3 days Ago
On the evening of Oct. 10, I was honored to attend the beautiful celebration marking the Republic of China’s (Taiwan’s) 118th National Day. I was in attendance with several other dignitaries, where we joined Bill Huang, the director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Denver, which functions as Taiwan’s regional consulate.
It was my honor to recognize the day and the special relationship between Taiwan and Colorado. It was a wonderful evening of camaraderie, good cheer, and international neighborliness. A few days later, on Oct.
15, I received a call from a representative of the Consul General of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), based in Los Angles, expressing “displeasure” with my speech and attendance of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office event. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is the indefinite ruling party of the PRC. Not only did their representative convey their “displeasure” with my speech, but he also went on to lecture me about the CCP’s “One China Principle” and how I, as a Colorado state representative should adhere to their principles.
In addition, the representative informed me that the Consul General of the PRC would like to come to Denver to educate me on their policies with the implication that I should see things through the CCP’s vision. Well, as you might imagine, I did not take kindly to being lectured by the CCP. This is the same CCP that is across the Formosa Strait from Taiwan and has recently been conducting military drills with its navy in proximity of Taiwan.
It is also the same CCP that is building the Spratly Islands with airfields to support long-range bombers and fighter jets. As a duly elected representative of the great state of Colorado and a retired military officer, I don’t like being lectured by the CCP, nor do I like their interference in local affairs in Colorado. It strikes me as exceedingly inappropriate and arrogant for a representative of a foreign government, especially one that in many ways is at odds with the values that we as American’s hold dear, to call and lecture me regarding my attendance and speech at a local function which features several of my constituents and businesses.
The CCP is sadly mistaken if it thinks I will acquiesce to their demands or viewpoint. The behavior of the PRC is inappropriate but not surprising. The PRC has been particularly aggressive the last few years in trying to influence American and other Western elected officials regarding their viewpoint about Taiwan, a small but strategically important island.
The PRC wants to control Taiwan for its strategic importance, which has absolutely nothing to do with historical or cultural reasons. While the relationship between Taiwan and mainland China is in many ways a complicated one, Taiwan is not, and never has been, a part of the PRC. From 1895, Taiwan was colonized by Japan.
After the Japanese were defeated in WWII, Taiwan became part of the Republic of China. Unfortunately, soon thereafter the country was embroiled in a civil war between the nationalist government of the Republic of China and the communists. After the communists took over the mainland in 1949, the nationalists retreated to the island of Taiwan, which remains the official designation of the Republic of China to this day.
Since relocating to the island, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has evolved into a thriving, fully functioning democracy which for decades has held regular, free, and fair elections. It has embraced the free market and has built a prosperous economy with a high standard of living. Taiwan respects property, the individual, and the rule of law.
It boasts a strong record of protecting, promoting and defending human rights. This is in sharp contrast to the PRC. It is disgraceful and unacceptable for the PRC to threaten the freedom and democracy of Taiwan and by extension to try and influence a Colorado state representative.
Nevertheless, I remain proud and steadfast in my commitment with the local Taiwanese community. My professional life I have fought to defend the principles which unite free people all over the world. As a retired Army officer and now as a democratically elected state representative, absolutely no one from the Chinese Communist Party will get me to do otherwise! Anthony Hartsook is the Colorado state representative from House District 44.
