[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 148 Engrossed Amendment Senate (EAS)]
In the Senate of the United States,
March 21, 1996.
Resolved, That the resolution from the House of Representatives
(H. Con. Res. 148) entitled ``Concurrent resolution expressing the
sense of the Congress that the United States is committed to military
stability in the Taiwan Strait and the United States should assist in
defending the Republic of China (also known as Taiwan) in the event of
invasion, missile attack, or blockade by the People's Republic of
China.'', do pass with the following
AMENDMENTS
Strike out all after the resolving clause, and insert:
That it is the sense of the Congress--
(1) to deplore the missile tests and military exercises
that the People's Republic of China is conducting from March 8
through March 25, 1996, and view such tests and exercises as
potentially serious threats to the peace, security, and
stability of Taiwan and not in the spirit of the three United
States-China Joint Communiques;
(2) to urge the Government of the People's Republic of
China to cease its bellicose actions directed at Taiwan and
enter instead into meaningful dialogue with the Government of
Taiwan at the highest levels, such as through the Straits
Exchange Foundation in Taiwan and the Association for Relations
Across the Taiwan Strait in Beijing, with an eye towards
decreasing tensions and resolving the issue of the future of
Taiwan;
(3) that the President should, consistent with section 3(c)
of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3302(c)),
immediately consult with Congress on an appropriate United
States response to the tests and exercises should the tests or
exercises pose an actual threat to the peace, security, and
stability of Taiwan;
(4) that the President should, consistent with the Taiwan
Relations Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), reexamine the
nature and quantity of defense articles and services that may
be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-
defense capability in light of the heightened military threat;
and
(5) that the Government of Taiwan should remain committed
to the peaceful resolution of its future relations with the
People's Republic of China by mutual decision.
Strike out the preamble, and insert:
Whereas the People's Republic of China, in a clear attempt to
intimidate the people and Government of Taiwan, has over
the past 9 months conducted a series of military exercises,
including missile tests, within alarmingly close proximity
to Taiwan;
Whereas from March 8 through March 15, 1996, the People's Republic
of China conducted a series of missile tests within 25 to
35 miles of the 2 principal northern and southern ports of
Taiwan, Kaohsiung and Keelung;
Whereas on March 12, 1996, the People's Republic of China began an
8-day, live-ammunition, joint sea-and-air military exercise
in a 2,390 square mile area in the southern Taiwan Strait;
Whereas on March 18, 1996, the People's Republic of China began a
7-day, live-ammunition, joint sea-and-air military exercise
between Taiwan's islands of Matsu and Wuchu;
Whereas these tests and exercises are a clear escalation of the
attempts by the People's Republic of China to intimidate
Taiwan and influence the outcome of the upcoming democratic
presidential election in Taiwan;
Whereas through the administrations of Presidents Nixon, Ford,
Carter, Reagan, and Bush, the United States has adhered to
a ``One China'' policy and, during the administration of
President Clinton, the United States continues to adhere to
the ``One China'' policy based on the Shanghai Communique
of February 27, 1972, the Joint Communique on the
Establishment of Diplomatic Relations Between the United
States of America and the People's Republic of China of
January 1, 1979, and the United States-China Joint
Communique of August 17, 1982;
Whereas through the administrations of Presidents Carter, Reagan,
and Bush, the United States has adhered to the provisions
of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 (22 U.S.C. 3301 et
seq.) as the basis for continuing commercial, cultural, and
other relations between the people of the United States and
the people of Taiwan and, during the administration of
President Clinton, the United States continues to adhere to
the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979;
Whereas relations between the United States and the Peoples'
Republic of China rest upon the expectation that the future
of Taiwan will be settled solely by peaceful means;
Whereas the strong interest of the United States in the peaceful
settlement of the Taiwan question is one of the central
premises of the three United States-China Joint Communiques
and was codified in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 states that peace and
stability in the western Pacific ``are in the political,
security, and economic interests of the United States, and
are matters of international concern'';
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 states that the United
States considers ``any effort to determine the future of
Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts,
or embargoes, a threat to the peace and security of the
western Pacific area and of grave concern to the United
States'';
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 directs the President to
``inform Congress promptly of any threat to the security or
the social or economic system of the people on Taiwan and
any danger to the interests of the United States arising
therefrom'';
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 further directs that ``the
President and the Congress shall determine, in accordance
with constitutional process, appropriate action by the
United States in response to any such danger'';
Whereas the United States, the People's Republic of China, and the
Government of Taiwan have each previously expressed their
commitment to the resolution of the Taiwan question through
peaceful means; and
Whereas these missile tests and military exercises, and the
accompanying statements made by the Government of the
People's Republic of China, call into serious question the
commitment of China to the peaceful resolution of the
Taiwan question: Now, therefore, be it.
Amend the title so as to read: ``Expressing the sense of
Congress regarding missile tests and military exercises by the
People's Republic of China.''.
Attest:
Secretary.
104th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. CON. RES. 148
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AMENDMENTS