[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 13 (Wednesday, February 9, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E204-E205]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




URGING THE EUROPEAN UNION TO MAINTAIN ITS ARMS EMBARGO ON THE PEOPLE'S 
                           REPUBLIC OF CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2005

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, the Status Quo in the Taiwan 
Straits is under threat. This has far less to do with unilateral steps 
being taken by Taiwan and much more to do with People's Republic of 
China's (PRC) decision to apparently leave its ``Good Neighbor'' policy 
by the wayside, and embark on a new campaign to promote its economic 
and military ambitions across the Straits and throughout the region.
  For several months now, based on speeches by Jiang Zemin, it appears 
that China is in the process of drafting a so-called Anti-Secession Law 
which obligates the People's Liberation Army to use military force to 
annex Taiwan if Beijing believes Taiwanese rhetoric or actions are 
moving the Island towards independence.
  The prospect of a lifting of the European Union's arms embargo 
against China, together with the drafting of this Anti-Secession Law, 
and the publication of a PRC white paper last year entitled, ``China's 
National Defense in 2004,'' calling Taiwan's independence advocates the 
``biggest immediate threat to China's sovereignty and territorial 
integrity,'' are alarming items in and of themselves, but taken as a 
whole they represent a disturbing trend in China's thinking about the 
situation in the Taiwan Straits.
  Officials at the State Department and our friends in Taiwan are 
extremely uneasy to say the least over these signals of a change in 
China's posture towards Taiwan--and with good reason. Saber rattling by 
the PRC is nothing new, but this Anti-Secession Law represents a 
dangerous new dimension.
  If enacted, this Anti-Secession Law will create the legal grounds for 
Beijing to punish anyone speaking or acting against reunification of 
Taiwan and China. Moreover, the law will permit, in fact it will 
compel, Chinese leaders to use force against Taiwan if China considers 
Taiwanese leaders are engaging in so-called separatist activities.
  The Law clearly undermines efforts to enhance the goodwill that has 
grown-up across the Straits in recent years spawned by deep socio-
cultural ties, and the increasing economic interdependence between 
Taiwan and the Mainland. If this Anti-Secession Law is enacted, the 
response from the Taiwanese will

[[Page E205]]

be predictable; military tension will rise accordingly in the Taiwan 
Strait and regional peace and stability will be affected. This cannot 
be in the best interests of any country, especially those in the 
region.
  Mr. Speaker, since 9/11 there has been a heightened recognition of 
the benefits of cooperation with Beijing on security issues in the 
region; ranging from eliminating the North Korean nuclear threat, to 
stabilizing the Taiwan Strait, and countering global terrorism. A 
security crisis over Taiwan is something we all must work to avert. 
But, China's proposed Anti-Secession Law is a bad law with serious 
consequences for future relations between China and Taiwan, as well as 
regional stability. I hope the Chinese Government will reconsider their 
actions and return to the ``Good Neighbor'' policy that has worked so 
effectively for so long.

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