IV

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 300

Affirming United States commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

JULY 16, 1998

Mr. SOLOMON submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was

referred to the Committee on International Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Affirming United States commitments under the Taiwan

Relations Act.

Whereas at no time since the establishment of the People’s

Republic of China on October 1, 1949, has Taiwan been

under the control of the People’s Republic of China;

Whereas the United States began its long, peaceful, friendly

relationship with Taiwan in 1949;

Whereas since the enactment in 1979 of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the

policy of the United States has been based on the expectation that the future relationship between the People’s

Republic of China and Taiwan would be determined by

peaceful means;

Whereas in 1982, during negotiations for the United StatesChina Communique on Arms Sales to Taiwan, the Tai-
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wan Government presented the United States with 6

points it proposed that the United States use as guidelines in conducting United States-Taiwan relations;

Whereas, according to former Ambassador John Holdridge,

the United States agreed to these 6 points, informed Taiwan of this agreement, and, in late July 1982, informed

Congress of the agreement;

Whereas these 6 points are as follows:

(1) the United States would not set a date for termination of arms sales to Taiwan;

(2) the United States would not alter the terms of

the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8; 22 U.S.C.

3301 et seq.);

(3) the United States would not consult with the

People’s Republic of China in advance before making decisions about United States arms sales to Taiwan;

(4) the United States would not mediate between

Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China;

(5) the United States would not alter it’s position

concerning the sovereignty of Taiwan—which was, that

the question of sovereignty was to be decided peacefully

by the Chinese themselves—and would not pressure Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the People’s Republic

of China; and

(6) the United States would not formally recognize

Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan;

Whereas in March 1996, the People’s Republic of China held

provocative military maneuvers, including missile launch

exercises in the Taiwan Strait, in an attempt to intimidate the people of Taiwan during their historic, free and

democratic presidential election;
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Whereas officials of the People’s Republic of China refuse to

renounce the use of force against democratic Taiwan;

Whereas Taiwan has achieved significant political and economic strength as one of the world’s premier democracies

and as the 19th largest economy in the world;

Whereas Taiwan is the seventh largest trading partner of the

United States and imports more than twice as much annually from the United States as does the People’s Republic of China; and

Whereas no treaties exist between the People’s Republic of

China and Taiwan that determine the future status of

Taiwan: Now therefore, be it

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That Congress—

3 (1) affirms its longstanding commitment to

4 Taiwan and the people of Taiwan in accordance with

5 the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8; 22

6 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.);

7 (2) affirms its expectation, consistent with the

8 Taiwan Relations Act, that the future of Taiwan will

9 be determined by peaceful means, and considers any

10 effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other

11 than peaceful means a threat to the peace and secu12 rity of the Western Pacific and of grave concern to

13 the United States;

14 (3) affirms its commitment, consistent with the

15 Taiwan Relations Act, to make available to Taiwan
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1 such defense articles and defense services in such

2 quantities as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to

3 maintain a sufficient self-defense capability;

4 (4) affirms its commitment, consistent with the

5 Taiwan Relations Act, that only the President and

6 Congress shall determine the nature and quantity of

7 defense articles and services for Taiwan based solely

8 upon their judgment of the needs of Taiwan; and

9 (5) urges the President of the United States to

10 seek a public renunciation by the People’s Republic

11 of China of any use of force, or threat to use force,

12 against democratic Taiwan.

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