[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 105 (Thursday, July 28, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S9308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE RESOLUTION 220--TO EXPRESS THE CONCERN OF THE SENATE REGARDING 
THE PASSAGE OF THE ANTI-SECESSION LAW BY THE NATIONAL PEOPLE'S CONGRESS 
   OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA AND TAIWAN ON AN EQUAL FOOTING 
                         WITHOUT PRECONDITIONS

  Mr. GRAHAM (for himself, Mr. Allen, Mr. Johnson, Mr. Biden, Mr. Kyl, 
Mr. Bond, Mr. Coburn, Mr. Allard, Mr. Rockefeller, Mr. Dorgan, and Mr. 
Bingaman) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 220

       Whereas any attempt to determine Taiwan's future by other 
     than peaceful means and other than with the express consent 
     of the people of Taiwan is of grave concern to the United 
     States;
       Whereas the People's Republic of China increased its 
     military budget by 12.6 percent this year and currently 
     maintains approximately 700 conventional missiles and 250,000 
     troops along the Taiwan Strait;
       Whereas the National People's Congress of the People's 
     Republic of China on March 14, 2005, passed an anti-secession 
     law creating a legal framework for possible use of force 
     against Taiwan;
       Whereas the anti-secession law mandates that China use 
     military action under certain circumstances, including when 
     ``possibilities for a peaceful reunification should be 
     completely exhausted'';
       Whereas any threat of force against Taiwan only serves to 
     escalate tension between Taiwan and the People's Republic of 
     China, impede dialogue between the 2 countries, and undermine 
     regional peace and security;
       Whereas the anti-secession law endorses dialogue between 
     China and Taiwan ``on an equal footing,'' and calls on China 
     to promote peace and stability through personal exchanges, 
     closer economic ties, and other measures;
       Whereas, in recent years, Taiwan has invested more than 
     $80,000,000,000 in enterprises in China, and China is now 
     Taiwan's largest trading partner, with total trade worth over 
     $50,000,000,000;
       Whereas, on February 24, 2005, Chen Shui-bian, the 
     President of Taiwan, and James Soong, the leader of the 
     People's First Party, issued a 10-point consensus affirming 
     their commitment to preserve the status quo regarding the 
     issue of independence or unification and outlining steps to 
     reinforce economic, cultural, and academic exchanges with 
     mainland China;
       Whereas, in recent months, Lien Chan, the leader of the 
     Nationalist Party, and Mr. Soong have made private visits to 
     China and met with senior Chinese officials; and
       Whereas there have been no official talks on future 
     relations between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China 
     since 1998, and China recently rejected a proposal by Taiwan 
     for a meeting at a neutral location: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that--
       (1) the President should direct all appropriate officials 
     of the United States Government to convey to their 
     counterpart officials in the Government of China the grave 
     concern with which the United States Government views the 
     threat of force embodied in the anti-secession law enacted by 
     the Government of the People's Republic of China in 
     particular, and the growing Chinese military threat to Taiwan 
     in general; and
       (2) the United States Government should continue to 
     encourage dialogue between the People's Republic of China and 
     Taiwan on an equal footing and without preconditions.

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