[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 148 (Tuesday, October 2, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H11094-H11096]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page H11094]]
                   TAIWANESE SELF-DEFENSE CAPABILITY

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 676) declaring that it shall continue to be the 
policy of the United States, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, 
to make available to Taiwan such defense articles and services as may 
be necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense 
capability.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 676

       Whereas relations between the United States and Taiwan are 
     governed by the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.; 
     Public Law 96-8), three joint communiques, and the Six 
     Assurances;
       Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act has governed United States 
     arms sales to Taiwan since 1979, when the United States 
     extended diplomatic recognition to the People's Republic of 
     China;
       Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act specifies that it is 
     United States policy, among other things, to consider any 
     non-peaceful means to determine Taiwan's future ``a threat'' 
     to the peace and security of the Western Pacific and of 
     ``grave concern'' to the United States; ``to provide Taiwan 
     with arms of a defensive character;'' and ``to maintain the 
     capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force 
     or other forms of coercion'' jeopardizing the security, or 
     social or economic system of Taiwan's people;
       Whereas section 3(a) of the Taiwan Relations Act states 
     that ``the United States will make available to Taiwan such 
     defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may 
     be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-
     defense capability'';
       Whereas section 3(b) of the Taiwan Relations Act stipulates 
     that both the President and the Congress shall determine the 
     nature and quantity of such defense articles and services 
     ``based solely'' upon their judgment of the needs of Taiwan;
       Whereas Taiwan's 2007 defense budget included approximately 
     $488,000,000 to begin the process of procuring 66 new United 
     States-origin F-16C/D fighters, pending United States price 
     and availability data;
       Whereas after October 31, 2007, those funds will no longer 
     be available to begin the process of procuring the
     F-16C/D fighters;
       Whereas the Taiwanese Defense Ministry has requested and 
     the Executive Yuan (cabinet) approved in August 2007 a 2008 
     defense budget that includes approximately $764,000,000 for 
     the second year's budget for F-16C/D fighters;
       Whereas notwithstanding the requirements of the Taiwan 
     Relations Act, the Bush Administration has not been 
     responsive to Taiwan's clear expression of interest in 
     receiving price and availability data for the F-16C/D 
     fighters; and
       Whereas in its annual, congressionally mandated report on 
     China's Military Power (most recently released in May 2007) 
     the Department of Defense concluded that China is greatly 
     improving its military, with those improvements largely 
     focused on a Taiwan contingency, and that this build-up poses 
     an increasing threat to Taiwan and ultimately to the United 
     States military presence in Asia: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved,  That--
       (1) it shall continue to be the policy of the United 
     States, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, to make 
     available to Taiwan such defense articles and services as may 
     be necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense 
     capability; and
       (2) the United States should determine the nature and 
     quantity of such defense articles and services ``based 
     solely'' upon the legitimate defense needs of Taiwan.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Sherman) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Poe) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on the resolution under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution 
and yield myself as much time as I may consume.
  I would like to thank my distinguished colleague, the ranking member 
of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen of Florida, for 
introducing this important resolution and Chairman Lantos, Chair of the 
Foreign Affairs Committee, for moving this to the floor.
  When it comes to military sales to Taiwan, U.S. policy is clear: We 
must ensure that the thriving democracy of Taiwan has the capacity 
necessary to defend itself from outside threats.
  We in the United States provide defensive military equipment to 
Taiwan, not just because it is right to aid our democratic friends, but 
because it is the law of the land under the Taiwan Relations Act. The 
Taiwan Relations Act, which has been the core of our policy toward 
Taiwan for almost 3 decades, also states clearly that the United States 
should base its decision on whether to supply defensive military 
equipment to Taiwan solely on the basis of the security needs of the 
Taiwanese military, not on the basis of political concerns.
  In the context of these guiding principles, the administration 
currently has before it a decision on whether to sell F-16C/D fighters 
to Taiwan, fighters which Taiwan has expressed a clear interest in 
purchasing and for whose purchase they have budgeted $488 million in 
their 2007 defense budget and another $764 million in their budget for 
2008.
  The answer of the United States should be obvious. We should agree to 
sell the fighters without delay. Yet the administration has dragged its 
feet and failed even to respond to our Taiwanese friends; and this, in 
spite of the fact that under Taiwanese laws the funds for the fighters 
will no longer be available after October 31 of this year. If we do not 
offer to sell the planes by that date, the rules governing Taiwanese 
defense spending require that these funds be deleted from their budget.
  Some have argued that this delay is justified because in a tense 
political season in Taiwan, the United States does not want to be seen 
as taking sides in the upcoming Taiwanese election. This assertion is 
wrongheaded and shortsighted in the extreme. This resolution in no way 
indicates support for one political party or another.
  Furthermore, under the Taiwan Relations Act, we are supposed to make 
our decision based upon the needs of the Taiwanese military, not based 
on some argument that we would be falsely seen as supporting one 
political party or another, which, of course, is hardly the case if we 
decide to follow our own law and provide the Taiwanese military with 
the planes they need for military security.
  I support this resolution and the sale of the F-16C/Ds to Taiwan so 
that the people of Taiwan can protect their democracy and to advance 
our security interests in East Asia. My support does not in any way 
indicate support for any candidate in Taiwan for any elected office, 
nor would selling these planes or agreeing to sell them indicate the 
support of the United States Government for any particular political 
party or candidate.
  There are still others who claim that the F-16 sale, and this 
resolution, will upset the balance of the Taiwan Strait. Taiwan already 
has F-16 aircraft, so these additional planes will hardly upset the 
balance between Taiwan and China.
  Moreover, no one puts forward the idea that Taiwan is today going to 
invade the mainland. It is obvious that the weapons Taiwan acquires are 
for defense, not for offense, and so a country acquiring military 
weapons to defend itself is not upsetting the balance of power but, 
rather, preserving the military status quo, preserving stability and 
peace.
  I would also point out that the Taiwan Relations Act and our arms 
sales under this act have been instrumental in maintaining peace and 
security across the Taiwan Straits and in East Asia for 30 years.

                              {time}  1215

  Under this peace, Taiwan developed from authoritarian rule into a 
robust and lively democracy. Taiwan has asked our assistance in 
defending itself, and it deserves from us the respect of a prompt 
response.
  I strongly support this resolution and encourage my colleagues to do 
the same.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in support of House Resolution 676, a resolution reiterating 
that it is the policy of the United States to make available to Taiwan 
such defense articles and services as may be necessary for its self-
defense.

[[Page H11095]]

  At the outset, I want to thank Chairman Lantos and the gentlewoman 
from Florida, the author of this resolution; Mr. Lantos being the 
cosponsor; as well as many other members from the Foreign Affairs 
Committee and the Taiwan Caucus.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a very straightforward resolution. It simply 
says that the executive branch should follow the law, in this case the 
Taiwan Relations Act, TRA, of 1979, and make available to our friends 
in that vibrant democracy such defense articles as may be necessary for 
their self-defense.
  While the Chinese Air Force and Navy continue to be upgraded with 
modern Russian-made combat aircraft, Taiwan's Air Force is literally 
falling from the sky. In fact, some 17 obsolete F-5 fighters have 
crashed in the last 10 years, including one this May which killed a 
number of Singaporean servicemen.
  Yet despite Taiwan's clearly compelling needs and the fact that 
Taipei has not only increased defense spending but also has budgeted 
and appropriated for the F-16s, the United States is refusing to 
respond to Taiwan's entirely legitimate request for military sales. In 
so doing, the clear intent of Congress and the law of the land as 
articulated in the TRA is obviously being ignored.
  In this regard, section 3(b) of TRA stipulates that both the 
President and the Congress shall determine the nature and quantity of 
such defense articles and services based solely upon their judgment of 
the needs of Taiwan.
  In life there are times when you can outthink yourself by 
overanalyzing issues and events, hoping to find that perfect moment to 
make a major decision. This is one of those times. Given China's 
ongoing and notorious military buildup, as well as its ceaseless 
efforts to isolate and belittle Taiwan, there will never be an ideal 
time for the United States to make defense sales to this island. The 
ideal time, obviously, is when the time is right, which is now.
  The reality is that any major U.S. sale at any time will be objected 
to by the Chinese Communist regime. Should that affect our commitment 
to the stability of the Taiwan Strait? Mr. Speaker, are we timid 
because of China? Likewise, should our defense commitment to Taiwan be 
held hostage to a clash of personalities, the political season in 
Taiwan, or Washington's desire to accommodate Beijing?
  In conclusion, this commonsense resolution simply says that 
consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, the TRA, the United States 
should make decisions about prospective arms sales to this island based 
upon Taiwan's legitimate self-defense needs and our assessment of the 
relative balance of power in the Western Pacific.
  I urge the adoption of this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Nevada, a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee and the Ways and 
Means Committee, the very distinguished and dapper Ms. Berkley.
  Ms. BERKLEY. I thank the subcommittee chairman for that very lovely 
introduction.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this important resolution, in 
support of a U.S. ally and a fellow democracy.
  For ever 50 years, Taiwan and the United States have enjoyed a strong 
political and economic partnership. Taiwan is our eighth largest 
trading partner with almost $60 billion in bilateral trade. In the last 
two decades, we have watched Taiwan blossom into one of the world's 
leading democracies, holding a number of open, fair, and 
internationally approved elections. Its constitution guarantees 
fundamental freedoms and civil liberties and ensures all citizens have 
a voice in local and national affairs.
  Mr. Speaker, in an age of terrorism and political violence, it is 
absolutely imperative that the United States stands up for peaceful and 
free countries around the globe. We must make certain our fellow 
democracies can determine their own destinies at the ballot box without 
fear of attack or violence. And as this resolution states, we must 
continue to provide Taiwan with the ability to defend itself, to 
safeguard the expansion of democracy on that island and in its region 
in the coming years.
  Taiwan is a vibrant democracy, a trusted ally, a strategic partner of 
the United States. It is imperative, I repeat, that we signal our 
support for the world to see that America stands with its fellow 
democracy and will defend against any threat of military aggression.
  I urge support for this resolution.
  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the gentlelady from 
Florida, our senior Ranking Member of this Committee for her authorship 
of H. Res. 676, just as I commend Chairman Lantos also and other 
Members of this Committee who are supporting this Resolution. Having 
said this, my question is, is it necessary?
  I have serious concerns about H. Res. 676 which declares that is 
should continue to be the policy of the United States, consistent with 
the Taiwan Relations Act, to make available to Taiwan such defense 
articles and services as may be necessary for Taiwan to maintain a 
sufficient self-defense capability.
  The Taiwan Relations Act of 1978 has always been the basis of how our 
country has defined its relationship with Taiwan, and there has been no 
change in the provisions of this Act. The Act allows for the sale of 
arms to assist Taiwan with its defense capabilities against its enemies 
which it considers to be the People's Republic of China (PRC).
  Why then is H. Res. 676 necessary? I also question H. Res. 676 being 
put forward at a time when all of us know that the situation between 
Taiwan and China has been extremely tense for weeks and months. While I 
respect my colleagues' view on H. Res. 676, I disagree with this course 
of action. We all know that H. Res. 676 is a nonbinding resolution that 
does not oblige our Government to act but only serves to add fuel to 
the fire, or exacerbate already tense relations between Taiwan and 
Beijing. Again, I ask, is this Resolution necessary?
  Some 15 times now, Taiwan has sought and failed to be formally 
recognized by the United Nations, and this has caused a heated exchange 
of responses even among Members of this body. I just returned from 
Taiwan where I met with Taiwan's President, and the opposition party. I 
also recently visited China where I met with the Vice President, and 
other government officials. When I say that relations are tense, I mean 
it. From both sides, the situation between Taiwan and Beijing is 
quickly becoming a confrontation which may lead to an outcome none of 
us wants.
  I am certain that all of us are committed to a course of action which 
will avert a crisis, and bring about a peaceful solution in the Taiwan 
Straits. But I do not believe H. Res. 676 gets us where we want to go. 
H. Res. 676 is just a reminder that an arms deal is still pending and 
it is pending because the Administration is having difficulties 
persuading Taiwan not to seek membership with the UN. Obviously, Taiwan 
is not listening and does not care what this may mean for the United 
States and our important, strategic relationship with Beijing.
  The fact is there is a difference of opinion among the people and 
leaders of Taiwan about what position Taiwan should take towards 
Beijing. One of the two major parties advocates peaceful coexistence 
with the PRC. The other major party and its leaders keep pushing the 
envelope to the point of forcing Beijing's hand which led to President 
Clinton having to send two naval battle groups to the Taiwan Straits 
and almost led to a nuclear confrontation with Beijing. I wonder if my 
colleagues want to go through this again.
  Last time, Beijing backed off. But will Beijing back off again? With 
implications as serious as this, I am hopeful that we will not move 
forward with this resolution until we have had time to consider a more 
thoughtful approach, and until Taiwan has time to hold its elections 
next March.
  For now, H. Res. 626 can potentially influence the outcome of those 
elections, as could the sell of F-16s. I suspect this is probably one 
of the reasons the Administration has been reluctant to proceed with 
the sale of F-16 fighter jets to Taiwan because the Administration also 
recognizes we should give the people of Taiwan time to determine their 
future status before acting in ways that could set off a chain reaction 
in this volatile region of the world.
  All of us, including Taiwan, know that our United States foreign 
policy has always been to accept the One-China concept whereby Beijing 
and Taiwan are to work out their political differences through peaceful 
means. This said, Taiwan has made significant progress towards a 
pluralistic and democratic form of government. Taiwan enjoys a free 
market system and economy that ranks among the top fifteen economies in 
the world. Taiwan also enjoys one of the highest standards of living in 
the world.
  Currently, Taiwan conducts over $100 billion in unofficial trade with 
Beijing. Over the years, millions of Taiwanese have also been able to 
freely travel to Beijing to be reunited with their families and 
friends.
  Beijing is also moving towards a more free market system. China has 
become one of the

[[Page H11096]]

top five economies in the world, despite its Socialist Marxist ideology 
that puts a limitation on greater freedom for its citizens and 
transparency in government. Beijing is doing its best to feed more than 
1 billion people, and we must also credit Beijing for bringing North 
Korea to the negotiating table, thwarting North Korea's efforts to 
produce nuclear weapons of mass destruction.
  Mr. Speaker, do we want to build on the positive? Do we want to avert 
a crisis? Or, do we want to add fuel to the fire? I submit that H. Res. 
626 tilts favorably towards Taiwan, and I suggest to my colleagues that 
we ought not to pursue this course of action anymore than we should 
adopt legislation or resolutions that favor China over Taiwan.
  Having said this, I will not oppose this resolution but I will again 
ask if it is necessary and, in closing, I will suggest that it is not. 
I will also suggest that it is in our interest to work collectively and 
bilaterally with both Taiwan and China to prevent another standoff in 
the Taiwan Straits.
  Mrs. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, I stand before you today in support of 
our continued support and defense of Taiwan. The United States has 
stood on the forefront of making the World safe and as a protector of 
democratic freedoms. To that end, Taiwan has emerged as flag bearer of 
not only democratic principles but as a strong economic partner.
  Although Taiwan enjoys a robust economy and has a strong trade-
relationship with countries within Asia they do not have the ability to 
defend themselves militarily if the need arises. The United States has 
played a major part in the development of Taiwan's economy over the 
past 40 years. In order to continue this relationship, we should help 
to guarantee their safety.
  On a recent trip to Taiwan, I was pleased to learn of the great 
strides they have made in a short period of time to become such a 
powerful economic power. Although they have an aggressive economy, they 
have also developed a society built on the safety and health of its 
citizens. A first class government funded healthcare system that 
provides service to over 90 percent of its people, speaks to their 
commitment to its citizens. A bustling industrial sector where the 
creation of new innovations for an ever increasing technological world 
is a top priority. They are also fulfilling their commitment to a 
secure international port with 21st century safeguards to ensure that 
all shipments are properly inspected and tracked before transshipment 
to other parts of the world.
  Recently, I participated in a ceremony in the Capitol where 
agreements Taiwan has made to purchase billions of dollars in U.S. 
agricultural goods over the next several years were signed. I was a 
signatory to several of them as a witness.
  Taiwan's continued commitment to trade in good faith with the United 
States should not be one sided and we should do our part in upholding 
our agreement with them as it pertains to the Taiwan Relations Act. I 
am in full support of H. Res. 676 and ask my colleagues to support the 
resolution and Taiwan.
  Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SHERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Sherman) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 676.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________