106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 292

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Congratulating the people of Taiwan for the successful conclusion of presidential elections on

March 18, 2000, and reaffirming United Statespolicy toward Taiwan and the People’s Republicof China.
106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 292

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Whereas section 2(c) of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public

Law 96–8) states ‘‘[t]he preservation and enhancement

of the human rights of all the people on Taiwan’’ to be

an objective of the United States;

Whereas Taiwan has become a multiparty democracy in

which all citizens have the right to participate freely in

the political process;
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Whereas the people of Taiwan have, by their vigorous participation in electoral campaigns and public debate,

strengthened the foundations of a free and democratic

way of life;

Whereas Taiwan successfully conducted a presidential election on March 18, 2000;

Whereas President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan has actively supported the consolidation of democratic institutions and

processes in Taiwan since 1988 when he became President;

Whereas this election represents the first such transition of

national office from one elected leader to another in the

history of Chinese societies;

Whereas the continued democratic development of Taiwan is

a matter of fundamental importance to the advancement

of United States interests in East Asia and is supported

by the United States Congress and the American people;

Whereas a stable and peaceful security environment in East

Asia is essential to the furtherance of democratic developments in Taiwan and other countries, as well as to the

protection of human rights throughout the region;

Whereas since 1972 United States policy toward the People’s

Republic of China has been predicated upon, as stated in

section 2(b)(3) of the Taiwan Relations Act, ‘‘the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by

peaceful means’’;

Whereas section 2(b)(6) of the Taiwan Relations Act further

pledges ‘‘to maintain the capacity of the United States to

resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that

would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic

system, of the people of Taiwan’’;
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Whereas on June 9, 1998, the House of Representatives

voted unanimously to adopt House Concurrent Resolution

270 that called upon the President of the United States

to seek ‘‘a public renunciation by the People’s Republic

of China of any use of force, or threat to use force,

against democratic Taiwan’’;

Whereas the People’s Republic of China has consistently refused to renounce the use of force against Taiwan;

Whereas the State Council, an official organ at the highest

level of the Government of the People’s Republic of

China, issued a ‘‘white paper’’ on February 21, 2000,

which threatened ‘‘to adopt all drastic measures possible,

including the use of force,’’ if Taiwan indefinitely delays

entering into negotiations with the People’s Republic of

China on the issue of reunification; and

Whereas the February 21, 2000, statement by the State

Council significantly escalates tensions across the Taiwan

Straits and sets forth a new condition that has not heretofore been stated regarding the conditions that would

prompt the People’s Republic of China to use force

against Taiwan: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That—

3 (1) the people of Taiwan are to be congratu4 lated for the successful conclusion of presidential

5 elections on March 18, 2000, and for their con6 tinuing efforts in developing and sustaining a free,

7 democratic society which respects human rights and

8 embraces free markets;
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1 (2) President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan is to be

2 congratulated for his significant contributions to

3 freedom and democracy on Taiwan;

4 (3) President-elect Chen Shui-bian and Vice

5 President-elect Annette Hsiu-lien Lu of Taiwan are

6 to be congratulated for their victory, and they have

7 the strong support and best wishes of the House of

8 Representatives and the American people for a suc9 cessful administration;

10 (4) it is the sense of the Congress that the Peo11 ple’s Republic of China should refrain from making

12 provocative threats against Taiwan and should in13 stead undertake steps that would lead to a sub14 stantive dialogue, including a renunciation of the use

15 of force against Taiwan and progress toward democ16 racy, the rule of law, and protection of human and

17 religious rights in the People’s Republic of China;

18 and

19 (5) the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act

20 (Public Law 96–8) are hereby affirmed as the statu-
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1 tory standard by which United States policy toward

2 Taiwan shall be determined.

Passed the House of Representatives March 28,

2000.

Attest:

Clerk.