[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 26 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E264]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                COMMUNIST CHINA'S THREAT AGAINST TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANA ROHRABACHER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 9, 2000

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, communist China recently issued a so-
called ``white paper'' threatening to attack the republic of China on 
Taiwan, almost immediately after a high level Clinton Administration 
delegation led by Strobe Talbott visited Beijing. Reportedly, Talbott 
told the Chinese dictators that President Clinton wanted ``a 
constructive strategic partnership.'' Through the militant ``white 
paper'' Beijing stated it would militarily conquer Taiwan if Taiwan's 
democratically elected leaders refused to meet Beijing's time-table for 
reunification talks. This is a new condition meant to frighten voters 
in Taiwan prior to Taiwan's presidential election on March 18.
  This latest bluster by Beijing is comparable to the 1996 Chinese 
``missile test'' in the Taiwan Strait during Taiwan's first democratic 
Presidential election. Beijing failed to deter Taiwanese voters from 
electing President Lee Teng-hui. On March 18, the first time in China's 
5,000 year history, Taiwanese voters will democratically choose a new 
president to replace a democratically elected leader.
  Communist China's threats against Taiwan are deplorable. Taiwan is a 
vibrant democracy and its people should have every right to elect their 
new leader without any sort of outside interference. Beijing should 
recognize the fact that the Chinese people now have two separate 
governments--one democratic and the other a militant dictatorship. 
Reunification talks between Beijing and Taipei should be conducted as 
between two equal entities, allowing both sides to discuss the creation 
of a new democratic China through the free will of all Chinese people.
  During this sensitive period, we should make clear to Beijing that 
the United States Government has zero tolerance for Beijing's bullying 
gestures toward the brave people of Taiwan. There current actions are 
sound reason to deny any trade agreements, such as the so called 
Permanent Normal Trade Relations proposal.

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