[Congressional Bills 108th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 117 Introduced in House (IH)]






108th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 117

  Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States Government 
 should reaffirm its unwavering commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act 
  as the cornerstone of United States relations with Taiwan, and for 
                            other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 25, 2003

Mr. Wexler (for himself, Mr. Chabot, Mr. Rohrabacher, and Mr. Brown of 
Ohio) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 
              to the Committee on International Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States Government 
 should reaffirm its unwavering commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act 
  as the cornerstone of United States relations with Taiwan, and for 
                            other purposes.

Whereas April 10, 2003, marks the 24th anniversary of the enactment of the 
        Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8) and the United States commitment 
        to Taiwan;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act was advanced by Congress and supported by the 
        executive branch as the cornerstone of United States ties with Taiwan;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act has been instrumental in maintaining peace, 
        security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait since its enactment in 
        1979;
Whereas, when the Taiwan Relations Act was enacted, it affirmed that the United 
        States decision to establish diplomatic relations with the People's 
        Republic of China was based on the expectation that the future of Taiwan 
        would be determined by peaceful means;
Whereas the People's Republic of China refuses to renounce the use of force 
        against Taiwan;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act provides explicit guarantees that the United 
        States will make available defense articles and services necessary in 
        such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a 
        sufficient self-defense capability;
Whereas it is the policy of the United States to reject any attempt to curb the 
        provision by the United States of defense articles and services 
        legitimately needed for Taiwan's self-defense;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act requires the United States to maintain the 
        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;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act affirms the preservation and enhancement of the 
        human rights of the people on Taiwan as objectives of the United States;
Whereas it is the policy set forth in the Taiwan Relations Act to promote 
        extensive commercial relations between the people of the United States 
        and the people on Taiwan and such commercial relations would be further 
        enhanced by negotiating a United States-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement;
Whereas Taiwan today is a full-fledged multi-party democracy respecting human 
        rights and civil liberties; and
Whereas any attempt to determine Taiwan's future by other than peaceful means 
        and other than with the express consent of the people of Taiwan would be 
        considered of grave concern to the United States: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the United States Government should reaffirm its 
        unwavering commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 
        96-8) as the cornerstone of United States relations with 
        Taiwan;
            (2) Congress has grave concerns regarding the military 
        modernization and weapons procurement program of the People's 
        Republic of China, and particularly regarding its deployment of 
        hundreds of missiles in Fukien province directed toward Taiwan;
            (3) the President should direct all appropriate United 
        States officials to raise these grave concerns regarding 
        military threats to Taiwan with officials from the People's 
        Republic of China;
            (4) the President should seek from the leaders of the 
        People's Republic of China an immediate and unequivocal public 
        renunciation of any use of force, or threat to use force, 
        against Taiwan;
            (5) the United States Government should continue to 
        encourage a regional high-level dialogue on the best means to 
        ensure stability, peace, freedom of the seas, and deterrence in 
        East Asia;
            (6) the President should encourage further dialogue between 
        democratic Taiwan and the People's Republic of China; and
            (7) it should be United States policy, in conformity with 
        Taiwan Relations Act, to publicly support a United States-
        Taiwan Free Trade Agreement.
                                 <all>