[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 39 (Thursday, March 22, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH CONCERNING U.S.-TAIWAN RELATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ROBERT WEXLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 22, 2001

  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I would like to submit this letter for the 
Record.

                                                   March 22, 2001.
     Hon. George W. Bush,
     President, the United States of America, the White House, 
         1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.
       Dear Mr. President: It is my understanding that you are 
     meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Qian Qichen and other top 
     Chinese officials at the White House today. I would 
     respectfully suggest that during these meetings, it is 
     imperative that you send a clear message to the government of 
     China that the United States will continue to strengthen our 
     nation's longstanding relationship and commitment to the 
     safety and well-being of the people and government of Taiwan.
       As you know, deeply strained relations between China and 
     Taiwan greatly threaten stability and U.S. interests in East 
     Asia. The United States should support the continuation of 
     cross-strait dialogue with the government of China which I 
     believe will help reduce tensions in the region. I was 
     heartened by the bold decision of Taiwan President Chen Shui-
     bian to open shipping, transportation, and communication 
     links between two offshore islands, Quemoy and Matsu and 
     mainland China. The Chinese government has signaled that it 
     will support this decision by Taiwan. This confidence 
     building measure is important to a successful cross-strait 
     dialogue, because it signals that the Chinese government, 
     albeit reluctantly, is willing to compromise.
       Unfortunately other recent statements released by the 
     Chinese government are contrary to the message of peaceful 
     dialogue and potential cooperation in the Taiwan Strait. For 
     example, a white paper issued by China on October 16, 2000, 
     titled ``China's National Defense 2000,'' stated that ``if 
     Taiwan continues to
       Taiwan should not be bullied into accepting China's ``one 
     country, two systems'' formulation. As you are aware, the 
     1979 U.S. Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) reads: ``It is the 
     policy of the United States to consider any effort to 
     determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means 
     of grave concern to the United States.'' As you discuss cross 
     strait relations with Vice Premier Qian Qichen, I urge you to 
     reject any formulation that presupposes the final results of 
     any negotiations between Taipei and Beijing and is not in 
     accordance with the will of the Taiwanese people.
       As you know, the United States has a long history of 
     providing Taiwan with weapons and equipment to enhance its 
     defensive capabilities. In a 1997 trip to Taiwan, according 
     to news reports, you expressed a commitment to the U.S. sale 
     of defensive arms to Taiwan. I hope you keep that commitment 
     and urge you to bolster Taiwan's self-defense capabilities 
     which have not kept up quantitatively or qualitatively with 
     the growing military might of China. Taiwan urgently needs 
     defensive equipment to counterbalance the threat of hundred 
     of missiles deployed along the coast of China across the 
     Taiwan Strait.
       The significant gap between China and Taiwan was 
     acknowledged in a recent report to Congress by the U.S. 
     Pacific Command, Department of Defense, which states ``The 
     United States takes its obligation to assist Taiwan in 
     maintaining a self-defense capability very seriously . . . 
     not only because it is mandated by U.S. law in the Taiwan 
     Relations Act but also because it is in our own national 
     interest. As long as Taiwan has a capable defense, the 
     environment will be more conducive to peaceful dialogue, and 
     thus the whole region will be more stable.''
       In the context of strengthening relations with Taiwan, I 
     believe that the new Administration should advocate Taiwan's 
     inclusion in international organizations, including the World 
     Health Organization, World Trade Organization, and the 
     International Monetary Fund. It is unconscionable that 
     twenty-three million people living in Taiwan do not have 
     access to the medical resources of the WHO. At a minimum, 
     Taiwan should be allowed to participate in the activities of 
     the WHO as an observer.
       Mr. President, during your campaign you spoke positively 
     about our nation's strong relationship and commitment to 
     Taiwan. It would be a mistake for the United States to engage 
     China at the expense of our relationship with Taiwan. I 
     believe that this important bi-lateral relationship should be 
     strengthened as it has been over the past several decades 
     with a common commitment to the ideals of freedom and 
     democracy that we as Americans hold sacrosanct.
       I look forward to working with you to promote U.S. 
     interests in Asia by further strengthening our relationship 
     with a free, democratic, and prosperous Taiwan.

                                                Robert Wexler.

     

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