H. Res. 676 

In the House of Representatives, U. S., 

October 2, 2007. 

Whereas relations between the United States and Taiwan are 

governed by the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 

et seq.; Public Law 96–8), three joint communique ́s, and 

the Six Assurances; 

Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act has governed United 

States arms sales to Taiwan since 1979, when the United 

States extended diplomatic recognition to the People’s 

Republic of China; 

Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act specifies that it is United 

States policy, among other things, to consider any nonpeaceful means to determine Taiwan’s future ‘‘a threat’’ 

to the peace and security of the Western Pacific and of 

‘‘grave concern’’ to the United States; ‘‘to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character;’’ and ‘‘to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort 

to force or other forms of coercion’’ jeopardizing the security, or social or economic system of Taiwan’s people; 

Whereas section 3(a) of the Taiwan Relations Act states that 

‘‘the United States will make available to Taiwan such 

defense articles and defense services in such quantity as 

may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability’’; 
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•HRES 676 EH 

Whereas section 3(b) of the Taiwan Relations Act stipulates 

that both the President and the Congress shall determine 

the nature and quantity of such defense articles and services ‘‘based solely’’ upon their judgment of the needs of 

Taiwan; 

Whereas Taiwan’s 2007 defense budget included approximately $488,000,000 to begin the process of procuring 

66 new United States-origin F–16C/D fighters, pending 

United States price and availability data; 

Whereas after October 31, 2007, those funds will no longer 

be available to begin the process of procuring the 

F–16C/D fighters; 

Whereas the Taiwanese Defense Ministry has requested and 

the Executive Yuan (cabinet) approved in August 2007 

a 2008 defense budget that includes approximately 

$764,000,000 for the second year’s budget for F–16C/D 

fighters; 

Whereas notwithstanding the requirements of the Taiwan Relations Act, the Bush Administration has not been responsive to Taiwan’s clear expression of interest in receiving price and availability data for the F–16C/D fighters; and 

Whereas in its annual, congressionally mandated report on 

China’s Military Power (most recently released in May 

2007) the Department of Defense concluded that China 

is greatly improving its military, with those improvements 

largely focused on a Taiwan contingency, and that this 

build-up poses an increasing threat to Taiwan and ultimately to the United States military presence in Asia: 

Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That— 
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•HRES 676 EH 

(1) it shall continue to be the policy of the United 

States, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, to 

make available to Taiwan such defense articles and services as may be necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability; and 

(2) the United States should determine the nature 

and quantity of such defense articles and services ‘‘based 

solely’’ upon the legitimate defense needs of Taiwan. 

Attest: 

Clerk.