[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 21 (Thursday, March 5, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      AMERICA MUST STAND BY TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 5, 1998

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, the relationship between the United 
States, The Republic of China on Taiwan, and the Peoples Republic of 
China (PRC) was a top issue during last October's summit meeting 
between President Clinton and Jaing Zemin. Taiwan will be an even 
bigger topic of discussion at the next summit meeting later this year.
  I have spent a lot of my time in Congress focusing on America's role 
in Asia. I believe that one of the most vital elements to promoting 
America's regional interests, the spread of freedom and prosperity in 
Asia, hinges on how well we lead on the cross-Strait issue.
  In 1996, the PRC had ventured into a reckless policy of launching 
missiles towards the territory of Taiwan in an effort to undermine its 
plans for democratic Presidential elections. At the urging of Congress, 
the United States finally deployed two aircraft carriers with assorted 
escort ships into the Taiwan Strait. That show of commitment and 
friendship to Taiwan diffused the crisis. I am proud to have played a 
part during that crisis urging that Taiwan be defended.
  The missile launchings, or so-called military exercises, were terror 
tactics designed by the PRC's politburo to frighten and intimidate the 
Taiwanese people. In those days before the first-ever election a 
Chinese president, the people on Taiwan braved the intimidation and 
added another achievement to their long and proud history. Bouyed by 
America's solidarity, the people of Taiwan flocked to the polls and 
elected Lee Teng-hui as their president.
  I was honored to attend President Lee's inauguration and I look 
forward to seeing him again during my upcoming visit to Taiwan.
  The U.S. military intervention of 1996 and your remarks, Mr. Speaker, 
that were made on the occasion of your visit to Taiwan last year, when 
you said that Taiwan should be defended if attacked, should be the 
basis of a new consensus concerning our strategic policy regarding the 
status of Taiwan. Deterrence works. We need to discourage the PRC from 
using force against Taiwan. The best way to encourage the right to 
happen in the relationship between Taiwan and the PRC is to ensure that 
reason rather than brute force play the dominant role in determining 
the future. Part of deterring PRC aggression should be to allow our 
friends on Taiwan to have access to the adequate defensive weapons.
  Mr. Speaker, a prominent Asian scholar who I look forward to meeting 
someday, Dr. Arthur Waldron has written an essay, ``Back to Basics: The 
U.S. Perspective on Taiwan-PRC Relations,'' which further illuminates 
some of the points I've made here. I recommend it to my colleagues.

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