[Congressional Bills 104th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 148 Received in Senate (RDS)]

  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 148


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 20, 1996

                                Received

_______________________________________________________________________

                         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.

Whereas the United States began its long, peaceful, and friendly relationship 
        with the Republic of China on Taiwan in 1949;
Whereas since the enactment in 1979 of the Taiwan Relations Act, the policy of 
        the United States has been based on the expectation that the future 
        relationship between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan will be 
        deter- 
    mined by peaceful means and by mutual agreement between the parties;
Whereas the People's Republic of China's intense efforts to intimidate Taiwan 
        have reached a level that threatens to undermine stability throughout 
        the region;
Whereas, since the beginning of 1996, the leaders of the People's Republic of 
        China have frequently threatened to use military force against Taiwan;
Whereas for the past year the People's Republic of China has conducted military 
        maneuvers designed to intimidate Taiwan both during its democratic 
        legislative elections in 1995 and during the period preceding democratic 
        presidential elections in March 1996;
Whereas these military maneuvers and tests have included the firing of 6 
        nuclear-capable missiles approximately 100 miles north of Taiwan in July 
        1995;
Whereas the firing of missiles near Taiwan and the interruption of international 
        shipping and aviation lanes threaten both Taiwan and the political, 
        military, and commercial interests of the United States and its allies;
Whereas in the face of such action, Taiwan is entitled to defend itself from 
        military aggression, including through the development of an anti-
        ballistic missile defense system;
Whereas the United States and Taiwan have enjoyed a longstanding and 
        uninterrupted friendship, which has only increased in light of the 
        remarkable economic development and political liberalization in Taiwan 
        in recent years;
Whereas Taiwan has achieved tremendous economic success in becoming the 19th 
        largest economy in the world;
Whereas Taiwan has reached a historic turning point in the development of 
        Chinese democracy, as on March 23, 1996, it will conduct the first 
        competitive, free, fair, direct, and popular election of a head of state 
        in over 4,000 years of recorded Chinese history;
Whereas for the past century the United States has promoted democracy and 
        economic freedom around the world, and the evolution of Taiwan is an 
        outstanding example of the success of that policy;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act directs the President to inform the Congress 
        promptly of any threat to Taiwan's security and provides that the 
        President and the Congress shall determine, in accordance with 
        constitutional processes, appropriate United States action in response; 
        and
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 rests on the premise that the United 
        States will assist Taiwan should it face any effort to determine its 
        future by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes: 
        Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
            (1) the People's Republic of China should immediately live 
        up to its commitment to the United States to work for a 
        peaceful resolution of any disagreements with Taiwan, and 
        accordingly desist from military actions designed to intimidate 
        Taiwan;
            (2) the People's Republic of China should engage in 
        negotiations to discuss any outstanding points of disagreement 
        with Taiwan without any threat of military or economic coercion 
        against Taiwan;
            (3) Taiwan has stated and should adhere to its commitment 
        to negotiate its future relations with the People's Republic of 
        China by mutual decision, not unilateral action;
            (4) the United States should maintain its capacity to 
        resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that 
        would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic 
        system, of the people on Taiwan, consistent with its 
        undertakings in the Taiwan Relations Act;
            (5) the United States should maintain a naval presence 
        sufficient to keep open the sea lanes in and near the Taiwan 
        Strait;
            (6) in the face of the several overt military threats by 
        the People's Republic of China against Taiwan, and consistent 
        with the commitment of the United States under the Taiwan 
        Relations Act, the United States should supply Taiwan with 
        defensive weapons systems, including naval vessels, aircraft, 
        and air defense, all of which are crucial to the security of 
        Taiwan; and
            (7) the United States, in accordance with the Taiwan 
        Relations Act and the constitutional process of the United 
        States, and consistent with its friendship with and commitment 
        to the democratic government and people of Taiwan, should 
        assist in defending them against invasion, missile attack, or 
        blockade by the People's Republic of China.

            Passed the House of Representatives March 19, 1996.

            Attest:

                                                ROBIN H. CARLE,

                                                                 Clerk.