III 

110TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. CON. RES. 48 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding high level visits to the United 

States by democratically-elected officials of Taiwan. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

OCTOBER 2, 2007 

Mr. JOHNSON (for himself, Mr. LOTT, Mr. CHAMBLISS, Mr. BROWN, Mr. 

COBURN, and Mr. INHOFE) submitted the following concurrent resolution; 

which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding high level visits 

to the United States by democratically-elected officials 

of Taiwan. 

Whereas, for over half a century, a close relationship has existed between the United States and Taiwan, which has 

been of enormous political, economic, cultural, and strategic advantage to both countries; 

Whereas Taiwan is one of the strongest democratic allies of 

the United States in the Asia-Pacific region; 

Whereas it is United States policy to support and strengthen 

democracy around the world; 

Whereas, during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Taiwan 

made a remarkable transition to a full-fledged democracy 

with a vibrant economy and a vigorous multi-party politVerDate Aug 31 2005 02:04 Oct 03, 2007 Jkt 069200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SC48.IS SC48

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•SCON 48 IS 

ical system that respects human rights and the rule of 

law; 

Whereas, in spite of its praise for democracy in Taiwan, the 

United States Government continues to adhere to guidelines from the 1970s that bar the President, Vice President, Premier, Foreign Minister, and Defense Minister of 

Taiwan from coming to Washington, DC; 

Whereas these restrictions deprive the President, Congress, 

and the American public of the opportunity to engage in 

a direct dialogue regarding developments in the Asia-Pacific region and key elements of the relationship between 

the United States and Taiwan; 

Whereas whenever high-level visitors from Taiwan, including 

the President, seek to come to the United States, their 

request results in a period of complex, lengthy, and 

humiliating negotiations; 

Whereas lifting these restrictions will help bring a friend and 

ally of the United States out of its isolation, which will 

be beneficial to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region; 

Whereas, in consideration of the major economic, security, 

and political interests shared by the United States and 

Taiwan, it is to the benefit of the United States for 

United States officials to meet and communicate directly 

with the democratically-elected officials of Taiwan; 

Whereas since the Taiwan Strait is one of the world’s 

flashpoints in terms of global security, it is essential that 

United States policymakers directly communicate with 

the leaders of Taiwan; and 

Whereas section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality 

Technical Corrections Act of 1994 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) 


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•SCON 48 IS 

provides that the President or other high-level officials of 

Taiwan may visit the United States, including Washington, DC, at any time to discuss a variety of important 

issues: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 

2 concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that— 

3 (1) restrictions on visits to the United States by 

4 high-level elected and appointed officials of Taiwan, 

5 including the democratically-elected President of 

6 Taiwan, should be lifted; 

7 (2) the United States should allow direct high8 level exchanges at the Cabinet level with the Govern9 ment of Taiwan, in order to strengthen a policy dia10 logue with Taiwan; and 

11 (3) it is in the interest of the United States to 

12 strengthen links between the United States and the 

13 democratically-elected officials of Taiwan and dem14 onstrate stronger support for democracy in the Asia15 Pacific region. 

Æ 


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