[Congressional Bills 105th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 300 Introduced in House (IH)]







105th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 300

  Affirming United States commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 16, 1998

 Mr. Solomon submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
          referred to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Affirming United States commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act.

Whereas at no time since the establishment of the People's Republic of China on 
        October 1, 1949, has Taiwan been under the control of the People's 
        Republic of China;
Whereas the United States began its long, peaceful, friendly relationship with 
        Taiwan in 1949;
Whereas since the enactment in 1979 of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-
        8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), 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 would be determined by peaceful 
        means;
Whereas in 1982, during negotiations for the United States-China Communique on 
        Arms Sales to Taiwan, the Taiwan Government presented the United States 
        with 6 points it proposed that the United States use as guidelines in 
        conducting United States-Taiwan relations;
Whereas, according to former Ambassador John Holdridge, the United States agreed 
        to these 6 points, informed Taiwan of this agreement, and, in late July 
        1982, informed Congress of the agreement;
Whereas these 6 points are as follows:

    (1) the United States would not set a date for termination of arms 
sales to Taiwan;

    (2) the United States would not alter the terms of the Taiwan Relations 
Act (Public Law 96-8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.);

    (3) the United States would not consult with the People's Republic of 
China in advance before making decisions about United States arms sales to 
Taiwan;

    (4) the United States would not mediate between Taiwan and the People's 
Republic of China;

    (5) the United States would not alter it's position concerning the 
sovereignty of Taiwan--which was, that the question of sovereignty was to 
be decided peacefully by the Chinese themselves--and would not pressure 
Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the People's Republic of China; and

    (6) the United States would not formally recognize Chinese sovereignty 
over Taiwan;

Whereas in March 1996, the People's Republic of China held provocative military 
        maneuvers, including missile launch exercises in the Taiwan Strait, in 
        an attempt to intimidate the people of Taiwan during their historic, 
        free and democratic presidential election;
Whereas officials of the People's Republic of China refuse to renounce the use 
        of force against democratic Taiwan;
Whereas Taiwan has achieved significant political and economic strength as one 
        of the world's premier democracies and as the 19th largest economy in 
        the world;
Whereas Taiwan is the seventh largest trading partner of the United States and 
        imports more than twice as much annually from the United States as does 
        the People's Republic of China; and
Whereas no treaties exist between the People's Republic of China and Taiwan that 
        determine the future status of Taiwan: Now therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) affirms its longstanding commitment to Taiwan and the 
        people of Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act 
        (Public Law 96-8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.);
            (2) affirms its expectation, consistent with the Taiwan 
        Relations Act, that the future of Taiwan will be determined by 
        peaceful means, and considers any effort to determine the 
        future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means a threat to the 
        peace and security of the Western Pacific and of grave concern 
        to the United States;
            (3) affirms its commitment, consistent with the Taiwan 
        Relations Act, to make available to Taiwan such defense 
        articles and defense services in such quantities as may be 
        necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-
        defense capability;
            (4) affirms its commitment, consistent with the Taiwan 
        Relations Act, that only the President and Congress shall 
        determine the nature and quantity of defense articles and 
        services for Taiwan based solely upon their judgment of the 
        needs of Taiwan; and
            (5) urges the President of the United States to seek a 
        public renunciation by the People's Republic of China of any 
        use of force, or threat to use force, against democratic 
        Taiwan.
                                 <all>