[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 131 (Tuesday, September 23, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1855]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            H. CON. RES. 284

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SHERROD BROWN

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 23, 2003

  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H. 
Con. Res. 284, expressing the sense of Congress that the United States 
actively support Taiwan's membership in the United Nations and other 
international organizations.
  A number of countries have asked the United Nations to reconsider 
U.N. Resolution 2758, which has not resolved the issue of Taiwan's 
representation in the U.N. This resolution gave what has been called 
the ``China Seat'' to the People's Republic of China and excluded 
Taiwan from membership.
  For thirty years, Taiwan's 23 million people have had no 
representation at the U.N. This is a violation of the U.N. Charter and 
the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  Taiwan does not seek the expulsion of the People's Republic of China, 
but asks that it be given its own voice in U.N. matters. Taiwan and the 
PRC can both be members of the U.N. The precedent exists: East and West 
Germany in the past, and North and South Korea in the present.
  U.N. membership does not threaten or endanger reunification of Taiwan 
and China. In recent years, Taiwan has permitted banks and financial 
institutions to open offices in China. Taiwan has welcomed mainland 
journalists and eased restrictions on mainland spouses of Taiwan 
residents. It is conceivable that political relations will improve if 
Taiwan is given U.N. membership.
  Taiwan's return to the U.N. will benefit all nations, especially the 
23 million people of Taiwan. They deserve to have a voice in the U.N. 
and to be treated in the same manner as all other people in the world.

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