IV 

106TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 292 

Congratulating the people of Taiwan for the successful conclusion of presidential elections on March 18, 2000, and reaffirming United States 

policy toward Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 22, 2000 

Mr. ARMEY submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 

to the Committee on International Relations 

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 

Congratulating the people of Taiwan for the successful conclusion of presidential elections on March 18, 2000, and 

reaffirming United States policy toward Taiwan and the 

People’s Republic of China. 

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; 

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


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•HCON 292 IH 

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 head of 

state; 

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’’; 

Whereas on June 9, 1998, the House of Representatives 

voted unanimously to adopt House Concurrent Resolution 


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•HCON 292 IH 

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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•HCON 292 IH 

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 House of Representa11 tives that the People’s Republic of China should 

12 abandon its provocative threats against Taiwan and 

13 undertake steps that would lead to a substantive dia14 logue, including a renunciation of the use of force 

15 against Taiwan and progress toward democracy, the 

16 rule of law, and protection of human and religious 

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

18 (5) the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act 

19 (Public Law 96–8) are hereby affirmed as the legal 

20 standard by which United States policy toward Tai21 wan shall be determined. 

Æ 


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