[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 23 (Thursday, March 3, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E349]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CHINA'S ANTISECESSION LAW

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. SCOTT GARRETT

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 3, 2005

  Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, it is expected that the 
People's Republic of China will enact its ``anti-secession'' law this 
March. Aimed at eventual reunification with Taiwan, this law will give 
China a legal basis to invade Taiwan. Clearly, this is a highly 
provocative law and will change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.
  With the enactment of this law China claims jurisdiction over Taiwan 
and threatens to use force against Taiwan if Taiwan is found not 
actively working toward eventual unification with China. China will be 
Taiwan's sole arbitrator of any dispute between the two.
  Mr. Speaker, by enacting this law, China is also challenging the 
letter and spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act, which says that ``any 
effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means'' 
is ``of grave concern to the United States.'' Indeed, any unilateral 
effort by the PRC to determine the future of Taiwan challenges 
America's will to defend the Taiwan Relations Act. We must let the 
Chinese know that our commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act is total 
and unwavering. We will not allow China to change the status quo in the 
Taiwan Strait.
  By imposing its form of government on the 23 million people of 
Taiwan, China tramples on the Taiwanese people's human rights and 
democratic ideals. Once again, we must not allow this to happen. In the 
Taiwan Relations Act we read, the ``preservation and enhancement of the 
human rights of all the people on Taiwan are . . . reaffirmed as 
objectives of the United States.'' We must let China know that we take 
human rights and democratic ideals seriously.
  It is vitally important that the Bush administration, the U.S. 
Congress and the international community voice opposition to China's 
proposed ``anti-secession'' law. It is a vicious law that will 
adversely affect Taiwan and the Pacific region. It will upset peace and 
stability in the Taiwan Strait and bring economic ruin to the whole 
area.
  Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in voicing my strong opposition to 
China's proposed ``anti-secession'' law.

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