[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 14, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: June 14, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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 ADOPTION OF SENATE RESOLUTION 148, UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD TAIWAN

 Mr. SIMON. Mr. President, I would like to thank the 40 
cosponsors of Senate Resolution 148, which I introduced last October 
and which the Senate adopted by voice vote last Friday, as well as the 
four other Senators who asked to be associated with the resolution. The 
names of the cosponsors and Members associating themselves with the 
resolution appear at the end of this statement.
  It is time to bring our relationship with Taiwan more into harmony 
with important United States commercial, security, and political 
interests in Taiwan. Taiwan, in contrast to the People's Republic of 
China, is democratic and prosperous, and has a positive human rights 
record. It vies with Japan as the world's largest holder and currency 
reserves, and it buys roughly twice the United States exports we send 
to the People's Republic. These facts speak for themselves. We should 
configure our policy toward Taiwan accordingly.
  Senate Resolution 148 is important because of its timing as well as 
what it says.
  It reaffirms the sense of the Congress contained in section 508 of 
the Foreign Relations Authorization Act, Public Law 103-236, which the 
President signed on April 30, to the effect that the United States 
should support Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and that 
the United States should be open to Cabinet-level exchanges with 
Taiwan. On May 16, the State Department issued a statement rejecting 
the section 508 language regarding high-level visits and Taiwan's 
participation in multilateral organizations. The State Department also 
lobbied against Senate Resolution 148 on grounds that it might offend 
Beijing on the eve of the President's decision to extend China's MFN 
status. Nevertheless, on May 25, the day before the President's 
announcement on China's MFN status, the Foreign Relations Committee 
adopted the resolution unanimously.
  Soon, the administration may release the details of its long-delayed 
review of United States policy toward Taiwan. Most of us in the Senate 
hope that the policy review will provide for meaningful progress toward 
a more normal United States relationship with Taiwan which is more in 
keeping with United States interests. Senate Resolution 148 reminds the 
administration of the Senate's belief that support for Taiwan's 
participation in the United Nation and willingness to undertake 
Cabinet-level exchanges should be two significant elements of United 
States policy toward Taiwan.
  Following are the 40 cosponsors of Senate Resolution 148: Senators 
Reid, Pell, Moseley-Braun, Wofford, Hollings, Ford, Feingold, Campbell, 
DeConcini, Lieberman, Boren, Brown, Helms, Craig, Gramm, Lugar, Gorton, 
Pressler, Mack, Nickles, Jeffords, Murkowski, Burns, Chafee, Bond, 
Coats, D'Amato, Simpson, Thurmond, Lott, Wallop, Roth, Cohen, 
Durenberger, Grassley, Gregg, Kempthorne, Dole, Hatch, and Coverdell.
  Following are the four Senators associating themselves with the 
resolution: Senators Inouye, Sasser, McCain, and Hutchison.

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