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 Rela-
tions Act (Public Law 96–8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), the
policy of the United States has been based on the expec-
tation 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 States-
China 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 guide-
lines in conducting United States-Taiwan relations;
Whereas, according to former Ambassador John Holdridge,
the United States agreed to these 6 points, informed Tai-
wan 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 termi-
nation 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 de-
cisions 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 Tai-
wan 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 intimi-
date 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 eco-
nomic 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 an-
nually from the United States as does the People’s Re-
public 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
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That Congress—
(1) affirms its longstanding commitment to
Taiwan and the people of Taiwan in accordance with
the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8; 22
U.S.C. 3301 et seq.);
(2) affirms its expectation, consistent with the
Taiwan Relations Act, that the future of Taiwan will
be determined by peaceful means, and considers any
effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other
than peaceful means a threat to the peace and secu-
rity of the Western Pacific and of grave concern to
the United States;
(3) affirms its commitment, consistent with the
Taiwan Relations Act, to make available to Taiwan
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such defense articles and defense services in such
quantities as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to
maintain a sufficient self-defense capability;
(4) affirms its commitment, consistent with the
Taiwan Relations Act, that only the President and
Congress shall determine the nature and quantity of
defense articles and services for Taiwan based solely
upon their judgment of the needs of Taiwan; and
(5) urges the President of the United States to
seek a public renunciation by the People’s Republic
of China of any use of force, or threat to use force,
against democratic Taiwan.
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