IV

106TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 272

Commending the people of Taiwan for reaffirming, in their upcoming presidential elections, their dedication to democratic ideals, and for other

purposes.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 9, 2000

Mr. DEUTSCH (for himself, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. ANDREWS, Mr. BAKER, Mr.

BERMAN, Mrs. BONO, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, Mr. CANNON, Mr. CHABOT,

Mr. DIAZ-BALART, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. FORBES, Mr. GONZALEZ, Mr.

HINCHEY, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. JEFFERSON, Mr. KING, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr.

MCINTOSH, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. ROGAN, Mr.

ROHRABACHER, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. SANDLIN, Mr. SCHAFFER, Mr. STARK,

Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. WEXLER, and Mr. WYNN) submitted the following

concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Commending the people of Taiwan for reaffirming, in their

upcoming presidential elections, their dedication to democratic ideals, and for other purposes.

Whereas in recent years, Taiwan has undergone a major political transformation and Taiwan is today a true

multiparty democracy with a political system separate

from and totally unlike that of the People’s Republic of

China;

Whereas the Government of Taiwan no longer claims to be

the Government of China;
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•HCON 272 IH

Whereas since 1979, the United States Government has insisted that the ultimate status of Taiwan must have the

express consent of the people of Taiwan and must be decided by peaceful means;

Whereas United States interests are served by supporting democracy around the world;

Whereas the centerpiece of Taiwan’s democracy is its system

of competitive and free elections;

Whereas Taiwan is a democracy with its second direct presidential elections scheduled for March 18, 2000;

Whereas this election will only be the latest example of Taiwan’s commitment to the democratic ideals of freedom

and pluralism, values that it shares with the United

States;

Whereas in March 1996, the political leadership of the People’s Republic of China used provocative military maneuvers, including missile launch exercises in the Taiwan

Strait, in an attempt to intimidate the people of Taiwan

during their first-ever free and democratic presidential

elections;

Whereas peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait area are in

the political, security, and economic interests of the

United States and are of international concern as specified in the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et

seq.), signed into law in 1979; and

Whereas the People’s Republic of China has threatened to

use force against Taiwan at various times, as most recently manifested in the Chinese Policy Paper of February 21, 2000, and continues to refuse to renounce the

use of force against Taiwan: Now, therefore, be it
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1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That—

3 (1) the Congress commends the people of Tai4 wan for—

5 (A) having established a democracy on

6 Taiwan over the past decades and for repeat7 edly reaffirming their dedication to democratic

8 ideals; and

9 (B) carrying out the second free, fair and

10 democratic direct presidential election in Tai11 wan’s history in March 2000; and

12 (2) that it is the sense of the Congress that—

13 (A) it is the right of the people of Taiwan

14 to freely elect their President without any inter15 ference from the People’s Republic of China;

16 (B) the ultimate status of Taiwan must

17 have the express consent of the people of Tai18 wan and must be decided by peaceful means;

19 and

20 (3) the United States looks forward to working

21 with the next democratically elected President of

22 Taiwan.

Æ