HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS URGE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CHAIRS TO RETAIN LEGISLATION CALLING FOR MILITARY EXCHANGES BETWEEN US AND TAIWAN

For Immediate Release                                                                                             September 13, 2002

In a letter dated September 11 to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member John Warner (R-VA) several Senators called for retaining section 1202 related to Taiwan in the Defense Authorization Bill. A similar letter was sent by House members to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Bob Stump (R-AZ).

The House members  called on the Chairman Stump to enhance military cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S. by making sure that section 1202 of the Defense Authorization Act makes it through the conference process. Section 1202, which was part of the Defense Authorization bill that passed the House but was not part of the Senate version of the bill, calls for Atraining and senior exchanges between the armed forces of Taiwan and the United States.@

Carbon copies of the House and Senate letter went to Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld, Secretary of State Powell and to all conferees.

The House members write: A[Section 1202] is aimed at keeping the peace in East Asia and deterring China from a resolution of the "Taiwan Issue" by force of arms.@ And AWe write to ask that you and your House colleagues on the conference committee dealing with the Defense Authorization Act insist on inclusion of this section in the final version of the bill.@

The Senators write:  AThese systems are only as effective as the military personnel trained to operate, integrate, and employ them.@ To this end, we believe there is a strategic need to enhance the training of Taiwanese forces as detailed ain the House provision. And ASection 1202 reinforces the United States= commitment, both in policy and law, to defend Taiwan. And it addresses a clear need. We encourage its adoption by the Conference Committee.@

Chairman Stump faces opposition though to the retention of section 1202. According to FAPA President Ming-chi Wu, Ph.D., AOpponents of Section 1202 are under intense pressure from Beijing. It is no secret that the Chinese embassy in Washington is actively lobbying against inclusion of the provision in the authorization bill.@

Wu concludes: ASection 1202 would pay significant dividends not only in Taiwan's military readiness, but also in the ability of the US to operate alongside Taiwan's armed forces in a crisis situation.@

Back to Section 1202