IV

107TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 67

Expressing the sense of the Congress relating to the Taiwan Relations Act.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

MARCH 20, 2001

Mr. ANDREWS (for himself, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. RILEY, and Mr. KIRK) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the

Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress relating to the Taiwan

Relations Act.

Whereas for more than 50 years a close relationship has existed between the United States and Taiwan which has

been of enormous economic, cultural, and strategic advantage to both countries;

Whereas Taiwan has demonstrated an improved record on

human rights and a commitment to democratic ideals of

freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and free and

fair elections routinely held in a multiparty system, as

evidenced on March 18, 2000, by the election of Mr.

Chen Shui-bian as Taiwan’s new president;

Whereas April 10, 2001, will mark the 22d anniversary of the

enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–

8), which codified in public law the basis for continued
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commercial, cultural, and other relations between the

United States and Taiwan;

Whereas Taiwan continues to experience a threat of missile

attack across the Taiwan Strait as demonstrated in

March 1996 when missiles were launched near its shores

during military exercises by the People’s Republic of

China;

Whereas the defense modernization and weapons procurement

efforts by the People’s Republic of China, as documented

in a December 18, 2000, report by the Secretary of Defense pursuant to Public Law 106–113 on the security

situation in the Taiwan Strait, could threaten cross-strait

stability and United States interests in the Asia-Pacific

region;

Whereas it is in the interest of the United States that Taiwan maintains adequate forces to help maintain peace

and stability in the Asia-Pacific region;

Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act provides explicit guarantees that the United States will make available to Taiwan

defense articles and services necessary in such quantity

as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability;

Whereas Congress and the President are committed by section 3(b) of the Taiwan Relations Act to determine the

nature and quantity of Taiwan’s legitimate self-defense

needs;

Whereas in recent discussions between the United States and

Taiwan on Taiwan’s defense needs, Taiwan clearly articulated its requirement for naval-based defense systems

such as diesel submarines, P–3 surveillance aircraft, ad-
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vanced air-launched missiles, and Taiwan’s coverage

under the proposed Theater Missile Defense System;

Whereas a recent Department of Defense review of Taiwan’s

defense requirements concluded that in view of recent

missile deployment on the Chinese coast facing Taiwan

the Aegis system should be released to Taiwan; and

Whereas in his January 17, 2001, confirmation hearing as

Secretary of State, General Colin Powell stated that

‘‘[W]e will stand by Taiwan and will provide for the defense needs of Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and subsequent communiques’’: 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) the United States should reaffirm its com4 mitment to the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law

5 96–8) and the specific guarantees for the provision

6 of legitimate defense articles to Taiwan contained

7 therein;

8 (2) the President should seek from the leaders

9 of the People’s Republic of China a public renunci10 ation of any use of force, or threat to use force,

11 against Taiwan; and

12 (3) the executive branch should recognize Tai13 wan’s significant defense needs and therefore ap14 prove the sale to Taiwan of advanced weapons sys15 tems that are legitimately needed for defensive pur-
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1 poses, in strict accordance with section 3(b) of the

2 Taiwan Relations Act.

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