[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 148 (Tuesday, October 2, 2007)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12442-S12443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 48--EXPRESSING THE SENSE OF THE CONGRESS 
  REGARDING HIGH LEVEL VISITS TO THE UNITED STATES BY DEMOCRATICALLY-
                      ELECTED OFFICIALS OF TAIWAN

  Mr. JOHNSON (for himself, Mr. Lott, Mr. Chambliss, Mr. Brown, Mr. 
Coburn, and Mr. Inhofe) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 
which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                            S. Con. Res. 48

       Whereas, for over half a century, a close relationship has 
     existed between the United States and Taiwan, which has been 
     of enormous political, economic, cultural, and strategic 
     advantage to both countries;
       Whereas Taiwan is one of the strongest democratic allies of 
     the United States in the Asia-Pacific region;
       Whereas it is United States policy to support and 
     strengthen democracy around the world;
       Whereas, during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Taiwan made 
     a remarkable transition to a full-fledged democracy with a 
     vibrant economy and a vigorous multi-party political system 
     that respects human rights and the rule of law;
       Whereas, in spite of its praise for democracy in Taiwan, 
     the United States Government continues to adhere to 
     guidelines from the 1970s that bar the President, Vice 
     President, Premier, Foreign Minister, and Defense Minister of 
     Taiwan from coming to Washington, DC;
       Whereas these restrictions deprive the President, Congress, 
     and the American public of the opportunity to engage in a 
     direct dialogue regarding developments in the Asia-Pacific 
     region and key elements of the relationship between the 
     United States and Taiwan;
       Whereas whenever high-level visitors from Taiwan, including 
     the President, seek to come to the United States, their 
     request results in a period of complex, lengthy, and 
     humiliating negotiations;
       Whereas lifting these restrictions will help bring a friend 
     and ally of the United States out of its isolation, which 
     will be beneficial to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific 
     region;
       Whereas, in consideration of the major economic, security, 
     and political interests shared by the United States and 
     Taiwan, it is to the benefit of the United States for United 
     States officials to meet and communicate directly with the 
     democratically-elected officials of Taiwan;
       Whereas since the Taiwan Strait is one of the world's 
     flashpoints in terms of global security, it is essential that 
     United States policymakers directly communicate with the 
     leaders of Taiwan; and

[[Page S12443]]

       Whereas section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality 
     Technical Corrections Act of 1994 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) 
     provides that the President or other high-level officials of 
     Taiwan may visit the United States, including Washington, DC, 
     at any time to discuss a variety of important issues: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
       (1) restrictions on visits to the United States by high-
     level elected and appointed officials of Taiwan, including 
     the democratically-elected President of Taiwan, should be 
     lifted;
       (2) the United States should allow direct high-level 
     exchanges at the Cabinet level with the Government of Taiwan, 
     in order to strengthen a policy dialogue with Taiwan; and
       (3) it is in the interest of the United States to 
     strengthen links between the United States and the 
     democratically-elected officials of Taiwan and demonstrate 
     stronger support for democracy in the Asia-Pacific region.

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