[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 18 Introduced in House (IH)]







111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. CON. RES. 18

 Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should resume 
    normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 9, 2009

  Mr. Linder submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
              referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should resume 
    normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, and for other purposes.

Whereas the people of Taiwan have established a vibrant and pluralistic 
        democracy;
Whereas the people of Taiwan have conducted four successful presidential 
        elections, successive elections for members of their national 
        legislature, numerous local elections, and two national referendums;
Whereas Taiwan has never been under the jurisdiction of the Communist government 
        in Beijing, which continues to illegitimately claim sovereignty over 
        Taiwan and its 23,000,000 citizens;
Whereas the Shanghai Communique, which maintains that there is ``One China'' and 
        that ``Taiwan is part of China'', was established without the 
        consultation of Congress or people of Taiwan;
Whereas Communist China has since used the ``One China Policy'' to block 
        Taiwan's membership and full participation in international 
        organizations and events, ranging from the United Nations and the World 
        Health Organization to the Olympics;
Whereas the ``One China Policy'' is effectively obsolete, and does not the 
        reflect the obvious reality that Taiwan has functioned as an independent 
        and sovereign country for over half a century;
Whereas Taiwan maintains diplomatic, cultural, and economic relations with 
        several countries around the world;
Whereas Taiwan and the United States maintained formal diplomatic relations 
        until 1979;
Whereas former President Jimmy Carter abruptly severed diplomatic ties with the 
        Taiwan in 1979 and terminated the Mutual Defense Treaty between the 
        United States and Taiwan without consulting or seeking the approval of 
        Congress;
Whereas Congress responded later that year by adopting the Taiwan Relations Act, 
        codifying in law the basis for continued friendly relations between the 
        United States and Taiwan;
Whereas former President Ronald Reagan issued the ``Six Assurances'' to Taiwan 
        in July 1982, including the assurance that ``[t]he United States would 
        not formally recognize Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan.''; and
Whereas Taiwan has been a steadfast ally of the United States and a responsible 
        and compassionate member of the world community: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of Congress that--
            (1) the President should abandon the fundamentally flawed 
        ``One China Policy'' in favor of a more realistic ``One China, 
        One Taiwan Policy'' that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign and 
        independent country, separate from the Communist regime in 
        Beijing;
            (2) the President should begin the process of resuming 
        normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan; and
            (3) the President, the Permanent Representative of the 
        United States to the United Nations, and other relevant United 
        States officials should aggressively support Taiwan's full 
        participation in the United Nations and any other international 
        organization of which the United States is a member, and for 
        which statehood is a requirement for membership.
                                 <all>