[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 15, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E235-E236]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CHINA'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2005

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, in mid-January China and Taiwan agreed to 
allow direct flights between the Chinese mainland and Taiwan during 
this year's Lunar New Year holidays. This agreement was considered a 
breakthrough in cross-strait relations and could signal the beginning 
of a thaw in relations. Unfortunately, we learned that in March this 
year Beijing will enact an anti-secession law, the intent of which is 
to force unification on Taiwan.
  The anti-secession law assumes China's jurisdiction over Taiwan and 
gives China the right to invade Taiwan when and if China considers the 
invasion necessary. This law severely erodes Taiwanese people's 
goodwill for China. In recent years, Taiwanese businesses have invested 
as much as $100 billion in China and have directly created the Chinese 
miracle of unprecedented economic growth and prosperity. Instead of 
reciprocating Taiwanese goodwill, China is now attempting to lay the 
legal groundwork for China's possible invasion of Taiwan.
  Mr. Speaker, it is now time for us to speak up against China's 
proposed anti-secession law. It is an unfriendly law against the 
Taiwanese people as well as a provocative law

[[Page E236]]

threatening to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. It is 
possible that the peace-loving Taiwanese people may seek their own 
legislation against China's annexation attempt. This will, in turn, 
inflame Chinese leaders and provoke them to enact even harsher 
legislation against Taiwan. Consequently tensions will rise and war in 
the Taiwan Strait will become a possibility.
  It is still not too late for the Chinese authorities not to enact the 
anti-secession law against Taiwan. Taiwanese people and their leaders 
are all peace-loving people who do not seek to change the status quo in 
the Taiwan Strait. Why must China take upon itself to unilaterally 
change the status quo?
  Friends of Taiwan in the United States must make clear to China that 
the United States will not stand idly by if China uses force against 
Taiwan. Taiwan Relations Act assures Taiwan of our concern over any 
military action against Taiwan. The United States will not allow China 
to impose its own style of government on the unwilling Taiwan. 
Taiwanese people must be given their own voice of self-determination 
regarding their future, and their liberty mustn't be taken away from 
them by any adversary.

                          ____________________