[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 19 (Friday, February 18, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                CHINA'S PROPOSED ``ANTI-SECESSION LAW''

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. JOHN ABNEY CULBERSON

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 17, 2005

  Mr. CULBERSON. Mr. Speaker, after Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian was 
elected to a second term last March, he has attempted to reach out to 
China on many occasions in hopes that cross-Strait relations could be 
improved. Unfortunately, China has not responded positively to Chen's 
many goodwill gestures. The massive Chinese military buildup along the 
coast continues, China's bellicose rhetoric continues, and China is now 
planning to enact an ``anti-secession (or anti-separation) law'' aimed 
specifically at Taiwan. Understandably, the Taiwanese people have been 
reacting to this proposed law with alarm. If Chinese leaders persist in 
passing this law, Taiwan might be forced to enact an anti-annexation 
law of its own as a proper response to China.
  This battle of laws is most unfortunate in view of the fact that 
cross-strait relations have been improving in recent days. On January 
15 this year China and Taiwan agreed to have direct charter flights 
during the Chinese New Year holidays, and both sides agreed to continue 
to work toward restoring direct trade, transport and postal ties--the 
``three links.'' Moreover, the economies of China and Taiwan have grown 
increasingly interdependent as Taiwanese businesses have invested as 
much as $100 billion in China and as many as one million Taiwanese now 
live and work on the mainland.
  The latest controversy about China's proposed anti-secession law has 
once again highlighted the political division between China and Taiwan. 
China is seeking to unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan 
Strait and force its own style of government on the 23 million people 
of Taiwan. China has totally ignored Taiwan's contributions to China's 
strong economy and President Chen's repeated gestures of good will.
  We must alert everyone that China's latest move to enact the anti-
secession law will not only destroy the goodwill between the people of 
Taiwan and China, it is also unnecessarily provocative and will lead to 
escalating tension in the Taiwan Strait. Taiwanese people should not 
sit idly by and allow authoritarian Chinese government to mandate the 
annexation of democratic Taiwan; neither should any freedom-loving 
people in the world.
  By unilaterally changing the status quo in the Taiwan Strait, China 
is also challenging America's will to stand behind the Taiwan Relations 
Act which says unequivocally that it is the policy of the United States 
``to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would 
jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the 
people of Taiwan.'' The Taiwan Relations Act also affirms one of the 
objectives of the United States as ``the preservation and enhancement 
of the human rights of all the people on Taiwan.''
  Mr. Speaker, it is my view that China's proposed anti-secession law 
is provocative and dangerous and poses a grave threat to peace and 
stability in the region. I urge the Chinese government to step back 
from confrontation and stay on the path to reconciliation and 
friendship with the free people of Taiwan.

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