[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 76 Introduced in House (IH)]






109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 76

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should urge the 
 People's Republic of China not to enact into law the so-called ``anti-
secession'' legislation with respect to Taiwan and should reaffirm its 
        unwavering commitment to Taiwan, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           February 17, 2005

 Mr. Miller of Florida 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 should urge the 
 People's Republic of China not to enact into law the so-called ``anti-
secession'' legislation with respect to Taiwan and should reaffirm its 
        unwavering commitment to Taiwan, and for other purposes.

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;
Whereas Taiwan is an ally of the United States;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China is currently 
        considering enacting into law the so-called ``anti-secession'' 
        legislation with respect to Taiwan, which is expected to codify in law 
        China's claim to sovereignty over democratic Taiwan and China's strong 
        opposition to any move toward formal independence by Taiwan;
Whereas the consideration by the People's Republic of China of the ``anti-
        secession'' legislation is coming at a time when both China and Taiwan 
        have taken conciliatory steps toward each other, including the 
        initiation of holiday charter flights that began in late January 2005, 
        which are the first nonstop commercial air traffic across the Taiwan 
        Strait in 55 years;
Whereas both China and Taiwan have signaled they might be willing to restart 
        talks relating to the status of Taiwan;
Whereas a poll conducted by Taiwan's independent ERA Survey Research Center in 
        late December 2004 found that 58 percent of respondents believed that an 
        ``anti-secession'' law is likely to increase cross-strait tension;
Whereas the People's Republic of China has failed to divulge the details of its 
        ``anti-secession'' legislation, thus creating unnecessary tension 
        between China Taiwan;
Whereas Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has suggested that in response to the 
        enactment of the ``anti-secession'' law by the People's Republic of 
        China, Taiwan might retaliate with its own ``anti-annexation'' law;
Whereas an ``anti-secession'' law of the People's Republic of China will destroy 
        Taiwan's hopes for peaceful negotiations with China;
Whereas the People's Republic of China refuses to renounce the use of force 
        against Taiwan;
Whereas the security of the 23,000,000 people in Taiwan is threatened by 
        deployment by the People's Republic of China of over 400 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 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 economical system, of the people on Taiwan'';
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) 
        provides explicit guarantees that the United States will make available 
        defense articles and defense services necessary in such quantity as may 
        be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense 
        capability;
Whereas President George W. Bush stated on April 24, 2001, that the United 
        States will do whatever it takes to help Taiwan defend itself; and
Whereas the July 2002 Report to the Congress of the United States-China Economic 
        and Security Review Commission stated that ``China is enhancing its 
        capability to carry out attacks across the Taiwan Strait with its 
        special operations forces, air forces and navy and missiles forces with 
        little notice,'' and ``the Commission recommends that the U.S. along 
        with its allies should continue to call upon China to renounce the 
        threat of or the use of force against Taiwan'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the Government of the United States should urge the 
        Government of the People's Republic of China in the strongest 
        possible terms not to enact into law the so-called ``anti-
        secession'' legislation or any other legislation that threatens 
        Taiwan or in any way jeopardizes peace between China and 
        Taiwan;
            (2) 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;
            (3) the Government of the United States 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;
            (4) the Government of the United States should reaffirm its 
        unwavering commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 
        96-8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) as the cornerstone of United 
        States relations with Taiwan;
            (5) the President should encourage further dialogue between 
        democratic Taiwan and the People's Republic of China;
            (6) the future of Taiwan should be determined peacefully 
        and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan; and
            (7) the President should direct all appropriate officials 
        of the United States to raise these concerns with the 
        appropriate officials of 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.
                                 <all>