H 4454 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD—HOUSE May 2, 1995

defense deterrent. And as Taiwan has played

a greater role in world affairs, the United

States has adjusted the way in which it deals

with Taiwan. United States cabinet-level officials in economic areas have visited Taiwan.

The point is that the United States shares

important interests with China. Consequently,

we should not ignore China’s reaction on this

issue. Right now, for example, the administration is engaged in sensitive negotiations with

North Korea over what kind of reactor the

North will accept in return for abandoning its

nuclear weapons program. China reportedly is

urging North Korea to accept a South Koreanmodel reactor and so defuse the current crisis.

We need that kind of help. We also have an

interest in peace and stability in the Taiwan

Strait.

So, Mr. Speaker, I support this resolution.

But I also hope that we can summon the creativity to manage this situation so that we may

both express our historic friendship with Taiwan and, at the same time, preserve our interests. This visit should be truly nonpolitical in

the way it is conducted. We should make clear

to Beijing that a short visit by President Lee in

no way changes the United States view of Taiwan’s status. And I think it is clear that there

needs to be some confidence-building between Beijing and Taipei so that neither side

overreacts to the actions of the other.

Mr. OXLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of

House Concurrent Resolution 53, of which I

am an original cosponsor.

Given the fact that President Lee Teng-hui

is the freely elected leader of the Republic of

China on Taiwan—a United States ally and

important trading partner—it would seem selfevident that he would be welcome at any time

for private visits to the United States. Yet this

is not the case. Frankly, President Lee has

been subjected to some rather shoddy treatment by the Clinton administration, which, of

course, is the impetus behind this concurrent

resolution.

I want to make it clear that President Lee is

a reform-minded democrat who is offering just

the kind of leadership the United States

should wish to encourage in Asia. While I am

certainly in favor of maintaining a constructive

relationship with the People’s Republic of

China, I see no reason why the two policies

should be mutually exclusive. Surely the situation calls for a degree of tact and diplomacy,

two qualities which this administration has

lacked in its dealings with President Lee.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I support the resolution,

and I hope the administration will take note of

the position of the House.

Mr. TORRICELLI. Mr. Speaker, the decision

to allow the elected leadership of Taiwan access to the United States was made when

Taiwan decided to have free elections, a free

press and pluralistic political systems. This

isn’t simply an issue to the people of Taiwan.

As a matter of policy, the United States should

never exclude the elected and legitimate leader of any nation seeking to come to our country. The views of nations with whom we have

relations, and those nations that play a disproportionate role in world affairs, should always be heard by our Government. They can,

however, never be controlling upon our Government.

The Government in Beijing has received all

due deference. In the final analysis, it is the

policy of the U.S. Government to allow all

freely elected governments to come to this

country and be heard. The people of the United States do not need to be protected from

the views of freely elected peoples.

Finally, Mr. Chairman, I want to add that it

would be an extraordinary statement that, after

receiving in the last decade a range of leaders

from Roberto D’Aubuission, the leader of the

death squads in El Salvador, to Deng Xiaoping, the leader of the world’s largest totalitarian government, that any freely elected official is denied access to our country. I hope

this resolution, House Concurrent Resolution.

53 succeeds in convincing the administration

of the strength of our bipartisan views. But I

would remind the administration, if they do not

after considerable negotiations, that I have a

common resolution to amend the Taiwan Relations Act as a matter of law to allow access

and visas to the United States. If discretion is

not used properly by he administration, discretion will be lost by the administration. We will

proceed with our amendment and change the

law.

Mr. ORTIZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise to extend my

remarks on House Concurrent Resolution 53,

a resolution expressing the sense of Congress

regarding a private visit by President Lee

Teng-hui of the Republic of China to the United States. I was pleased to offer my strong

support for this measure, and am delighted

that the House of Representatives endorsed

this important resolution.

This resolution is a sensible request. We

should all recognize that the Republic of China

is a full-fledged democracy, and its government policies conform to those of other democratic nations. Additionally, the Republic of

China is one of the most important economic

powers in the world. Specifically, the Republic

of China has established a program of economic assistance to many underdeveloped nations, and has joined major international organizations such as the Asian Pacific Economic

Cooperation [APEC] forum. The Republic of

China has also been involved in international

humanitarian relief efforts, such as helping the

refugees of the Persian Gulf war. More importantly though, the Republic of China is willing

to be a helpful partner in the international

community.

While the United States does not want to

jeopardize its relations with other governments, we should grant an exception to allow

the President of the Republic of China to

make a private visit to our country. The nature

of the visit by President Lee Teng-hui, to receive an honorary degree from Cornell University, is a reasonable appeal, and should be so

recognized by our government.

As Members of Congress, I would believe

that we would want to maintain our relations

with the Republic of China, and am pleased

that the House passed this resolution.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I yield

back the balance of my time.

The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr.

COMBEST). The question is on the motion offered by the gentleman from Nebraska [Mr. BEREUTER] that the House

suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, House Concurrent

Resolution 53, as amended.

The question was taken.

Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, on that I

demand the yeas and nays.

The yeas and nays were ordered.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 5 of rule I and the Chair’s

prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.

Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, I ask

GENERAL LEAVE

funanimous consent that all Members

may have 5 legislative days within

which to revise and extend their remarks on House Concurrent Resolution

53.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there

objection to the request of the gentleman from Nebraska?

PERMISSION FOR CERTAIN COMThere was no objection.

MITTEES TO SIT ON TODAY DURfING THE 5-MINUTE RULE

Mr. LIVINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask

unanimous consent that the following

committees and their subcommittees

be permitted to sit today while the

House is meeting in the Committee of

the Whole House under the 5-minute

rule:

The Committee on Banking and Financial Services;

The Committee on Economic and

Educational Opportunities;

The Committee on Government Reform and Oversight; and

The Committee on International Relations.

It is my understanding that the minority has been consulted and that

there is no objection to these requests.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there

objection to the request of the gentleman from Louisiana?

There was no objection.

Mr. LIVINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask

GENERAL LEAVE

funanimous consent that all Members

may have 5 legislative days to revise

and extend their remarks, and that I

may include tabular and extraneous

material, on H.R. 1158.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there

objection to the request of the gentleman from Louisiana?

APPOINTMENT OF CONFEREES ON

There was no objection.

H.R. 1158, EMERGENCY SUPPLEfMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR

ADDITIONAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND RESCISSIONS FOR

FISCAL YEAR 1995

Mr. LIVINGSTON. Mr. Speaker, I ask

unanimous consent to take from the

Speaker’s table the bill (H.R. 1158)

making emergency supplemental appropriations for additional disaster assistance and making rescissions for the

fiscal year ending September 30, 1995,

and for other purposes, with Senate

amendments thereto, disagree to the

Senate amendments, and agree to the

conference asked by the Senate.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there

objection to the request of the gentleman from Louisiana?