House Introduces "Assent of the People of Taiwan" Resolution

Mr. Crowley (for himself and Mr. Tancredo and other original co-sponsors) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations 

Expressing the sense of the Congress that it is United States policy that the future of Taiwan should be resolved peacefully, through a democratic mechanism, with the express consent of the people of Taiwan and free from outside threats, intimidation or  interference 

Whereas national self-determination is enshrined in Article 1 of the United Nations Charter; 

Whereas the United States is a signatory of the United Nations Charter; 

Whereas the United States, as a revolutionary nation itself, recognizes and supports that a right to self-determination exists as a fundamental right of all peoples, as set forth in numerous United Nations instruments; 

Whereas the people of Taiwan are committed to the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy as evidenced by the March 18, 2000 election of Mr. Chen Shui-bian as Taiwan’s President; 

Whereas in international law, the 1993 Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States defines the qualifications of a nation-state as: a defined territory, a permanent population and a government capable of entering into relations with other states; 

Whereas on February 24, 2000 and March 8, 2000 President Clinton stated: “We will continue to make absolutely clear that the issues between Beijing and Taiwan must be resolved peacefully and with the assent of the people of Taiwan;” 

Whereas both the 2000 Republican party platform and the Democratic party platform emphasized and made clear the belief that the future of Taiwan should be determined with the consent of the people of Taiwan; 

Whereas on February 1, 2000, the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act was passed overwhelmingly by the U.S. House of Representatives of which Section 2(4) states, “Any determination of the ultimate status of Taiwan must have the express consent of the people on Taiwan;” 

Whereas Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said in a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on March 16, 2001, that “What has changed is that any eventual agreement that is arrived at has to be acceptable to the majority of the people on Taiwan;” 

Whereas in April 2001 President George W. Bush stated that the United States will help Taiwan defend herself if attacked by China; 

Now therefore, be it resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that – 

1. It is United States policy that the future of Taiwan should be resolved peacefully, through a democratic mechanism such as a plebiscite and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan;

 2. It is United States policy that Taiwan’s future must be decided by the people of Taiwan without outside threats, intimidation or interference.

Help FAPA!  Please send a petition letter to your Congressman!

Back to FAPA home

Questions? Please email: home@fapa.org or Phone: (202)547-3686