[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 104 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1247]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  ANNIVERSARY OF THE SIX ASSURANCES AND THE LIFTING OF MARTIAL LAW IN 
                                 TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL T. McCAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 12, 2012

  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate two important 
anniversaries that are coming up this July 14th in relation to our 
close friend and ally: the country of Taiwan.
  Since the end of World War II, the United States and Taiwan have 
fostered a close relationship that has been of enormous strategic and 
economic benefit to both countries. When the United States shifted 
diplomatic relations from Taiwan to the People's Republic of China in 
January 1979, Congress moved quickly to pass the Taiwan Relations Act 
(TRA) to ensure that the United States would continue its robust 
engagement with Taiwan in the areas of commerce, culture, and security 
cooperation. On April 10, 1979, this important and lasting piece of 
legislation became the ``Law of the Land'' and has since served as the 
statutory basis for U.S.-Taiwan relations going forward.
  After 33 years, the TRA still stands as a model of Congressional 
leadership in the history of our foreign relations, and, together with 
the 1982 ``Six Assurances,'' it remains the cornerstone of a very 
mutually beneficial relationship between the United States and Taiwan.
  These ``Six Assurances'' were designed by President Reagan to further 
clarify U.S. policy toward Taiwan (in particular to the sale of arms to 
Taiwan,) to reiterate our commitment to Taiwan's security under the TRA 
and to reaffirm our position on Taiwan's sovereignty. It also 
stipulated that we would not pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations 
with the PRC.
  This coming July 14 marks the 30th anniversary of President Reagan 
issuing said Six Assurances in 1982. It also marks the 25th anniversary 
of the lifting of martial law in Taiwan in 1987.
  Martial law was promulgated in Taiwan on May 19, 1949 by Chiang Kai-
shek's Chinese Nationalist government. Its end 38 years later marked 
the longest imposition of martial law by a regime anywhere in the 
world. Even after the end of martial law, tight restrictions on the 
people of Taiwan's freedom of assembly, speech and the press remained 
in place. Nevertheless, July 14, 1987 set the stage for a momentous 
process of democratization in Taiwan that continues to this day.
  Over the past three decades, Taiwan has remained a trusted ally of 
the United States that shares with us the ideals of freedom and 
democracy. However, the people of Taiwan continue to live day after day 
under the ominous shadow cast by over 1400 short and medium-range 
ballistic missiles that the People's Republic of China (PRC) has aimed 
at them. The PRC persists in claiming Taiwan as a ``renegade 
province,'' refusing to renounce the use of force to prevent Taiwan's 
formal de jure independence.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in commemorating this 
July 14 the 30th anniversary of the Six Assurances and the 25th 
anniversary of the lifting of martial law in Taiwan, to further 
underline our unwavering commitment to the people of Taiwan and to 
affirm our support for the strong and deepening relationship between 
the U.S. and Taiwan.

                          ____________________