[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 76 Introduced in House (IH)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 76
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should urge the
People's Republic of China not to enact into law the so-called ``anti-
secession'' legislation with respect to Taiwan and should reaffirm its
unwavering commitment to Taiwan, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 17, 2005
Mr. Miller of Florida submitted the following concurrent resolution;
which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
_______________________________________________________________________
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should urge the
People's Republic of China not to enact into law the so-called ``anti-
secession'' legislation with respect to Taiwan and should reaffirm its
unwavering commitment to Taiwan, and for other purposes.
Whereas for over half a century a close relationship has existed between the
United States and Taiwan which has been of enormous economic, cultural,
and strategic advantage to both countries;
Whereas Taiwan today is a full-fledged democracy with a vibrant economy and a
vigorous multi-party political system that respects human rights and the
rule of law;
Whereas Taiwan is an ally of the United States;
Whereas the Government of the People's Republic of China is currently
considering enacting into law the so-called ``anti-secession''
legislation with respect to Taiwan, which is expected to codify in law
China's claim to sovereignty over democratic Taiwan and China's strong
opposition to any move toward formal independence by Taiwan;
Whereas the consideration by the People's Republic of China of the ``anti-
secession'' legislation is coming at a time when both China and Taiwan
have taken conciliatory steps toward each other, including the
initiation of holiday charter flights that began in late January 2005,
which are the first nonstop commercial air traffic across the Taiwan
Strait in 55 years;
Whereas both China and Taiwan have signaled they might be willing to restart
talks relating to the status of Taiwan;
Whereas a poll conducted by Taiwan's independent ERA Survey Research Center in
late December 2004 found that 58 percent of respondents believed that an
``anti-secession'' law is likely to increase cross-strait tension;
Whereas the People's Republic of China has failed to divulge the details of its
``anti-secession'' legislation, thus creating unnecessary tension
between China Taiwan;
Whereas Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian has suggested that in response to the
enactment of the ``anti-secession'' law by the People's Republic of
China, Taiwan might retaliate with its own ``anti-annexation'' law;
Whereas an ``anti-secession'' law of the People's Republic of China will destroy
Taiwan's hopes for peaceful negotiations with China;
Whereas the People's Republic of China refuses to renounce the use of force
against Taiwan;
Whereas the security of the 23,000,000 people in Taiwan is threatened by
deployment by the People's Republic of China of over 400 short-range
ballistic missiles targeted at Taiwan and the purchase by China of
advanced weaponry systems, including Su-27 and Su-30 fighter planes,
Kilo submarines, and Sovremenny destroyers;
Whereas section 2(b)(4) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(b)(4))
considers ``any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than
peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, a threat to the
peace and security of the Western Pacific area and of grave concern to
the United States'';
Whereas section 2(b)(6) of the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301(b)(6))
requires the United States ``to maintain the capacity . . . to resist
any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the
security, or the social or economical system, of the people on Taiwan'';
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.)
provides explicit guarantees that the United States will make available
defense articles and defense services necessary in such quantity as may
be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense
capability;
Whereas President George W. Bush stated on April 24, 2001, that the United
States will do whatever it takes to help Taiwan defend itself; and
Whereas the July 2002 Report to the Congress of the United States-China Economic
and Security Review Commission stated that ``China is enhancing its
capability to carry out attacks across the Taiwan Strait with its
special operations forces, air forces and navy and missiles forces with
little notice,'' and ``the Commission recommends that the U.S. along
with its allies should continue to call upon China to renounce the
threat of or the use of force against Taiwan'': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring),
That it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the Government of the United States should urge the
Government of the People's Republic of China in the strongest
possible terms not to enact into law the so-called ``anti-
secession'' legislation or any other legislation that threatens
Taiwan or in any way jeopardizes peace between China and
Taiwan;
(2) the President should seek from the leaders of the
People's Republic of China an immediate and unequivocal public
renunciation of any use of force, or threat to use force,
against Taiwan;
(3) the Government of the United States should continue to
encourage a regional high-level dialogue on the best means to
ensure stability, peace, freedom of the seas, and deterrence in
East Asia;
(4) the Government of the United States should reaffirm its
unwavering commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law
96-8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.) as the cornerstone of United
States relations with Taiwan;
(5) the President should encourage further dialogue between
democratic Taiwan and the People's Republic of China;
(6) the future of Taiwan should be determined peacefully
and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan; and
(7) the President should direct all appropriate officials
of the United States to raise these concerns with the
appropriate officials of the People's Republic of China, and
should seek a public, immediate, and unequivocal renunciation
from the leaders of the People's Republic of China of any
threat or use of force against Taiwan.
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