[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CHINA'S ANTI-SECESSION LAW

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                        HON. MAURICE D. HINCHEY

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 2005

  Mr. HINCHEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring to my colleagues 
attention an anti-secession bill that is currently under consideration 
in The People's Republic of China's National People's Congress Standing 
Committee. Although the language of the draft of this law has not been 
made public, many Taiwanese are troubled. They are concerned that if 
such legislation is passed it may lead to future military action 
against them if Taipei does not succumb to Beijing's One China 
principle. This proposal should concern the United States because of 
our commitment to help preserve a democratic Taiwan.
  However, Beijing should be commended for its recent conciliatory 
gestures that appear aimed at lowering tensions across the Taiwan 
Strait. These include the first non-stop, cross-strait charter flights 
between the mainland and Taiwan for the February Lunar New Year holiday 
and the dispatch of two senior Chinese officials to the funeral of Koo 
Chen-fu who headed Taiwan's Straits Exchange Foundation. Yet the 
impending law could prove counterproductive to these actions in several 
ways.
  The proposed law could result in China taking military action against 
Taiwan if it appears to Beijing that Taiwan is moving toward 
independence. Most Taiwanese would like to peacefully co-exist with the 
mainland, if creative ways to do so can be negotiated between Beijing 
and Taipei.
  The status of hundreds of thousands of Taiwanese living in China 
could also become uncertain as a result of this legislation. Some have 
questioned whether this means that statements interpreted as supporting 
Taiwan could be the legal basis for charges of treason or other 
criminal actions--a scenario causing deep concern in the Taiwanese 
business community on the mainland.
  Furthermore, the law has received a negative reaction from the 
citizens of Taiwan and could lead to increasing support for the very 
independence moves it seeks to deter. This legislation will not 
encourage negotiations that are needed to attain a peaceful resolution 
to tensions in the Taiwan Strait.
  President Bush clearly stated that the basic tenets of his foreign 
policy will be the expansion of democracy and freedom across the globe. 
It is my hope that the Bush Administration will encourage China not to 
pass the proposed antisecession law.

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