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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
HCR 67
March 20, 2001
Mr. Andrews,
for himself (and Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. RILEY, Mr. KIRK) submitted
the following concurrent resolution which was referred to
the Committee on International Relations
Whereas for
over 50 years a close relationship has existed between the
United States and Taiwan which has been of enormous economic,
cultural and strategic advantage to both societies;
Whereas Taiwan
has demonstrated an improved record on human rights and
a commitment to democratic ideals of freedom of speech,
freedom of the press and free and fair elections routinely
held in a multiparty system, as evidenced on March 18, 2000
by the election of Mr. Chen Shui-bian as Taiwan’s new president;
Whereas April
10, 2001, will mark the 22nd anniversary of the enactment
of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8), which codified
in public law the basis for continued commercial, cultural,
and other relations between the United States and Taiwan;
Whereas Taiwan
continues to experience a threat of missile attack across
the Taiwan Strait as demonstrated in March 1996, when missiles
were launched near its shores during military exercises
by the People’s Republic of China;
Whereas the
defense modernization and weapons procurement efforts by
the People's Republic of China, as documented in a December
18, 2000 report by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to
Public Law 106-113 on the security situation in the Taiwan
Strait, could threaten cross-Strait stability and United
States interests in the Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas it
is in the interest of the United States that Taiwan maintains
adequate forces to help maintain peace and stability in
the Asia-Pacific region;
Whereas the
1979 Taiwan Relations Act provides explicit guarantees that
the United States will make available to Taiwan defense
articles and services necessary in such quantity as may
be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense
capability;
Whereas Congress
and the President are committed by Article 3(b) of the Taiwan
Relations Act to determine the nature and quantity of Taiwan's
legitimate self-defense needs;
Whereas in
recent discussions between the United States and Taiwan
on Taiwan’s defense needs, Taiwan clearly articulated its
requirement for naval-based defense systems such as diesel
submarines, P-3 surveillance aircraft, advanced air-launched
missiles and Taiwan’s coverage under the proposed Theater
Missile Defense System;
Whereas a
recent Department of Defense review of Taiwan’s defense
requirements reportedly concluded that, in view of recent
missile deployment on the Chinese coast facing Taiwan, the
Aegis system should be released to Taiwan;
Whereas in
his January 17, 2001 confirmation hearing as Secretary of
State, General Colin Powell stated that: “[We] will stand
by Taiwan and will provide for the defense needs of Taiwan
in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and subsequent
communiques;”
Resolved by
the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That it is
the sense of the Congress that–
(1) the United
States should reaffirm its commitment to the Taiwan Relations
Act and the specific guarantees for the provision of legitimate
defense articles to Taiwan contained therein;
(2) the President
should seek from leaders of the People's Republic of China
a public renunciation of any use of force, or threat to
use force, against Taiwan;
(3) the Executive
Branch should recognize Taiwan's significant defense needs
and therefore approve the sale to Taiwan of advanced weapons
systems that are legitimately-needed for defensive purposes,
in strict accordance with section 3(b) of the Taiwan Relations
Act.
Contact:
Charles Mathews at Congressman Andrews’ office at 225-6501
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