[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: October 6, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      THE STRENGTHENING BONDS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND TAIWAN

                                 ______


                        HON. JOHN EDWARD PORTER

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 1994

  Mr. PORTER. Mr. Speaker, the cold war is over and the United States 
is struggling to reshape our foreign policy. I believe there is a clear 
principle we should use as our guiding light in this effort--shared 
values.
  We are the only remaining superpower, and we have an unprecedented 
opportunity to shed our old policies and base our relations with other 
nations on their willingness to embrace the tenets that are the 
founding principles of our country--democracy, human rights, rule of 
law, and free markets. I believe the United States should cultivate 
relations with nations that share these values and are moving toward 
them. With these nations we should promote trade, educational and 
technical exchanges, strategic assistance, and where appropriate, 
foreign aid. At the same time, we should make abundantly clear that we 
have no interest in cooperating with nor assisting nations that do not 
share our values.
  One nation that clearly shares our values in the area of democracy, 
human rights, rule of law and most certainly in the business arena is 
Taiwan.
  Taiwan has followed a pattern that I believe is the best path for the 
development of stable, deeply rooted democracies. Taiwan focused 
initially on economic growth, the development of free markets and 
capitalism, an aggressive financial sector, access to credit--in short, 
economic freedom. This base of economic freedom led to a growing middle 
class that demanded a greater say in government and greater personal 
freedoms.
  The Taiwanese Government has responded positively and undertaken 
broad and deep reforms. The so-called black list, which prohibited 
hundreds of Taiwanese labelled by the government as political 
undesirables from returning to their homes, was abolished. Restrictions 
on the press have been rescinded and new radio and cable television 
laws have begun the breakup of the state monopoly on the broadcast 
media. Freewheeling political debate in the print media has become the 
norm. Martial law was ended in 1987, and since the Taiwan garrison 
general headquarters was disbanded in 1992 most law enforcement is now 
handled by civilian forces. Unfortunately, there continue to be 
credible reports of abuse by the police of detainees, shortcomings in 
worker rights, and unequal treatment for women. Obviously Taiwan must 
continue on its path of progress and address these concerns, but I have 
confidence it will.
  Taiwan is an economically vibrant nation--America's fifth largest 
trading partner--with a strong, stable democracy, the rule of law, free 
press and all the other elements of a modern, developed nation. It 
shares our values and should take its rightful place among all the 
nations of the world in trade, culture, science, finance, and 
diplomacy.
  I believe, the United States must recognize these shared values by 
strengthening ties with Taiwan and by helping it promote its interests 
overseas. Specifically, I believe the U.S. should work to have the seat 
in the United Nations that was taken from Taiwan in October 1971 
restored. The U.S. should also work to have Taiwan's application to 
GATT considered on its merits, which are indisputable, and adopted. 
Finally, the United States Government should promote increased high 
level visits of U.S. officials to Taiwan and Taiwanese officials to the 
United States, perhaps upgrading the status of the Taiwanese mission in 
Washington, DC.
  In many ways, Taiwan is a model nation in its political and economic 
development. It is nations like Taiwan that the United States should be 
encouraging and building strong bonds with in the post-cold war era. I 
urge the President, the Secretary of State and the USTR to carefully 
consider what is in the best interest of the United States and be 
supportive of Taiwan in our bilateral relations and on the 
international stage.

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