III

105TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. CON. RES. 301

IN THE SENATE OF THE THE UNITED STATES

JULY 21, 1998

Received and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Affirming the United States commitment to Taiwan.

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 of the Taiwan Relations Act in

1979, the policy of the United States has been based on
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the expectation that the further relationship between the

People’s Republic of China and Taiwan would be determined by peaceful means;

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;

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 7th largest trading partner of the

United States;

Whereas no agreements exist between the People’s Republic

of China and Taiwan that determine the future status of

Taiwan; and

Whereas the House of Representatives passed a resolution by

a vote of 411–0 in June 1998 urging the President to

seek, during his recent summit meeting in Beijing, a public renunciation by the People’s Republic of China of any

use of force, or threat of use of force, against democratic

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);
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1 (2) affirms its expectation, consistent with the

2 Taiwan Relations Act, that the future status of Tai3 wan will be determined by peaceful means, and that

4 the people of both sides of the Taiwan Strait should

5 determine their own future, and considers any effort

6 to determine or influence the future status of Tai7 wan by other than peaceful means a threat to the

8 peace and security of the Western Pacific region and

9 of grave concern to the United States;

10 (3) affirms its commitment, consistent with the

11 Taiwan Relations Act, to make available to Taiwan

12 such defense articles and defense services, including

13 appropriate ballistic missile defenses, in such quan14 tities as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to main15 tain a sufficient self-defense capability;

16 (4) affirms its commitment, consistent with the

17 Taiwan Relations Act, that only the President and

18 Congress shall determine the nature and quantity of

19 defense articles and services for Taiwan based solely

20 upon their judgment of the defensive needs of Tai21 wan;

22 (5) urges the President, once again, to seek a

23 public renunciation by the People’s Republic of

24 China of any use of force, or threat of use of force,

25 against the free people of Taiwan; and
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1 (6) affirms its strong support, in accordance

2 with the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act, of ap3 propriate membership for Taiwan in international fi4 nancial institutions and other international organiza5 tions.

Passed the House of Representatives July 20, 1998.

Attest: ROBIN H. CARLE,

Clerk.