IA
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. J. RES. 70
Providing for expedited emergency humanitarian assistance, disaster relief
assistance, and medical assistance to the people of Taiwan.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
OCTOBER 5, 1999
Mr. COX introduced the following joint resolution; which was referred to the
Committee on International Relations
JOINT RESOLUTION
Providing for expedited emergency humanitarian assistance,
disaster relief assistance, and medical assistance to the
people of Taiwan.
Whereas the September 21, 1999, earthquake in Taiwan re-
sulted in the loss of more than 2,000 lives, the injury of
more than 8,500 additional men, women, and children,
and the creation of more than 100,000 homeless people;
Whereas the world community reacted as rapidly as possible
to this medical, health, and humanitarian emergency;
Whereas each hour that passes after an earthquake or other
natural disaster greatly reduces the chances for survival
for those who are injured or dying;
Whereas, according to published reports, United States dis-
aster relief assistance to the victims of the Taiwan earth-
•HJ 70 IH
quake was delayed during the critical hours after the
earthquake because United States and international aid
organizations believed they were obligated to ask for per-
mission from the Government of the People’s Republic of
China before they could provide such assistance to the
people of Taiwan;
Whereas, according to published reports, the Government of
the People’s Republic of China demanded that any aid
for Taiwan provided by the United Nations and the
International Committee of the Red Cross receive prior
approval from government officials in Beijing or from the
Red Cross chapter of the People’s Republic of China;
Whereas, according to published reports, the delivery of aid
for Taiwan by a Russian rescue team was delayed by 10
hours as the team waited for the United Nations to ap-
prove its application;
Whereas, according to published reports, the Russian rescue
team was further delayed when the Government of the
People’s Republic of China denied an air corridor to the
team, thereby forcing the aircraft to make a lengthy de-
tour over Siberia and to make two extra unnecessary
stops for refueling, and thereby further causing a 12-
hour delay in the rescue team’s arrival during the initial,
critical 72-hour rescue period;
Whereas direct and unobstructed participation in inter-
national health cooperation forums and programs is cru-
cial to help ensure good health and access to emergency
assistance for every citizen of the world;
Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) set forth in
the first chapter of its charter the objective of attaining
the highest possible level of health for all people;
•HJ 70 IH
Whereas Taiwan’s population of 21,000,000 people is larger
than that of three-fourths of the member states in the
World Health Organization;
Whereas Taiwan’s achievements in the field of health are
substantial, including one of the highest life expectancy
levels in Asia, maternal and infant mortality rates com-
parable to those of western countries, the eradication of
such infectious diseases as cholera, smallpox, and the
plague, and the first country to eradicate polio and pro-
vide children with free hepatitis B vaccinations;
Whereas in recent years Taiwan has expressed a willingness
to provide financial or technical assistance for World
Health Organization-supported international aid and
health activities but it has ultimately been unable to
render such assistance;
Whereas the United States, in the 1994 Taiwan Policy Re-
view, declared its intention to support Taiwan’s participa-
tion in appropriate international organizations; and
Whereas it is the policy of the United States Government to
ensure that United States and international humani-
tarian and medical organizations are free to act as expe-
ditiously as possible to provide emergency aid to people
in need: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives
of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
•HJ 70 IH
SECTION 1. NOTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR TAIWAN AND
TAIWAN’S MEMBERSHIP IN CERTAIN INTER-
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.
(a) NOTIFICATION RELATING TO EXPEDITIOUS PRO-
VISION OF EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR TAIWAN.—The
President shall take all necessary steps to ensure that no-
tification is provided to United States Government agen-
cies and United States and international nongovernmental
organizations, including private voluntary organizations,
such as the American Red Cross, which provide emergency
humanitarian assistance, disaster relief assistance, and
medical assistance, that when a natural disaster, medical
emergency, or other emergency necessitates the provision
of such assistance for Taiwan, those agencies and organi-
zations may provide such assistance as expeditiously as
possible to Taiwan without seeking the prior approval of,
or otherwise coordinating with, the Government of the
People’s Republic of China.
(b) MEMBERSHIP OF TAIWAN IN MEDICAL AND HU-
MANITARIAN AID ORGANIZATIONS.—The President shall
take all necessary steps on behalf of the United States
Government to support the membership of Taiwan in the
International Committee of the Red Cross, the Office for
the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the World
Health Organization.
•HJ 70 IH
(c) REPORT.—Not later than November 1, 1999, the
President shall prepare and transmit to the Congress a
report on the status of efforts by the United States Gov-
ernment to accomplish the objectives set forth in sub-
sections (a) and (b).
Æ