[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 19 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E287]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TAIWAN STRAIT RELATIONS

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                           HON. JOHN SULLIVAN

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 2005

  Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise and join my colleagues in 
expressing my concerns about China's proposed anti-secession law, which 
is highly provocative and may cause a military confrontation across the 
Taiwan Strait. Specifically, the proposed law assumes that China and 
Taiwan are now unified and that China has the right to punish anyone 
expressing separatist sentiments or engaging in separatist activities. 
Ultimately, passage of this law can embolden China to legally push for 
unification of Taiwan by force, which is obviously, a scenario we would 
not like to see.
  Understandably, the 23 million people of Taiwan are very upset over 
this proposed law, for they have lived under a full-fledged democracy, 
and enjoyed highest standard of freedom and human rights. Although some 
people might argue that any country should have the right to enact a 
domestic law, but if a country's freedom and well-being are endangered 
because of that law, then the countries who are defenders of freedom 
and democracy around the world, shouldn't stand aside and tolerate the 
situation to escalate.
  I hope Chinese leaders will exercise their wisdom and not adopt this 
anti-secession law this March. I also urge the international community 
to join us to voice their disapproval of this law. Inaction by the 
United States and other concerned countries will send a dangerous 
signal to China and encourage China to escalate its political rhetoric 
against a democratic country.
  We do not need any military confrontation in the Taiwan Strait now or 
ever. I encourage my colleagues to tell our Chinese friends in Beijing 
that they should appreciate the contributions that the Taiwanese have 
made to the Chinese economy. China should also know that Taiwan stands 
ready to discuss and negotiate any issue with China. The Taiwanese 
people desire a peaceful coexistence with their Chinese brethren and 
have no desire to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait. It is 
important that the U.S maintain focus and resolve on this issue, and I 
encourage China to do away with the proposed anti-secession law so as 
to not upset the balance of peaceful relations in the region.

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