[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 14]
[House]
[Pages 20638-20640]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 EXPRESSING SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN THE 
                             UNITED NATIONS

  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H.Con.Res. 390) expressing the sense of 
the Congress regarding Taiwan's participation in the United Nations, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 390

       Whereas Taiwan has dramatically improved its record on 
     human rights and routinely holds free and fair elections in a 
     multiparty system, as evidenced most recently by Taiwan's 
     second democratic presidential election of March 18, 2000, in 
     which Mr. Chen Shui-bian was elected as president;
       Whereas the 23,000,000 people on Taiwan are not represented 
     in the United Nations and many other international 
     organizations, and their human rights as citizens of the 
     world are therefore severely abridged;
       Whereas Taiwan has in recent years repeatedly expressed its 
     strong desire to participate in the United Nations and other 
     international organizations;
       Whereas Taiwan has much to contribute to the work and 
     funding of the United Nations and other international 
     organizations;
       Whereas the world community has reacted positively to 
     Taiwan's desire for international participation, as shown by 
     Taiwan's membership in the Asian Development Bank and 
     Taiwan's admission to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation 
     group as a full member and to the World Trade Organization as 
     an observer;
       Whereas the United States has supported Taiwan's 
     participation in these bodies and, in the Taiwan Policy 
     Review of September 1994, declared an intention of a stronger 
     and more active policy of support for Taiwan's participation 
     in appropriate international organizations;
       Whereas Public Law 106-137 required the Secretary of State 
     to submit a report to the Congress on administration efforts 
     to support Taiwan's participation in international 
     organizations, in particular the World Health Organization; 
     and
       Whereas in such report the Secretary of State failed to 
     endorse Taiwan's participation in international organizations 
     and thereby did not follow the spirit of the 1994 Taiwan 
     Policy Review: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) Taiwan and its 23,000,000 people deserve appropriate 
     meaningful participation in the United Nations and other 
     international organizations such as the World Health 
     Organization; and
       (2) the United States should fulfill the commitment it made 
     in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review to more actively support 
     Taiwan's participation in appropriate international 
     organizations.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher) and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the people of Taiwan have proved that freedom and 
democracy are not just American ideals, not just European ideals, they 
are the universal principles that apply to every individual, to every 
community and every nation as our Founding Fathers stated, that we look 
at the rights as being God given to all people on this planet.
  The United States State Department's report on the Taiwan Policy 
Review 1994 clearly stated that the U.S. should more actively support 
Taiwan's membership in international organizations, because Taiwan has 
lived up to the ideals that we expect of democracies. And President 
Clinton, however, has not used our influence in international bodies to 
try to insist that Taiwan be able to participate in these 
organizations. Congressional support for Taiwan is solid.
  Taiwan has made enormous strides towards becoming a full democracy, 
as I stated, and it is unreasonable for the

[[Page 20639]]

people of Taiwan to be excluded from the full participation in 
international organizations due to threats from mainland China. 
Unfortunately, what we have today is a Communist dictatorship headed by 
gangsters who have never been elected to anything, who are making 
demands upon us to mistreat a democratically elected government in 
Taiwan.
  It is embarrassing that our administration seems to be kowtowing to 
that type of pressure. The United States has supported Taiwan's 
membership in the Asian Development Bank and its admission to the 
Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation group. Extending United Nations and 
World Health Organization membership is the next step in demonstrating 
U.S. support for Taiwan and a United States commitment to those people 
around the world who believe in democracy and freedom and liberty and 
justice and have actually moved to make sure their country, as Taiwan 
has done, enshrines those ideals.
  China's continued harassment and intimidation of Taiwan also 
underlines the urgency and necessity of Taiwan's participation in the 
United Nations. Taiwan currently does not have access to the United 
Nations Security Council, and the forum countries whose safety is in 
jeopardy and they must turn to. Not only that, but after Taiwan has 
joined the United Nations' responsibility for Taiwan safety and 
security, it will be shifted solely to the United States as laid down 
in the 1979 Taiwan's Relations Act to the international community.
  Mr. Speaker, I would ask my colleagues to support this legislation, 
and in doing so, strike a very solid note that can be heard around the 
world in the halls of the dictatorships in Beijing but also in the 
halls of democracy in Taiwan and in those countries that are struggling 
to be free that shows the United States is on the side of democracy and 
democratic people.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the resolution. Taiwan's 40-year 
journey toward democracy is one of the 20th century's great success 
stories. The people of Taiwan have proved to the whole world that 
freedom and democracy are not just American ideals; they are universal 
principles that apply to every individual, to every community and to 
every Nation.
  We must take steps to reward nations like Taiwan that are making such 
great progress towards democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, I dream of a day when Taiwan is a contributing member of 
the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization and the 
United Nations. I dream of a day when the U.S. will replace its one 
China policy with a policy of one China, one Taiwan, one Tibet.
  H.Con.Res. 390 recognizes that Taiwan and its 23 million people 
deserve to participate in the UN and other international organizations, 
such as the World Health Organization.
  The U.S. should fulfill its commitment made in the 1994 Taiwan Policy 
Review to more actively support Taiwan's membership in organizations 
such as the UN and the WHO. This legislation has received broad 
bipartisan support, 86 colleagues from both sides of the aisle have 
cosponsored this bill.
  Taiwan's growing regional and global significance demands a more 
active and thoughtful U.S. policy. Our ties with Taiwan must encompass 
all aspects of Taiwan's security, trade relations and support for the 
right of self- determination for the people of Taiwan.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to the day when the people of Taiwan 
replace their observance of 10-10 with President Lee's July 9 call for 
state-to-state relations with the People's Republic of China. One day I 
hope July 9th will be as important to the Taiwanese people as July 4th 
is to us.
  Mr. Speaker, so much still remains to be done. If the U.S. believes 
so strongly in self determination and the freedom for all people, we 
must support Taiwan in its struggle to become an independent democracy. 
The U.S. must immediately abandon its misguided one China policy. Mr. 
Speaker, I ask support for the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to yield the 
balance of my time to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Schaffer) to 
control the time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Souder).
  Mr. SOUDER. Mr. Speaker, it is an honor to be here tonight to support 
my friend, the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Schaffer), who has 
introduced this important resolution and to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Rohrabacher), the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Brown), 
champions of human rights around the world.
  It is frustrating that we even have to debate a resolution like this, 
as to whether a free country, where they have just proven the ultimate 
test to democracy, and that is can a long-time power like in Taiwan and 
like in Mexico, where parties were in power for so many years we 
wondered whether it was a real democracy. But in fact, they made it a 
peaceful transition. The economy has not really changed.
  The basic institutions in the society are sound like they are in 
America. And Taiwan is a model of what we should be looking at. If we 
look at them, they have been successful in high tech. They are one of 
our major trading partners, important in Indiana, and important in the 
Midwest and important to all the United States of America. The second 
largest trading partner with Japan, in fact, a major investor in trade 
with mainland China.
  When we look at it, economically they are what we wanted. Politically 
they have undergone a transformation of power successfully without 
violence; that is what we ask of the world. They have religious freedom 
in their country with diverse religions, without warring, much of what 
we do not see from other member states of the United Nations.
  They supported financially different foreign aid projects such as in 
Kosovo, even though they are not allowed to be in the United Nations, 
and we look at it and say what exactly do we want out of a country, 
what can we demand of these people that they are not delivering? Why in 
the world would an organization like the United Nations often full of 
states that are actually controlled by another state, states that are 
in constant disarray, where democracy is not practiced, where human 
rights are not practiced, and yet we let them in the United Nations and 
we will not let Taiwan. What is it that is so intimidating us and other 
nations of the world.

                              {time}  2100

  What is it that is so intimidating us and other nations of the world?
  Well, we have undergone a transformation in our relationships with 
the People's Republic of China. It is clear, as the world's largest 
nation, that we are going to continue to have some sort of a 
relationship that we need to work through with this giant nation. But 
that does not give them the right to push around and deny the rights to 
others such as Taiwan.
  I stand here tonight in strong support of this resolution.
  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, Taiwan has played a positive role in promoting world 
trade and eradicating poverty and in advancing human rights, a fact 
that merits recognition by members of the United Nations.
  Taiwan has a population of 23 million and has a democratic system of 
government, but above all, it is a peace-loving nation which is able 
and willing to carry out the obligations contained in the charter of 
the United Nations.
  Today the people of Taiwan enjoy a high degree of freedom and 
democracy. Taiwan held its first presidential election in March of 
1996, the first time in history that Taiwan elected its highest leader 
by a popular vote.

[[Page 20640]]

  In March of 2000, Mr. Chen Shui-bian of the Democrat Progressive 
Party was elected in the second direct presidential election, marking 
the first ever change of political parties for the Taiwan presidency.
  Since Mr. Chen's inauguration on May 20 of this year, the people of 
Taiwan have witnessed a peaceful transition of power as a result of a 
democratic election.
  Taiwan is one of the most successful examples of economic development 
in the 21st century, and is now the world's 19th largest economy in 
terms of gross national product, and the 14th most important trading 
country where the United States is concerned. It is also a major 
investor in East Asia, and possesses the third largest amount of 
foreign reserves in the world.
  Taiwan is also a humanitarian-minded country. Over the years, it has 
sent over 10,000 experts to train technicians all over the world, 
especially in countries of Asia, the South Pacific, Latin America, and 
Africa to help develop agriculture, fisheries, livestock industries, 
and so on.
  It also has provided billions of U.S. dollars in disaster relief 
throughout the world, including in China over the past several years, 
and has responded to the United Nations appeals for emergency relief 
and rehabilitation assistance to countries suffering from natural 
disasters and wars.
  Currently, Taiwan contributes capital to regional development 
programs throughout international financial institutions, such as the 
Asian Development Bank, the Central American Bank for Economic 
Integration, the InterAmerican Development Bank, and the European Bank 
for Reconstruction and Development.
  Taiwan is fully committed to observing the premise of the Universal 
Declaration of Human Rights and to its integration into international 
human rights systems, spearheaded by the United Nations.
  It is for that reason, Mr. Speaker, that this resolution is here 
before us. Taiwan's quest for self-determination is something that the 
United States of America has traditionally and consistently supported. 
That support and that goal of self-determination is critical as the 
world watches a truly democratic and economic success story unfolding 
before our very eyes in Taiwan.
  It is at this point in time that I urge my colleagues to adopt this 
resolution which I have introduced to once again restate our support 
and our commitment to the progress of democracy, the progress of free 
markets, the progress of a pro-American attitude and sentiment that we 
see in Taiwan today that is important not only for freedom-loving 
people in Taiwan, but also important for America's' national and 
strategic interests, as well.
  I might also add, Mr. Speaker, there are millions and millions of 
Taiwan immigrants here in the United States whose dream for their 
homeland is the kind of democracy and liberty which they sought in 
coming to the United States. It is a dream that is born by the 
greatness of the United States, and in this way, I think this Congress 
can play a tremendous role in helping not only Taiwanese Americans but 
also certainly those who are fighting for freedom and liberty and 
democracy in Taiwan today have the greatest opportunity to secure their 
hopes and dreams for themselves and for the world.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BROWN of Ohio. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, 
and I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCHAFFER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks on H. Con. Res. 390.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Colorado?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCHAFFER. 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. Rohrabacher) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 390, as 
amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution, as 
amended, was agreed to.
  The title was amended so as to read:

       Concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress 
     regarding Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and 
     other international organizations.

  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________