[Congressional Bills 114th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 88 Referred in Senate (RFS)]

<DOC>
114th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 88


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                              May 17, 2016

      Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
    Reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as 
            cornerstones of United States-Taiwan relations.

Whereas the Cold War years cemented the close friendship between the United 
        States and Taiwan, with Taiwan as an anti-Communist ally in the Asia-
        Pacific;
Whereas United States economic aid prevented Taiwan from sliding into an 
        economic depression in the 1950s and greatly contributed to the island's 
        later economic takeoff;
Whereas Taiwan has flourished to become a beacon of democracy in Asia and 
        leading trade partner for the United States, and the relationship has 
        endured for more than 65 years through many shifts in Asia's 
        geopolitical landscape;
Whereas the strong relationship between the United States and Taiwan is based on 
        mutually beneficial security, commercial, and cultural ties;
Whereas Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thornton stated in her 
        testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on February 11, 
        2016, that ``The people on Taiwan have built a prosperous, free, and 
        orderly society with strong institutions, worthy of emulation and 
        envy'';
Whereas Deputy Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated on March 29, 2016, 
        that with Taiwan's January 2016 elections, ``the people of Taiwan showed 
        the world again what a mature, Chinese-speaking democracy looks like'';
Whereas on January 1, 1979, when the Carter Administration established 
        diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China (PRC), it ended 
        formal diplomatic ties with the Republic of China on Taiwan;
Whereas the United States Congress acted swiftly to reaffirm the United States-
        Taiwan relationship with the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act just 
        100 days later, ensuring the United States maintained a robust and 
        enduring relationship with Taiwan;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8) was enacted on April 10, 
        1979, codifying into law the basis for continued commercial, cultural, 
        and other relations between the United States and Taiwan;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act was enacted ``to help maintain peace, security, 
        and stability in the Western Pacific'', which ``are in the political, 
        security, and economic interests of the United States and are matters of 
        international concern'';
Whereas the United States Congress significantly strengthened the draft 
        legislation originally submitted by the Executive Branch to include 
        provisions concerning Taiwan's security in the Taiwan Relations Act;
Whereas then-Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kin Moy stated in his written 
        testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on March 14, 2014, 
        that, ``Our enduring relationship under the Taiwan Relations Act 
        represents a unique asset for the United States and is an important 
        multiplier of our influence in the region'', and credited the Taiwan 
        Relations Act for having ``played such a key part in protecting Taiwan's 
        freedom of action and U.S. interests the last 35 years in the Asia-
        Pacific area'';
Whereas then-Special Assistant to the President and National Security Council 
        Senior Director for Asian Affairs Evan Medeiros noted on March 28, 2014, 
        that the Taiwan Relations Act was ``an enduring expression to the people 
        of Taiwan about our commitment to their well-being, their security, 
        their economic autonomy, and their international space'';
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act states ``the United States decision to 
        establish diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China rests 
        upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by 
        peaceful means'';
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act states that it is the policy of the United 
        States to ``provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character'' and ``to 
        maintain the capacity of the United States 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 each successive United States Administration since the enactment of the 
        Taiwan Relations Act has provided arms of a defensive character to 
        Taiwan;
Whereas a 2015 Department of Defense report to Congress on Military and Security 
        Developments Involving the People's Republic of China stated that, 
        ``Preparing for potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait remains the 
        focus and primary driver of China's military investment'';
Whereas the United States has an abiding interest in the preservation of cross-
        Strait peace and stability, and in peace and stability in the entire 
        Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas on July 14, 1982, as the United States negotiated with the People's 
        Republic of China over the wording of a joint communique related to 
        United States arms sales to Taiwan, President Ronald Reagan instructed 
        his representative in Taiwan, American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) 
        Director James R. Lilley, to relay a set of assurances to Taiwan's then-
        President Chiang Ching-kuo;
Whereas in House and Senate testimony immediately after the issuance of the 
        August 17, 1982, Joint Communique with the PRC, then-Assistant Secretary 
        of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs John H. Holdridge stated on 
        behalf of the Executive Branch that--

    (1) ``* * * [W]e did not agree to set a date certain for ending arms 
sales to Taiwan'';

    (2) ``* * * [W]e see no mediation role for the United States'' between 
Taiwan and the PRC;

    (3) ``* * *[N]or will we attempt to exert pressure on Taiwan to enter 
into negotiations with the PRC'';

    (4) ``* * * [T]here has been no change in our longstanding position on 
the issue of sovereignty over Taiwan'';

    (5) ``We have no plans to seek'' revisions to the Taiwan Relations Act; 
and

    (6) the August 17 Communique, ``should not be read to imply that we 
have agreed to engage in prior consultations with Beijing on arms sales to 
Taiwan'';

Whereas these assurances, first delivered to Taiwan's president by AIT Director 
        Lilley, have come to be known as the Six Assurances;
Whereas in testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on October 4, 
        2011, then-Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated that, 
        ``[The] Taiwan Relations Act, plus the so-called Six Assurances and 
        Three Communiques, form the foundation of our overall approach'', to 
        relations with Taiwan; and
Whereas in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on April 3, 
        2014, Assistant Secretary of State Daniel R. Russel stated that the Six 
        Assurances ``continue to play an important part as an element of our 
        approach to Taiwan and the situation across the strait'': Now, 
        therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That Congress--
            (1) affirms that the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six 
        Assurances are both cornerstones of United States relations 
        with Taiwan; and
            (2) urges the President and Department of State to affirm 
        the Six Assurances publicly, proactively, and consistently as a 
        cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations.

            Passed the House of Representatives May 16, 2016.

            Attest:

                                                 KAREN L. HAAS,

                                                                 Clerk.