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            16 REPRESENTATIVES CALL FOR LIFTING OF ALL RESTRICTIONS ON HI-LEVEL VISITS FROM TAIWAN

In a move to show solidarity with Taiwan, 16 Representatives today jointly introduced bi-partisan resolution HCR136 (see attached) calling for the complete removal of all restrictions on visits by Taiwanese high-level officials to the United States. This issue was raised by Rep. Steve Chabot, the co-chair of the Taiwan, to Mr. Negroponte in today’s hearing on China in the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

The resolution concludes that: “All restrictions on visits by high-level elected and appointed officials of Taiwan to the United States, including the democratically elected president of Taiwan, should be lifted.”

The sixteen members that introduced the resolution are Reps. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Sam Graves (R-MO), Jean Schmidt (R-OH), Dan Burton (R-IN), Mike McNulty (D-NY), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY).

The resolution calls on the administration to comply with its obligations under the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 in which the President or any other high-level officials of Taiwan shall be admitted to visit the United States. In addition, the resolution notes that, “Since the Taiwan Strait is one of the flashpoints in the world, it is essential that United States policymakers directly communicate with the leaders of Taiwan”, illustrating the importance and the necessity of having direct dialogue between two governments.    

FAPA president C.T. Lee, MD states: “The introduction of this resolution is significant. 16 bi-partisan Members’ co-introducing the resolution demonstrates these Members' willingness to take concrete action and to present a unified commitment in supporting Taiwan's democracy.”   

Lee adds: “It is rather ironic for the United States to praise Taiwan for its democracy, but then turn around and impose restrictions on direct meetings between Taiwan's elected leaders and US officials. Supporting democracy should not be a mere phrase for politicians to use whenever convenient. We are talking about American soil here. So it should be the prerogative of the United States to decide who can visit the Nation's Capital, not the prerogative of the communist leaders in Beijing.”

16位眾議員聯合提出決議案，支持台灣總統等高層官員自由訪美

為了展現對台灣民主的一致支持，16位美國聯邦眾議員於今日聯合提出第136號決議案，建議美國政府全面取消對台灣高層官員，包括台灣民選總統在內各種訪問美國的種種不合理限制。台灣連線主席眾議員夏波(Rep. Steve Chabot, R-OH)也特地在今日眾議院外交事務委員會的中國聽證會上表達對這個議題的看法。

這16位聯署的議員分別為：Reps. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Pete Sessions (R-TX), Tom Tancredo (R-CO), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Allen Boyd (D-FL), Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Robert Andrews (D-NJ), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), Sam Graves (R-MO), Jean Schmidt (R-OH), Dan Burton (R-IN), Mike McNulty (D-NY), Madeleine Bordallo (D-GU), Trent Franks (R-AZ) and Edolphus Towns (D-NY).

136號決議案表示：「所有加諸於台灣高層官員訪美的限制，包括民選總統都應一併解除。」決議案並要求美國政府確切遵守1994年生效的美國「移民與國籍技術修正法」，此法案第221條款強調台灣總統與高層官員應獲准訪開美國。此外，為了強調台美兩國最高層級雙方政府直接對話的重要性與必須性，決議案表示：「台灣海峽是全世界公認的(軍事)衝突點之一，美國政策決策者直接與台灣政府對話是必要的。」

FAPA會長李青泰指出：「今天這16個議員聯合提出支持台灣的決議案，可謂意義相當重大。這16位横跨民主、共和兩黨的議員，以實際行動展現他們一致對台灣民主的支持。」

李青泰接著表示：「美國一方面讚揚台灣的民主進展，一方面卻就台灣高層官員訪美做諸多限制，似乎相當諷刺與矛盾。支持台灣不應只是一句供政客方便使用的口號。這是美國的土地，應該由美國自己決定誰能夠參訪美國，而不是北京的共產政權。」