[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 7, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H3457-H3459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




REAFFIRMING UNITED STATES COMMITMENT TO TAIWAN AND TO IMPLEMENTATION OF 
                          TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 273) reaffirming the United States commitment to 
Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 273

       Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was signed into law 
     on April 10, 1979, codifying into law the basis for continued 
     commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people 
     of the United States and the people of Taiwan, and serving as 
     the foundation to preserve and promote continued bilateral 
     bonds;
       Whereas the TRA enshrines the United States commitment to 
     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 pursuant to section 1206 of the Foreign Relations 
     Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 2003 (Public Law 107-228; 22 
     U.S.C. 2321k note.), Taiwan is to be treated as though it 
     were designated a major non-NATO ally for transfers of 
     defense articles or defense services;
       Whereas in 1982, President Ronald Reagan further clarified 
     the importance and resilience of the United States-Taiwan 
     relationship with the issuance of the Six Assurances;
       Whereas the TRA and the Six Assurances are cornerstones of 
     United States policy with respect to Taiwan, as was 
     reaffirmed by the House of Representatives with the adoption 
     of H. Con. Res. 88 in 2016;
       Whereas the TRA and the Six Assurances have been essential 
     components in helping to maintain peace, security, and 
     stability in the Western Pacific, thereby furthering the 
     political, security, and economic interests of the United 
     States and Taiwan;
       Whereas the United States and Taiwan have forged ever 
     closer economic and security relations over the last four 
     decades based on their shared commitment to democracy, human 
     rights, the rule of law and free market principles, and their 
     willingness to partner in efforts to combat global terrorism 
     and to address other global challenges, such as those related 
     to the environment, public health, energy security, 
     education, women's empowerment, digital economy, poverty, and 
     natural disasters;
       Whereas the United States-Taiwan partnership has been 
     further strengthened since the 2015 memorandum of 
     understanding establishing the Global Cooperation and 
     Training Framework (GCTF), which has allowed the two parties 
     to cohost many workshops on critical topics, including one in 
     December 2018 on humanitarian assistance and disaster relief 
     to which ten regional governments sent participants;
       Whereas Taiwan has the expertise, willingness, and 
     capability to engage in international efforts to mitigate 
     global challenges related to such issues as public health, 
     aviation safety, crime, and terrorism, but its participation 
     in such efforts has been constrained by conditions imposed by 
     the People's Republic of China (PRC);
       Whereas successive Congresses have called upon the 
     executive branch to develop strategies to obtain meaningful 
     participation for Taiwan in international organizations, such 
     as the World Health Organization (WHO), International Civil 
     Aviation Organization (ICAO), and International Criminal 
     Police Organization (INTERPOL);
       Whereas the Congress most recently expressed support for 
     Taiwan's participation at the World Health Organization's 
     World Health Assembly as an observer on January 22, 2019, 
     with the adoption of H.R. 353 by the House of 
     Representatives;
       Whereas communication on bilateral security, cultural, and 
     commercial interests would be greatly enhanced with the full 
     implementation of the Taiwan Travel Act (Public Law 115-135), 
     which became law on March 16, 2018, and which states that the 
     United States Government ``should encourage visits between 
     officials from the United States and Taiwan at all levels'';
       Whereas the United States and Taiwan have built a strong 
     economic partnership, with the United States now Taiwan's 
     third largest trading partner and with Taiwan the 11th 
     largest trading partner of the United States and a key 
     destination for United States agricultural exports;
       Whereas strong United States-Taiwan economic relations have 
     been a positive factor in stimulating economic growth and job 
     creation for the people of both the United States and Taiwan; 
     and
       Whereas successive Congresses have publicly reaffirmed 
     United States commitments to Taiwan under the Taiwan 
     Relations Act and Six Assurances, including most recently on 
     December 31, 2018, with the enactment into law of the Asia 
     Reassurance Initiative Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-409), 
     which stated among other things that--
       (1) it is United States policy ``to support the close 
     economic, political, and security relationship between Taiwan 
     and the United States'';
       (2) ``The President should conduct regular transfers of 
     defense articles to Taiwan that are tailored to meet the 
     existing and likely threats from the People's Republic of 
     China, including supporting the efforts of Taiwan to develop 
     and integrate asymmetric capabilities, as appropriate, 
     including mobile, survivable, and cost-effective capabilities 
     into its military forces.''; and
       (3) ``The President should encourage the travel of high-
     level United States officials to Taiwan, in accordance with 
     the Taiwan Travel Act.'': Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) reaffirms that the Taiwan Relations Act, together with 
     the Six Assurances, are and will remain cornerstones of 
     United States relations with Taiwan;
       (2) encourages United States officials at all levels to 
     travel to meet with their counterparts in Taiwan, and for 
     high-level Taiwan officials to enter the United States and 
     meet with United States officials, per the Taiwan Travel Act;
       (3) reiterates that the President should conduct regular 
     transfers of defense articles to Taiwan consistent with 
     Taiwan's national security requirements in accordance to 
     prior legislation, including the Asia Reassurance Initiative 
     Act of 2018 (Public Law 115-409);
       (4) calls on the Secretary of State to actively engage 
     internationally in support of Taiwan's meaningful 
     participation in international organizations engaged in 
     addressing transnational threats and challenges such as those 
     related to health, aviation security, and crime and 
     terrorism;
       (5) recognizes Taiwan's partnership in combating global 
     terrorism, including as a full partner in the Global 
     Coalition to Defeat ISIS, and in addressing other global 
     challenges through the Global Cooperation and Training 
     Framework (GCTF) and other such initiatives;
       (6) underscores the importance of the close people-to-
     people ties cultivated through initiatives such as the 
     Fulbright Program, which has supported thousands of scholar 
     and grantee exchanges between the United States and Taiwan 
     over the past 60 years; and
       (7) acknowledges the important work done by the American 
     Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural 
     Representative Office in support of United States-Taiwan 
     interests.

[[Page H3458]]

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Sires) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. McCaul) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New Jersey.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and 
include extraneous material on H. Res. 273, reaffirming the United 
States commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan 
Relations Act.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New Jersey?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise in strong support of H. Res. 273, reaffirming the United 
States commitment to Taiwan and to the implementation of the Taiwan 
Relations Act.
  Signed into law four decades ago, the Taiwan Relations Act marked the 
first and most significant act of support for Taiwan by Congress. It 
unequivocally demonstrates our support to Taiwan. Along with the Six 
Assurances, this act remains the bedrock of our deep partnership with 
Taiwan.
  With the support of this landmark piece of legislation and in the 40 
years since, the United States has deepened security, economic, and 
people-to-people ties with Taiwan. Our two nations have worked together 
to maintain peace, security, and stability in the Pacific through our 
shared commitment to democracy, human rights, and the rule of law.
  Unfortunately, China seeks to diminish Taiwan's presence on the world 
stage. We must fully use the tools at our disposal to fight back 
against these efforts.
  It is important that Congress must do what we can to honor our 
commitment to Taiwan. That is why I have long been a proud co-chair of 
the Taiwan Caucus and why I support this measure.
  H. Res. 273 reaffirms our commitment to the people of Taiwan, 
encourages high-level engagement as called for in the Taiwan Travel 
Act, promotes Taiwan's meaningful engagement in international 
organizations, and calls to deepen cultural ties.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this resolution, and I 
reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this resolution reaffirming the 
United States commitment to Taiwan and the implementation of the Taiwan 
Relations Act.
  I also want to thank my good friend Chairman Engel and Congressman 
Sires for offering this resolution, which gives us an opportunity to 
reflect on the importance of U.S.-Taiwan relations at a very critical 
time.
  As the House considers this measure today, the United States and 
Taiwan share in a celebration, the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan 
Relations Act, which occurred on April 10 of this year. The Taiwan 
Relations Act remains one of Congress' most distinguished and lasting 
contributions to U.S. foreign policy.
  The TRA built an unshakable foundation for U.S.-Taiwan relations, and 
the people of Taiwan have repaid this gesture by transforming Taiwan 
into a beacon of democracy and individual liberties. As is often said, 
Taiwan is a force for good in the world.
  Reaffirming the U.S. commitment to Taiwan at this moment is also 
essential because we are standing together to face a growing threat. 
Communist Party General Secretary Xi Jinping is using all the tools at 
his disposal--military, economic, informational, and diplomatic--to try 
to destroy Taiwan's democracy.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this resolution to 
remind him once again that he will not succeed on our watch.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio 
(Mr. Chabot), the senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee and a 
former chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and 
Nonproliferation.
  Mr. CHABOT. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Res. 273, which 
reaffirms the United States commitment to Taiwan and to the 
implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act, or TRA.
  As a longtime friend of the people of Taiwan, a founding co-chair of 
the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, and a cosponsor of this resolution, I 
want to thank Chairman Engel and Ranking Member McCaul for their work 
to support our critical bilateral relationship with Taiwan.

                              {time}  1615

  This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, 
which together with President Reagan's Six Assurances, serve as the 
foundation for the relationship between our two countries, and I mean 
countries.
  Since the TRA was signed in 1979, Taiwan has become a vibrant, 
consolidated democracy, one of our most important trading partners and 
a model in so many areas for the rest of Asia and the whole world, 
really.
  Going forward, we must continue to implement the TRA and do better at 
fully appreciating the policy commitments it contains. With that in 
mind, I urge the President to immediately finalize an arms sales 
package with Taiwan as well as begin negotiations for a free trade 
agreement.
  As China's influence grows, our commitment to Taiwan will be the 
bellwether of our commitment to democracy in Asia. We do not owe China 
a vote in how we treat Taiwan. If we are equivocal in our support for 
Taiwan in the face of Chinese pressure, how can we credibly support 
democracy and democratic values when they are threatened elsewhere?
  I also want to voice my support for H.R. 2002, Ranking Member 
McCaul's Taiwan Assurance Act. This legislation takes important steps 
to advance our bilateral relationship, including support for arms sales 
and for Taiwan's participation in international organizations. It would 
also require a review of the State Department's, I believe, 
unreasonable guidelines for Taiwan's diplomatic staff here in the U.S.
  And I would be remiss if I didn't mention that I wish the legislation 
did not refer to the misguided U.S. One-China policy, but I understand 
that it was included as part of negotiations with the Senate.
  Finally, the Taiwan Assurance Act requires a report on implementation 
of the Taiwan Travel Act, legislation that I introduced last Congress 
to increase high-level visits between U.S. and Taiwanese officials. 
Since the bill became law a little over a year ago, we have seen not 
enough action, and I believe that it is past time for full 
implementation of this important legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, as we mark the TRA's 40th anniversary, H. Res. 273 and 
H.R. 2002 are critical to strengthening our enduring relationship with 
Taiwan as we look forward to the next 40 years, so I would urge my 
colleagues to support both of them.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time and would 
inquire through the Speaker if my colleague has any remaining speakers 
on his side.
  Mr. McCAUL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this 
important resolution, H. Res. 273, reaffirming our commitments made to 
Taiwan 40 years ago and strengthens our ability to fulfill them.
  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 New Jersey (Mr. Sires) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 273.
  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. SIRES. 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, further 
proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

[[Page H3459]]

  

                          ____________________