to express my disappointment and displeasure at the implementation of the change in the official name of the “Overseas Compatriots Affairs Commission” that I have served so faithfully for many years.

The identity of Taiwanese Americans must not be compromised and must be kept clearly distinct from that of Chinese Americans. Taiwanese identity is synonymous with freedom, democracy and human rights as represented by Taiwan. Overseas Taiwanese cherish their unique cultural and political identity that must not be altered to avoid any confusion with Chinese identity. With the rapidly increasing overseas Chinese and Asian population, clear distinction must be made. The objective of the Council (formerly Commission) is to serve as a cultural, educational, economic and informational exchanges organization between Taiwan and other countries. With the change of “Compatriot” to “Chinese”, the distinction between Taiwan and China has been intentionally muddled to force Taiwan identity into extinction and into the hegemonic fold of China which is not a democracy.

Taiwanese Americans rightfully and forcefully demand that Taiwanese identity be preserved and the Council be renamed accurately and officially “THE OVERSEAS TAIWANESE AFFAIRS COUNCIL.” At a minimum it should be reverted to the previous name of “THE OVERSEAS COMPATRIOT AFFAIRS COMMISSION.”

I respectfully submit this request for serious consideration.

Dr. Jong Chen, M.D.
President
Chinese Benevolent Association
Sacramento, California
U. S. A.

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敬致中華民國行政院海外中國人事務評議會

身為一個關心的台美人和美國加州沙加緬度中華會館的主席, 多年來我一直忠誠地為「僑委會」 效力, 今天我一定要對「僑委會」 的英文名字被改, 表達我的失望和難過.

「台美人」的身份認同絕對不能妥協, 而且一定要和「華美人」分開. 「台灣人」的身份認同是自由、民主、人權的同義詞, 絕對不能妥協. 海外的台灣人珍惜他們獨特的政治文化的身份認同, 也絕不允許任何把「台灣人」說成是「中國人」的企圖. 今天海外的中國人和亞洲人已經越來越多, 台灣人必須堅持自己身份的認同和區隔. 僑委會的功能是在台灣和世界各國之間, 在文化、教育、經濟和資訊上, 做一個溝通交流的平台; 可是現在把僑委會的英文名字中的「鄉親」改成「中國人」, 就是故意把「台灣人」說成是「中國人」, 野蠻地消滅了「台灣認同」, 硬把台灣推進中國霸權的掌控之中.

台美人義憤強烈要求: 為了保留「台灣認同」, 僑委會的英文名稱應該正確正式地改為「海外台灣人事務評議會」, 否則至少應該改回原來的「海外鄉親事務委員會」.

希望你們認真考慮我虔敬的請求.

10/25/2012

美國加州沙加緬度中華會館主席 陳榮良醫師
Email: Dr Jong Chen<jongchen@comcast.net>
電話: (916) 402-6363
會館地址: 915 4th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, U.S.A.