IV

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 212

Endorsing the adoption by the European Parliament of a resolution supporting the Republic of China on Taiwan’s efforts at joining the community

of nations.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 11, 1996

Mr. SOLOMON (for himself and Mr. GILMAN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Endorsing the adoption by the European Parliament of a

resolution supporting the Republic of China on Taiwan’s

efforts at joining the community of nations.

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That the Congress endorses the adoption by

3 the European Parliament on July 18, 1996, of a resolu4 tion supporting the Republic of China on Taiwan’s efforts

5 at joining the community of nations, which is as follows:

6 ‘‘The European Parliament,

7 —having regard to Article J.7 of the Treaty on Euro8 pean Union,
2

•HCON 212 IH

1 ‘‘(A) satisfied with the current state of Tai2 wan’s democracy and Taiwan’s respect for the prin3 ciples of justice, human rights and fundamental free4 dom;

5 ‘‘(B) welcoming the fact that the elections in

6 Taiwan were conducted democratically and peace7 fully despite the overt aggression and provocation by

8 the People’s Republic of China;

9 ‘‘(C) having regard to Taiwan’s wish to partici10 pate in international aid to developing countries;

11 ‘‘(D) having regard to the significance of devel12 opments in the political situation in Taiwan for the

13 whole of East Asia at a geopolitical and economic

14 level and in terms of a policy of stability, security

15 and peace in the Western Pacific region;

16 ‘‘(E) welcoming the attitude of reconciliation

17 displayed by President Lee Tang-hui towards the

18 People’s Republic of China and looking forward to

19 a dialogue spanning both sides of the Taiwan

20 Straits;

21 ‘‘(F) convinced that the people of Taiwan ought

22 to be better represented in international organiza23 tions than they are at present, which would benefit

24 both Taiwan and the whole of the international com25 munity;
3

•HCON 212 IH

1 ‘‘(G) whereas neither the European Union nor

2 any of its Member States have diplomatic relations

3 with the Government of Taiwan, recognizing only

4 the People’s Republic of China;

5 ‘‘(H) whereas Taiwan is very important to the

6 European Union and its Member States as a trade

7 partner;

8 ‘‘(I) whereas it is important for the European

9 Union and its Member States to develop their rela10 tions with the governments of both the People’s Re11 public of China and Taiwan in an amicable and con12 structive spirit.

13 ‘‘(J) urging the governments of the People’s

14 Republic of China and Taiwan to intensify their co15 operation;

16 ‘‘(K) stressing that participation by Taiwan in

17 certain international organizations can assist with

18 finding common ground between China and Taiwan

19 and facilitate reconciliation between the two sides;

20 ‘‘(L) regretting the fact that Taiwan at present

21 is prevented from making a full contribution to the

22 United Nations and its agencies, and stressing that,

23 for the efficiency of the United Nations, Taiwan’s

24 participation would be desirable and valuable;

25 ‘‘1. Urges:
4

•HCON 212 IH

1 ‘‘(a) the Council and Member States to support

2 Taiwan’s attempts to secure better representation

3 than it currently enjoys in international organiza4 tions in the fields of human and labour rights, eco5 nomic affairs, the environment and development co6 operation following the precedent of certain cases,

7 known to international law, of countries recognized

8 as independent and sovereign even though the na9 ture of their diplomatic connections and the person

10 of then head of state did not display the full sym11 bolic panoply of complete sovereignty (e.g. Her Bri12 tannic Majesty’s Dominions, American Samoa, or,

13 until recently, the Ukraine and Belarus);

14 ‘‘(b) the Council and Member States to ask the

15 United Nations to investigate the possibility of set16 ting up a United Nations working group to study

17 the scope for Taiwan to participate in the activities

18 of bodies answerable to the United Nations General

19 Assembly;

20 ‘‘(c) the Council and Member States to encour21 age the governments of the People’s Republic of

22 China and Taiwan to intensify their cooperation in

23 a constructive and peaceful spirit;
5

•HCON 212 IH

1 ‘‘(d) the Council to urge the Commission to

2 adopt measures with a view to opening a European

3 Union information office in Taipei;

4 ‘‘2. Instructs its President to forward this resolution

5 to the Council and to the Commission.’’.

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