U.S. Red Cross Chief Blasted Over Taiwan Aid Remarks

Numerous local Taiwanese American groups Thursday night demanded the resignation of the American Red Cross’ president after she said the organization must have China’s approval before it will send aid to earthquake victims in Taiwan.

At a news conference, the groups also called for a boycott of the American Red Cross’ donation request for Taiwan earthquake relief.

Dr. Bernadine Healy appeared on “Good Morning America” on Tuesday and was asked: “I gather you have to get approval from mainland China Red Cross before you can go into Taiwan?”

“That is correct,” she replied. “There is not an independent Red Cross in Taiwan as there is in most other countries. . . . It has to go through the People’s Republic of China.”

Chin-Ho Liao, president of the Formosa Assn. for Public Affairs, Los Angeles chapter, said that because of Healy’s comment, his organization is demanding that she issue an apology to Taiwan. If she won’t resign, he said, she should “restate the Red Cross position.”

She should request, Liao said, that aid be sent from the United States directly to Taiwan “without any concern as to what China says or does not say. . . . Time is critical.”

More than 40 local Taiwanese American groups issued a statement Thursday protesting the Red Cross’ position.

Li-Pei Woo, chairman of the United Taiwanese Foundation of Southern California, in Rosemead, where the news conference was held, said: “Many international organizations and nations have offered to pledge aid and rescue support, but only organizations with no . . . political ties have actually sent assistance. The reason is because China has been barring such efforts.

“Clearly, China is playing politics, while Taiwanese are suffering. . . . They allow the suffering to continue until Taiwan relents on its two-states theory.”

China considers the island a renegade province.

China’s Red Cross has said it would provide $100,000 in disaster aid and $60,000 worth of relief supplies. On Thursday, Taiwan said it did not need the supplies but might take the cash, Reuters reported.