Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (20th District – NY), Chairman Emeritus of the House International Relations Committee on November 30 condemned attempts by Chinese officials to equate the freedom struggles in Tibet and East Turkestan and the democracy in Taiwan as terrorism. He termed the Dalai Lama as a peace maker.
In a statement honoring Taiwan Vice President Annette Lu for being awarded the World Peace Prize by the World Peace Prize Awarding Council, Gilman said, “The government of the People’s Republic of China continues to blame the peaceful policies of President Chen and Vice President Lu for the tension across the Taiwan Straits. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the threatening posture of the totalitarian dictatorship in Beijing that causes regional instability. Another outrageous suggestion was made by Beijing soon after the tragedy of September 11 when communist officials equates democracy in Taiwan and the freedom struggles in Tibet and East Turkestan as terrorism.”
Congressman Gilman continued, “Nothing could be further from the truth. It is the People’s Republic of China that has armed rogue nations with weapons of mass destruction. The leaders of the PRC should keep in mind that President Bush has warned many times that if you arm a terrorist you are a terrorist. Vice President Annette Lu, President Chen and His Holiness the Dalai Lama are peace makers.”