IA

106TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. J. RES. 70

Providing for expedited emergency humanitarian assistance, disaster relief

assistance, and medical assistance to the people of Taiwan.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

OCTOBER 5, 1999

Mr. COX introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on International Relations

JOINT RESOLUTION

Providing for expedited emergency humanitarian assistance,

disaster relief assistance, and medical assistance to the

people of Taiwan.

Whereas the September 21, 1999, earthquake in Taiwan resulted in the loss of more than 2,000 lives, the injury of

more than 8,500 additional men, women, and children,

and the creation of more than 100,000 homeless people;

Whereas the world community reacted as rapidly as possible

to this medical, health, and humanitarian emergency;

Whereas each hour that passes after an earthquake or other

natural disaster greatly reduces the chances for survival

for those who are injured or dying;

Whereas, according to published reports, United States disaster relief assistance to the victims of the Taiwan earth-
2

•HJ 70 IH

quake was delayed during the critical hours after the

earthquake because United States and international aid

organizations believed they were obligated to ask for permission from the Government of the People’s Republic of

China before they could provide such assistance to the

people of Taiwan;

Whereas, according to published reports, the Government of

the People’s Republic of China demanded that any aid

for Taiwan provided by the United Nations and the

International Committee of the Red Cross receive prior

approval from government officials in Beijing or from the

Red Cross chapter of the People’s Republic of China;

Whereas, according to published reports, the delivery of aid

for Taiwan by a Russian rescue team was delayed by 10

hours as the team waited for the United Nations to approve its application;

Whereas, according to published reports, the Russian rescue

team was further delayed when the Government of the

People’s Republic of China denied an air corridor to the

team, thereby forcing the aircraft to make a lengthy detour over Siberia and to make two extra unnecessary

stops for refueling, and thereby further causing a 12-

hour delay in the rescue team’s arrival during the initial,

critical 72-hour rescue period;

Whereas direct and unobstructed participation in international health cooperation forums and programs is crucial to help ensure good health and access to emergency

assistance for every citizen of the world;

Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) set forth in

the first chapter of its charter the objective of attaining

the highest possible level of health for all people;
3

•HJ 70 IH

Whereas Taiwan’s population of 21,000,000 people is larger

than that of three-fourths of the member states in the

World Health Organization;

Whereas Taiwan’s achievements in the field of health are

substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy

levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates comparable to those of western countries, the eradication of

such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the

plague, and the first country to eradicate polio and provide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations;

Whereas in recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness

to provide financial or technical assistance for World

Health Organization-supported international aid and

health activities but it has ultimately been unable to

render such assistance;

Whereas the United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Review, declared its intention to support Taiwan’s participation in appropriate international organizations; and

Whereas it is the policy of the United States Government to

ensure that United States and international humanitarian and medical organizations are free to act as expeditiously as possible to provide emergency aid to people

in need: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives

2 of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
4

•HJ 70 IH

1 SECTION 1. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO

2 EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR TAIWAN AND

3 TAIWAN’S MEMBERSHIP IN CERTAIN INTER4 NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

5 (a) NOTIFICATION RELATING TO EXPEDITIOUS PRO6 VISION OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR TAIWAN.—The

7 President shall take all necessary steps to ensure that no8 tification is provided to United States Government agen9 cies and United States and international nongovernmental

10 organizations, including private voluntary organizations,

11 such as the American Red Cross, which provide emergency

12 humanitarian assistance, disaster relief assistance, and

13 medical assistance, that when a natural disaster, medical

14 emergency, or other emergency necessitates the provision

15 of such assistance for Taiwan, those agencies and organi16 zations may provide such assistance as expeditiously as

17 possible to Taiwan without seeking the prior approval of,

18 or otherwise coordinating with, the Government of the

19 People’s Republic of China.

20 (b) MEMBERSHIP OF TAIWAN IN MEDICAL AND HU21 MANITARIAN AID ORGANIZATIONS.—The President shall

22 take all necessary steps on behalf of the United States

23 Government to support the membership of Taiwan in the

24 International Committee of the Red Cross, the Office for

25 the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the World

26 Health Organization.
5

•HJ 70 IH

1 (c) REPORT.—Not later than November 1, 1999, the

2 President shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a

3 report on the status of efforts by the United States Gov4 ernment to accomplish the objectives set forth in sub5 sections (a) and (b).

Æ