IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 221

Expressing the sense of the Congress that it is the policy of the United

States that the future of Taiwan should be resolved peacefully through

a democratic mechanism with the express consent of the people of Taiwan

and free from outside threats, intimidation, or interference.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

SEPTEMBER 6, 2001

Mr. WEXLER (for himself, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. STUMP, Mr.

KENNEDY of Rhode Island, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. WYNN, Mr.

ANDREWS, Mr. WU, Mr. BROWN of Ohio, and Mr. DEUTSCH) submitted

the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee

on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress that it is the policy

of the United States that the future of Taiwan should

be resolved peacefully through a democratic mechanism

with the express consent of the people of Taiwan and

free from outside threats, intimidation, or interference.

Whereas September 8, 2001, marks the 50th anniversary of

the San Francisco Peace Treaty;

Whereas in the San Francisco Peace Treaty, Japan renounced all right, title, and claim to Taiwan;

Whereas the signatories of the San Francisco Peace Treaty

left the status of Taiwan undetermined;
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•HCON 221 IH

Whereas the universally accepted principal of self-determination is enshrined in article 1 of the United Nations Charter;

Whereas the United States is a signatory of the United Nations Charter;

Whereas the United States recognizes and supports that a

right to self-determination exists as a fundamental right

of all peoples, as set forth in numerous United Nations

instruments;

Whereas the people of Taiwan are committed to the principles of freedom, justice, and democracy as evidenced by

the March 18, 2000, election of Mr. Chen Shui-bian as

Taiwan’s President;

Whereas the 1993 Montevideo Convention on Rights and Duties of States defines the qualifications of a nation-state

as a defined territory, a permanent population, and a

government capable of entering into relations with other

states;

Whereas on February 24, 2000, and March 8, 2000, former

President Clinton stated: ‘‘We will continue to make absolutely clear that the issues between Beijing and Taiwan

must be resolved peacefully and with the assent of the

people of Taiwan’’;

Whereas both the 2000 Republican party platform and the

Democratic party platform emphasized and made clear

the belief that the future of Taiwan should be determined

with the consent of the people of Taiwan;

Whereas on February 1, 2000, the House of Representatives

overwhelmingly passed H.R. 1838, the Taiwan Security

Enhancement Act, in which section 2(4) states ‘‘[a]ny de-
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•HCON 221 IH

termination of the ultimate status of Taiwan must have

the express consent of the people on Taiwan’’;

Whereas Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage said in

a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on March

16, 2001, that ‘‘[w]hat has changed is that any eventual

agreement that is arrived at has to be acceptable to the

majority of the people on Taiwan’’; and

Whereas in April 2001 President George W. Bush stated that

the United States will help Taiwan defend itself if attacked by China: Now, therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) it is the policy of the United States that the

4 future of Taiwan should be resolved peacefully,

5 through a democratic mechanism such as a plebiscite

6 and with the express consent of the people of Tai7 wan; and

8 (2) it is the policy of the United States that

9 Taiwan’s future should be decided by the people of

10 Taiwan without outside threats, intimidation, or in11 terference.

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