[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 36 (Tuesday, March 28, 2000)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1827-S1828]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 99--CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN 
 FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 18, 
   2000, AND REAFFIRMING UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD TAIWAN AND THE 
                       PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

  Mr. LOTT submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
considered and agreed to:

                            S. Con. Res. 99

       Whereas section 2(c) of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public 
     Law 96-8) states ``[t]he preservation and enhancement of the 
     human rights of all the people on Taiwan'' to be an objective 
     of the United States;
       Whereas Taiwan has become a multiparty democracy in which 
     all citizens have the right to participate freely in the 
     political process;
       Whereas the people of Taiwan have, by their vigorous 
     participation in electoral campaigns and public debate, 
     strengthened the foundations of a free and democratic way of 
     life;
       Whereas Taiwan successfully conducted a presidential 
     election on March 18, 2000;
       Whereas President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan has actively 
     supported the consolidation of democratic institutions and 
     processes in Taiwan since 1988 when he became President;
       Whereas this election represents the first such transition 
     of national office from one elected leader to another in the 
     history of Chinese societies;
       Whereas the continued democratic development of Taiwan is a 
     matter of fundamental importance to the advancement of United 
     States interests in East Asia and is supported by the United 
     States Congress and the American people;
       Whereas a stable and peaceful security environment in East 
     Asia is essential to the furtherance of democratic 
     developments in Taiwan and other countries, as well as to the 
     protection of human rights throughout the region;
       Whereas since 1972 United States policy toward the People's 
     Republic of China has been predicated upon, as stated in 
     section 2(b)(3) of the Taiwan Relations Act, ``the 
     expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by 
     peaceful means'';
       Whereas section 2(b)(6) of the Taiwan Relations Act further 
     pledges ``to maintain the capacity of the United States to 
     resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that 
     would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic 
     system, of the people of Taiwan'';
       Whereas on June 9, 1998, the House of Representatives voted 
     unanimously to adopt House Concurrent Resolution 270 that 
     called upon the President of the United States to seek ``a 
     public renunciation by the People's Republic of China of any 
     use of force, or threat to use force, against democratic 
     Taiwan'';
       Whereas the People's Republic of China has consistently 
     refused to renounce the use of force against Taiwan;
       Whereas the State Council, an official organ at the highest 
     level of the Government of the People's Republic of China, 
     issued a ``white paper'' on February 21, 2000, which 
     threatened ``to adopt all drastic measures possible, 
     including the use of force'', if Taiwan indefinitely delays 
     entering into negotiations with the People's Republic of 
     China on the issue of reunification; and
       Whereas the February 21, 2000, statement by the State 
     Council significantly escalates tensions across the Taiwan 
     Straits and sets

[[Page S1828]]

     forth a new condition that has not heretofore been stated 
     regarding the conditions that would prompt the People's 
     Republic of China to use force against Taiwan: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That--
       (1) the people of Taiwan are to be congratulated for the 
     successful conclusion of presidential elections on March 18, 
     2000, and for their continuing efforts in developing and 
     sustaining a free, democratic society which respects human 
     rights and embraces free markets;
       (2) President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan is to be congratulated 
     for his significant contributions to freedom and democracy on 
     Taiwan;
       (3) President-elect Chen Shui-bian and Vice President-elect 
     Annette Hsiu-lien Lu of Taiwan are to be congratulated for 
     their victory, and they have the strong support and best 
     wishes of the Congress and the American people for a 
     successful administration;
       (4) it is the sense of Congress that the People's Republic 
     of China should refrain from making provocative threats 
     against Taiwan and should instead undertake steps that would 
     lead to a substantive dialogue, including a renunciation of 
     the use of force against Taiwan and progress toward 
     democracy, the rule of law, and protection of human and 
     religious rights in the People's Republic of China; and
       (5) the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 
     96-8) are hereby affirmed as the statutory standard by which 
     United States policy toward Taiwan shall be determined.

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