[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 25 (Monday, March 7, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      REMARKS IN SUPPORT OF TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SHERWOOD BOEHLERT

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 7, 2005

  Mr. BOEHLERT. Mr. Speaker, recent reports suggest that the People's 
Republic of China may embark on a dangerous path that could destabilize 
the region. The PRC may be seeking passage of an ``anti-secession'' 
bill in a careless attempt to justify use of force against Taiwan. As 
everyone in this legislative body knows, Mr. Speaker, the PRC has never 
decried force as a means to take control of Taiwan, and this sort of 
provocative measure only serves to further corrode productive dialogue.
  As the democratic leader in the global world, we cannot stand for 
unilateral action by the PRC against Taiwan. To echo the words of the 
Taiwan Relations Act, ``any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by 
other than peaceful means'' is ``of grave concern to the United 
States.'' As two productive, industrialized nations charged with 
helping usher the world into the 21st century, it is imperative that 
the PRC and Taiwan work out their differences through peaceful 
dialogue.
  Given the recent tragedies that crippled South East Asia, now is not 
the time to threaten stability across the Taiwan Strait. If the ``anti-
secession'' bill were to become ``law'', the prosperity of 23 million 
people on Taiwan would be threatened. The Taiwanese live in a thriving, 
multi-party democracy. We cannot allow the light of Asian democracy to 
dim under the threat of military action. I urge my colleagues find 
their voices and oppose the passage of the anti-secession law.




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