[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 2365-2366]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  CHINA'S PROPOSED ANTI-SECESSION LAW

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 15, 2005

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in expressing my grave 
concern over China's proposed anti-secession law. This highly 
provocative law greatly increases the risk of a military confrontation 
across the Taiwan Strait. Specifically, it assumes China and Taiwan are 
now unified, and it gives China the right to punish anyone expressing 
separatist sentiments or engaging in separatist activities. Ultimately, 
China may use force to push for unification with Taiwan, a scenario we 
all must work to prevent. This law would have serious consequences for 
relations between China and Taiwan, and it would threaten stability in 
the region.
  In my district, Idaho State University has developed a unique 
program, the only program of its kind in the United States, to provide 
a

[[Page 2366]]

language and cultural education program for junior diplomatic officers 
in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. I have spent time discussing the 
American political system and current events in Taiwan with the junior 
diplomats, and they have repeatedly expressed their country's desire to 
avoid confrontation with China. These students look to the United 
States as a model of freedom and democracy.
  Mr. Speaker, we do not need military confrontation in the Taiwan 
Strait now or anytime in the future. I urge the Chinese leaders to 
reject the anti-secession law, and I hope the international community 
will join us in voicing their disapproval of this provocative and 
dangerous law. Inaction by the United States will only serve to 
encourage China to escalate its political rhetoric and belligerent 
action against the democratic Taiwan.

                          ____________________