[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 219 Introduced in House (IH)]







109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 219

   Expressing the sense of Congress regarding enhanced security for 
                                Taiwan.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             July 27, 2005

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

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
   Expressing the sense of Congress regarding enhanced security for 
                                Taiwan.

Whereas for over half a century a close relationship has existed between the 
        United States and Taiwan which has been of enormous economic, cultural, 
        and strategic advantage to both countries;
Whereas Taiwan today is a full-fledged democracy with a vibrant economy and a 
        vigorous multi-party political system that respects human rights and the 
        rule of law and is an ally of the United States;
Whereas the security of the 23 million people in Taiwan is threatened by the 
        deployment by the People's Republic of China of over 700 short-range 
        ballistic missiles targeted at Taiwan, and the purchase by China of 
        advanced weaponry systems, including Su-27 and Su-30 fighter planes, 
        Kilo submarines, and Sovremenny destroyers;
Whereas in a July 19, 2005 report, the Department of Defense stated that ``[t]he 
        cross-Strait balance of power is shifting towards Beijing . . . Chinese 
        air, naval and missile force modernization is increasing demands on 
        Taiwan to develop countermeasures that would enable it to avoid being 
        quickly overwhelmed'';
Whereas this report stated that military objectives of the People's Republic of 
        China include building counters to third-parties, including potential 
        United States intervention in cross-Strait crises, and that Chinese 
        preparations come against the background of a policy toward Taiwan that 
        espouses ``peaceful'' reunification;
Whereas Taiwan was threatened by missile exercises conducted by the People's 
        Republic of China in August 1995 and again in March 1996 when Taiwan was 
        conducting its first free and direct presidential elections;
Whereas section 2(b)(4) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(b)(4)) 
        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 section 2(b)(6) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(b)(6)) 
        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 United States generals and flag officers are not allowed to visit Taiwan 
        and meet their Taiwanese counterparts regularly on a self-imposed 
        prohibition by the Government of the United States and this lack of 
        high-level regular military contacts will compromise an effective 
        contingency plan when the United States responds to a potential cross-
        Strait crisis; and
Whereas the July 14, 2005, comments by General Zhu Chenghu of the People's 
        Republic of China advocating the use of nuclear weapons against the 
        United States are both damaging to relations between the United States 
        and China and a violation of China's commitment to resolve its 
        differences with Taiwan peacefully: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) grave concerns exist concerning the continued 
        deployment by the People's Republic of China of hundreds of 
        ballistic missiles directed toward Taiwan, which threaten the 
        security and stability in the Taiwan Strait;
            (2) the President should direct all appropriate officials 
        of the Government of the United States to raise these concerns 
        with the appropriate officials from the People's Republic of 
        China, and should seek a public, immediate, and unequivocal 
        renunciation from the leaders of the People's Republic of China 
        of any threat or use of force against Taiwan;
            (3) the President should abolish all restrictions on visits 
        by United States military high-level officials to Taiwan to 
        help safeguard United States security interests in the region;
            (4) the President should authorize the sale of the Aegis 
        system to Taiwan, which would enable Taiwan to defend itself 
        against the threat of a missile attack by the People's Republic 
        of China; and
            (5) the future of Taiwan should be determined free from 
        coercion by the People's Republic of China, peacefully, and 
        with the express consent of the people of Taiwan through a 
        democratic mechanism such as a referendum.
                                 <all>