[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 36 (Friday, March 15, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S2145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           TAIWAN RESOLUTION

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. President, I wish to indicate how disappointed I was 
last evening that we were unable to take up the resolution on Taiwan 
and the Taiwan Straits. We had prepared a sense-of-the-Congress 
resolution early in the week, had distributed it and talked to many. It 
was agreed to by the administration. It was also sponsored by the 
chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee and the ranking member. In 
any event, the upshot was that its introduction was objected to on the 
minority side, I think largely by the staff, and therefore we did not 
do it. We do intend, however, to come back and do that next week.
  Mr. President, as all of my colleagues know, over the last 8 months 
the People's Republic of China has held an increasing number of missile 
tests and military exercises.
  Last year, starting in July, there were 21 to 26 missile tests; in 
July and August, troop movements in provinces bordering Taiwan. The 
purpose of these tests has obviously been to intimidate the Taiwanese. 
They have been accompanied by denunciations of President Li. They have 
been timed to coincide, of course, with the election that takes place 
there.
  Now, unfortunately, the People's Republic of China has escalated the 
situation with these new tests, tests that are the closest ever to the 
main island and purposely, of course, timed to affect the election 
which will take place later this month. They have also been close to 
Taiwan's two ports, and that has been very worrisome. These are 
reckless, I think, and greatly disturbing to most people in this 
country.
  We have a strong interest in the peaceful settlement of the Taiwan 
question. That interest of ours is central to the three communiques and 
the People's Republic of China joint communiques that we have entered 
into over the years, as well as the Taiwan Relations Act, which is to 
provide stability in that part of the world and which provides for a 
one-China policy and which provides for a peaceful movement toward that 
one-China policy.
  I firmly believe we need to reexamine our relationship with China. I 
think we have to narrow the number of issues in which we become 
involved and not seek to run their country. But when we do have 
agreements, then we have to make sure that they are adhered to by both 
the Chinese and ourselves. Our relationship currently is filled with 
items that have not been consistent with these agreements--the 
intellectual property agreements, the nuclear proliferation in Pakistan 
and Iraq.
  So, Mr. President, it is necessary that we do state our position; 
that we do insist on a peaceful direction and resolution of this issue; 
that we do clarify our one-China policy; that we do congratulate the 
Taiwanese in their movement toward democracy and open markets and urge 
that same open market approach take place in China.
  So I commend the Taiwanese, their government, for reacting calmly to 
these provocations. They, I think, have shown considerable restraint, 
and I congratulate them on their long march toward democracy. I hope 
that continues during the election next week.
  I yield the floor.

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