[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 46 (Monday, March 13, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S3831]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


   TIME FOR COMMON COURTESY: WELCOME TAIWAN'S PRESIDENT TO OUR SHORES

  Mr. HELMS. Mr. President, I am happy to participate in calling the 
Senate's attention to a travesty in the modern conduct of U.S. foreign 
relations. The question all Americans should confront is, how and when 
did the United States reach the point in United States-Taiwanese 
relations that United States foreign policy could possibly forbid a 
visit to the United States by the highest-ranking, democratically 
elected citizen of Taiwan?
  Though I seldom disagree with Ronald Reagan--I did strongly disagree 
on a few occasions and one of those was when President Reagan's 
advisors made a bad decision--one which so jeopardized our relations 
with Taiwan by cuddling up to the brutal dictators in Beijing.
  Since that time, the United States has been forced to hide behind a 
diplomatic screen to demonstrate our commitment and loyalty to the 
Taiwanese people.
  Mr. President, at the time President Reagan's advisers cast their lot 
with the Red Chinese Government, Congress was promised that the United 
States would nonetheless continue to ``preserve and promote extensive, 
close and friendly * * * relations'' with the people on Taiwan. But one 
administration after another failed to live up to that promise.
  How in the world could any one consider it close and friendly to 
require the President of Taiwan to sit in his plane on a runway in 
Honolulu while it was refueled? I find it hard to imagine that United 
States relations with Red China would have come to a standstill because 
a weekend visit to the United States by Taiwan's President Lee was 
allowed.
  The President's China policy is in poor shape at this point--even 
members of Mr. Clinton's team recognize that. So, how can anyone really 
pretend that allowing President Lee to travel to his alma mater--or to 
vacation in North Carolina--would send our already precarious relations 
with Red China plummeting over the edge?
  Last time I checked the mainland Chinese were obviously and 
understandably enjoying their relations with the United States a great 
deal. We would be enjoying them, too, if only American taxpayers could 
be benefiting to the tune of $30 billion every year as a result of 
United States trading with Red China.
  Time and again, the U.S. Congress has urged the administration to 
grant President Lee a visa. We have even amended United States 
immigration law so that it now specifically mentions the President of 
Taiwan. Congress has passed resolution after resolution encouraging the 
President to allow President Lee into the United States for a visit. 
All to no avail.
  Now's the time, Mr. President, We encourage you to allow President 
Lee to visit the United States when he so chooses. Bear in mind that 
some of us in Congress will never cease our support for one of 
America's greatest allies, the oldest democracy in the Asian region--
the Republic of China on Taiwan.
  Mr. KENNEDY addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the Senator from Massachusetts withhold 
so that we can go back to the pending business?
  Mr. KENNEDY. I thank the Chair.

                          ____________________