[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 43 (Tuesday, April 19, 1994)]
[House]
[Page H]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: April 19, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
          CHINA MUST RENOUNCE THE USE OF FORCE AGAINST TAIWAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Brown] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, in light of the recent trip of U.S. 
Secretary of State Warren Christopher to China and the current debate 
on the renewal of Most Favored Nation [MFN] status of China, I would 
like to direct your attention to an important issue. It concerns the 
safety and security of Taiwan.
  China's former President Yang Shang-kun once announced that if Taiwan 
declares itself independent, a military solution cannot be precluded. 
He stated that China has atomic bombs, guided missiles, and many 
submarines for such a purpose. ``Those who play with fire will be 
burned to ashes,'' he claimed. Deng Xiao-ping added that if Taiwan will 
not show any inclination to abide with China's unification policy, 
military force will be used to achieve unification.
  Mr. Speaker, Article (b)(6) of Sec. 2 of the Taiwan Relations Act, 
(1979) states that it is the policy of the United States * * * to 
resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would 
jeopardize the security * * * of the people of Taiwan. Through this act 
the United States is legally committed to protect Taiwan from outside 
forces. Now the United States has an opportunity to enforce that 
commitment.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe that the debate which is currently going on on 
Capitol Hill whether to attach first, economic, second, human rights, 
and third, non-proliferation conditions to the renewal of MFN status 
for China is extremely important. But let us not forget, that--since 
peace and security in the Pacific is in the best interest of the 
countries in the region and of the United States--China must also 
renounce the use of force against Taiwan. Good relations between the 
United States and the People's Republic of China must also depend upon 
the willingness of the Chinese authorities to refrain from the use and 
the threat of force in resolving Taiwan's future.

                          ____________________