For immediate release September 28, 2001

Taiwan on the Senate's A list

Six Senators, including Majority Leader Tom Daschle(D-SD), listed Taiwan as one of the key governments to be exempted from their proposed Defense Department Authorization Bill amendment that would prohibit US military assistance to parties of the International Criminal Court.

Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM), Wayne Allard (R-CO), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) and Harry Reid (D-NV) joined Daschle in submitting Senate Amendment 1672 and Senator James Inhofe (R-OK) submitted a parallel amendment, SA 1691.

The amendments state that no U.S. "military assistance may be provided to the government of a country that is party to the International Criminal Court," allowing for a national interest waiver by the President, an Article 98 waiver by which a country has "entered in an agreement with the United States…preventing the International Criminal Court from proceeding against United States personnel present in such country," and also listing governments exempted from the prohibition.

Those governments exempted include:

a NATO member country;

a major non-NATO ally (including Australia, Egypt, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Argentina, the Republic of Korea, and New Zealand); or

Taiwan.

"This just shows what a good friend the Senate feels Taiwan is," said one Administration official.

"Taiwan has been, and continues to be, one of the U.S. firmest allies," stated Ming-chi Wu, FAPA's Acting President. "This amendment is a strong signal of support for Taiwan as the US ramps up its battle against terrorism and also shows how, diplomatic niceties to the contrary, the U.S. considers Taiwan a country along with its other allies. At this moment of national crisis, Taiwan stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the US and the Senate amendment shows that the reality is mutual."

For more information, contact Michael Fonte at 202-547-3686.