[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 37 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H1232-H1234]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[[Page H1232]]
SUPPORTING TAIWAN'S FOURTH DIRECT AND DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
IN MARCH 2008
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 278) supporting Taiwan's fourth
direct and democratic presidential elections in March 2008, as amended.
The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:
H. Con. Res. 278
Whereas the United States and Taiwan share common ideals
and a clear vision for the 21st century, where freedom and
democracy are the foundations for peace, prosperity, and
progress;
Whereas Taiwan has dramatically improved its record on
human rights and routinely holds free and fair elections in a
multiparty system, as evidenced by Taiwan's first democratic
presidential election in 1996, second in 2000, and third in
2004;
Whereas the democratic and open presidential elections in
2000 mark the first transfer of power from one party to
another in Taiwan's history;
Whereas Taiwan has demonstrated its unequivocal support for
human rights and a commitment to the democratic ideals of
freedom of speech, freedom of the press, rule of law, and
free and fair elections routinely held in a multiparty
system;
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, with its stable democratic system and impressive
economic prowess, Taiwan stands apart from many equally young
democracies whose freedom and liberty have been severely
challenged; and
Whereas the United States Congress has organized
congressional delegations to witness the electoral process in
thriving democracies, including elections in Taiwan: Now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) the United States Government should reaffirm its
unwavering commitment to Taiwan's democracy and security; and
(2) international delegations should be encouraged to visit
Taiwan for the purpose of witnessing the presidential
elections in March 2008.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Berman) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
General Leave
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on the concurrent resolution under consideration.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection.
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of this resolution,
and yield myself 5 minutes.
I would like first to thank the ranking member of the full committee,
Ms. Ros-Lehtinen, for introducing this important resolution.
The United States' relationship with Taiwan speaks to the great
importance of democracy in our foreign policy. Over the past 60 years,
the U.S.-Taiwan relationship has undergone dramatic changes, but it is
Taiwan's development of democracy that underpins the strong U.S.-Taiwan
friendship we enjoy today.
Initially our relations were defined by a shared strategic purpose of
containing the spread of communism in Asia. This Cold War imperative
served our strategic goals, but compelled us to cooperate with an
authoritarian dictatorship in Taipei that failed to respect basic human
rights. With the normalization of relations with Beijing in 1973, the
Cold War's strategic landscape changed, and, over time, could have
threatened to diminish the importance of the U.S.-Taiwan partnership.
But Taiwan's commitment to democracy prevented such a split.
As the PRC liberalized and opened up to the world economically,
Taiwan's political system evolved from authoritarianism to one of the
strongest democratic systems in Asia, and in the process the U.S.-
Taiwan relationship transformed from one based solely on shared
interest to one based on shared values.
Today Taiwan is a flourishing, multiparty democracy that respects
human rights, upholds the rule of law and holds competitive elections,
including presidential elections in 1996, 2000, and 2004. This
remarkable political evolution proves beyond any doubt that the notion
of ``Asian values,'' which was used to justify one man or one party
rule, is a complete fallacy. Democracy, freedom and human rights are
universal values to which all human beings aspire.
This resolution recognizes Taiwan's strong democratic system by
supporting Taiwan's fourth democratic presidential election, which will
take place in March of this year, and by encouraging delegations from
around the world to visit Taiwan to witness the election process.
{time} 1100
It is important to note, however, that this resolution should not be
construed as taking a position on the referendum regarding Taiwan's
membership in the United Nations under the name Taiwan, which is also
being held in conjunction with the presidential election. The purpose
of this resolution is to honor the U.S.-Taiwan friendship by
celebrating Taiwan's democracy. I strongly support this resolution and
encourage my colleagues to do the same.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I would also like to thank Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for authoring
this great piece of legislation, the resolution.
I would like to take this opportunity also to offer our varied Asian
American communities, Taiwanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and
Singaporean, belated wishes for good fortune in the lunar new year
which began last month. I wish all these communities health, long life,
and prosperity as they welcome the Year of the Rat, a year which brings
hard work, activity, and renewal. We also expect hard work and much
activity in the months ahead in what promises to be a dynamic 2008.
Taiwan faces a very competitive campaign in the next 2 weeks before
the March 22 presidential election. No one is able to predict the final
outcome. That in itself is an indication of a thriving democracy.
Those skeptics who once said that democratic values would never
thrive in a Chinese cultural context need to look no further than
Taiwan. Free and fair elections in Taiwan bear a significance which
reaches far beyond the shores of one island.
Taiwan, through its maturing democratic institutions, stands as a
shining example for other Asian states struggling with the introduction
of representative forms of government and the rule of law. Taiwan's
free elections, however, have the greatest impact on those who are
still yearning to breathe free in the vast Chinese mainland just across
the narrow Taiwan Strait.
Taiwan's young democracy faces constant military threat and
intimidation from neighboring China. Yet in spite of these belligerent
threats and the constant saber-rattling by Beijing, Taipei has
continued to stand tall for freedom. Taiwan's evolving and dynamic
democracy serves as a beacon of hope for those still suffering under
oppression in the Communist Chinese mainland.
Taiwan's democracy is a torch which shines ever brighter, far
outshining the Olympic torch of the Chinese regime which hopes this
year to use sports to achieve propaganda victory. Freedom shines
brighter than any medal, Mr. Speaker.
Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in giving their strong,
enthusiastic support to this resolution which welcomes Taiwan's fourth
direct and democratic elections as part of our ongoing efforts to
promote democracy around the world and in the Asian region in
particular. I wish the people of Taiwan continued peace, prosperity,
and liberty in this Year of the Rat, and in the years and decades
ahead.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield to my friend from
American Samoa, the chairman of the Asian Subcommittee, Mr.
Faleomavaega, 5 minutes.
(Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA asked and was given permission to revise and extend
his remarks.)
Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, last month the House Foreign Affairs
[[Page H1233]]
Committee marked up House Concurrent Resolution 278, and I would like
to thank the distinguished chairman of the House Foreign Affairs
Committee, Mr. Berman, and also our senior ranking member, Ms. Ros-
Lehtinen, for agreeing to removal of certain language suggesting that
the People's Republic of China is currently threatening or intimidating
Taiwan as it seeks to hold democratic elections.
Mr. Speaker, I visited Taiwan twice in the past year, and most
recently in November I met with their President and Premier and even
their presidential candidates. I can assure my colleagues that
elections are in full swing in Taiwan with no intimidation from the
People's Republic of China. In fact, quite the opposite. Taiwan's
current administration has hung signs and posters on government
buildings, including the presidential palace, urging Taiwan's accession
to the United Nations, a policy which the United States does not
support and which this administration also opposes.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate Chairman Berman's comments before the House
Foreign Affairs Committee in marking up this resolution, and I quote,
``Passage of this bill should not be construed as taking a position on
the referendum regarding Taiwan's membership in the United Nations,
which the Government of Taiwan plans to hold in conjunction with the
election.''
I would like to associate myself with Chairman Berman's position and
remarks as, again, this administration has made it clear that it does
not support a vote on the referendum being held in conjunction with the
election.
Mr. Speaker, Taiwan has come a long way. It was only until 1996 that
they had their first elected President of the people of Taiwan. Taiwan
ranks among the top 10 of our trading partners of the world and,
ironically, Taiwan currently holds a $100 billion trade relationship
with the People's Republic of China. Many people don't realize this.
Given the nature of this debate, Mr. Speaker, it is my intent to be
in Taiwan this month to monitor or to observe the upcoming elections. I
think it is important for Members to observe firsthand the process and
meet the leaders in Taiwan and Beijing before being so quick to condemn
the People's Republic of China.
Mr. Speaker, while Hong Kong is a different case, we should not
forget that it was China, not Britain, that wrote into the Basic Law of
Hong Kong provisions for Hong Kong to hold democratic elections
ultimately based on universal suffrage.
I support Taiwan's right to hold democratic elections which started,
as I said earlier, about 10 years ago; but I do not believe it will be
in the best interest of our country to support the position of Taiwan's
current administration which has attempted to push for independence,
which is contrary to the U.S. position on one China, two systems.
Whatever political relationship Taiwan and China want to work out
peacefully, I believe that this is what we should also be supporting.
Therefore, in no way should passage of this resolution be construed to
be anything than what it is. This is a resolution to congratulate
Taiwan's efforts to build a greater foundation for democracy and its
upcoming presidential elections. It is my understanding that the U.S.
does not and should not take a position on which candidate the people
of Taiwan should elect. It is up to the people of Taiwan to determine
who will best represent their interests, and we will support the will
of the people.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Chabot), the ranking member of the Committee on Small
Business and a longstanding friend of Taiwan.
Mr. CHABOT. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
I rise as one of the founding members of the Congressional Taiwan
Caucus, and I also want to thank the gentlelady from Nevada, Shelley
Berkley, for her leadership in that capacity as well, as well as our
colleagues Robert Wexler and Dana Rohrabacher who are the other
founding members.
I most recently traveled to Taiwan this last January, the week prior
to the Legislative Yuan Elections, and I rise in support of House
Resolution 278, a resolution recognizing Taiwan's fourth direct
democratic presidential election to be conducted later this month. This
resolution sends the right message at the right time.
As one of the very few democracies in Asia, Taiwan should be
recognized for its courage and commitment to allow its citizens to
choose its future. It is a democracy that maintains a multi-party
political system, and one that recognizes and respects individual
liberty and human rights.
Just across the Taiwan Strait is the People's Republic of China. It
most certainly is not a democracy. It maintains an abysmal human rights
record. It does not recognize the rule of law. It practices religious
persecution. It warehouses political prisoners. It carries out a
coercive abortion policy. And it has more than 800 missiles pointed
directly at Taiwan. It is against this backdrop that Taiwan forges on
with its elections.
I am disappointed that the stronger language contained in the
introduced version of the bill, which referenced the acts of
intimidation and pressure by China, were eliminated. It is better to
speak the truth rather than to worry about offending China's
sensitivities. Intimidation, pressure, and outright bullying will not
go away by ignoring it or by being silent about it.
Notwithstanding this concern, I am supportive of the resolution, and
I would urge its passage today.
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 2 minutes to the
gentlelady from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the chairman for obtaining
this position. I know he is going to do a remarkable job.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution and in support of a
United States ally and a fellow democracy.
For over 50 years, Taiwan and the United States have enjoyed a strong
political and economic partnership. 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 stand up for and stand
with peaceful and free countries around the globe. We must make certain
that our fellow democracies can determine their own destinies at the
ballot box without fear of attack or violence.
This resolution calls on our government to reaffirm its unwavering
commitment to Taiwan's democracy and security. One way for us to do
this is to support this election and avoid being seen as taking sides.
Only by standing firmly with a democratic Taiwan can we uphold the
principles, our principles, of promoting peace and democracy worldwide.
I urge support for this resolution.
Mr. POE. Mr. Speaker, today the House considers a timely resolution
supporting Taiwan's fourth direct and democratic presidential elections
which will take place in just a few weeks. I am pleased to be a
cosponsor of this resolution.
In 1979, Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which caused our
Government to consider Taiwan in nearly all respects a sovereign
partner. President Ronald Reagan reinforced this stance in 1982 when he
publicly reiterated the US position regarding Taiwan's sovereignty.
Since that time, the United States and Taiwan have enjoyed increasingly
close relations, and our two countries maintain a strong strategic
alliance. Today Taiwan remains one of the strongest democratic allies
of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region.
The United States and Taiwan share a common vision of freedom and
democracy. Since Taiwan's first democratic presidential election in
1998, Taiwan has successfully held routine, free, and fair elections in
a multiparty system. As a beacon of democracy in the Asia-Pacific
region, Taiwan deserves recognition and support from the United States.
I am pleased to rise in strong support of Taiwan's continued
commitment to democratic elections. Now is the time for the United
States to reaffirm its unwavering commitment to Taiwan's democracy and
security. For an ally that shares our values of freedom, security and
prosperity, we can do nothing less.
And that's just the way it is.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BERMAN. Mr. Speaker, 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. Berman) that the House suspend the
[[Page H1234]]
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 278, as
amended.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be
postponed.
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