August 5, 2020

The Honourable Francois-Philippe Champagne
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Global Affairs Canada
125 Sussex Drive, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0G2

Dear Minister Champagne,

I am writing to express my dismay at the mean-spirited message of condolence which is posted on the Facebook
page of the Canadian Trade Office in Taipei, on the passing of former President Lee Teng-hui.

We appreciate the gesture and the affirmation of our common democratic values made in this statement.
But many Taiwanese Canadians feel hurt that our government could not bring itself to call him by his proper title,
“former President”, or honour him as the father of the multicultural democracy which is Taiwan today.

Instead the message mentions Taiwan’s economic growth under his leadership. This of course is a fact, but it is
not the reason that President Lee is today almost universally revered among Taiwanese people of all political
stripes as the father of modern Taiwan.

We appeal to you to issue another brief message of condolence in your own name. Even if you cannot bring
yourself to say “President” Lee, you might at least call him Lee Teng-hui the father of Taiwan’s democracy.

Many Taiwanese Canadians will deeply appreciate this simple act of decency.

Thanking you for our attention to this matter,