IV 
106TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 292 
Congratulating the people of Taiwan for the successful conclusion of presi-
dential elections on March 18, 2000, and reaffirming United States 
policy toward Taiwan and the People’s Republic of China. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 22, 2000 
Mr. ARMEY submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred 
to the Committee on International Relations 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Congratulating the people of Taiwan for the successful con-
clusion of presidential elections on March 18, 2000, and 
reaffirming United States policy toward Taiwan and the 
People’s Republic of China. 
Whereas section 2(c) of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public 
Law 96–8) states ‘‘[t]he preservation and enhancement 
of the human rights of all the people on Taiwan’’ to be 
an objective of the United States; 
Whereas Taiwan has become a multiparty democracy in 
which all citizens have the right to participate freely in 
the political process; 
Whereas the people of Taiwan have, by their vigorous partici-
pation in electoral campaigns and public debate, 
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•HCON 292 IH 
strengthened the foundations of a free and democratic 
way of life; 
Whereas Taiwan successfully conducted a presidential elec-
tion on March 18, 2000; 
Whereas President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan has actively sup-
ported the consolidation of democratic institutions and 
processes in Taiwan since 1988 when he became head of 
state; 
Whereas this election represents the first such transition of 
national office from one elected leader to another in the 
history of Chinese societies; 
Whereas the continued democratic development of Taiwan is 
a matter of fundamental importance to the advancement 
of United States interests in East Asia and is supported 
by the United States Congress and the American people; 
Whereas a stable and peaceful security environment in East 
Asia is essential to the furtherance of democratic develop-
ments in Taiwan and other countries, as well as to the 
protection of human rights throughout the region; 
Whereas since 1972 United States policy toward the People’s 
Republic of China has been predicated upon, as stated in 
section 2(b)(3) of the Taiwan Relations Act, ‘‘the expec-
tation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by 
peaceful means’’; 
Whereas section 2(b)(6) of the Taiwan Relations Act further 
pledges ‘‘to maintain the capacity of the United States to 
resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that 
would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic 
system, of the people of Taiwan’’; 
Whereas on June 9, 1998, the House of Representatives 
voted unanimously to adopt House Concurrent Resolution 
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•HCON 292 IH 
270 that called upon 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’’; 
Whereas the People’s Republic of China has consistently re-
fused to renounce the use of force against Taiwan; 
Whereas the State Council, an official organ at the highest 
level of the Government of the People’s Republic of 
China, issued a ‘‘white paper’’ on February 21, 2000, 
which threatened ‘‘to adopt all drastic measures possible, 
including the use of force,’’ if Taiwan indefinitely delays 
entering into negotiations with the People’s Republic of 
China on the issue of reunification; and 
Whereas the February 21, 2000, statement by the State 
Council significantly escalates tensions across the Taiwan 
Straits and sets forth a new condition that has not here-
tofore been stated regarding the conditions that would 
prompt the People’s Republic of China to use force 
against Taiwan: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That— 
(1) the people of Taiwan are to be congratu-
lated for the successful conclusion of presidential 
elections on March 18, 2000, and for their con-
tinuing efforts in developing and sustaining a free, 
democratic society which respects human rights and 
embraces free markets; 
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•HCON 292 IH 
(2) President Lee Teng-hui of Taiwan is to be 
congratulated for his significant contributions to 
freedom and democracy on Taiwan; 
(3) President-elect Chen Shui-bian and Vice 
President-elect Annette Hsiu-lien Lu of Taiwan are 
to be congratulated for their victory, and they have 
the strong support and best wishes of the House of 
Representatives and the American people for a suc-
cessful administration; 
(4) it is the sense of the House of Representa-
tives that the People’s Republic of China should 
abandon its provocative threats against Taiwan and 
undertake steps that would lead to a substantive dia-
logue, including a renunciation of the use of force 
against Taiwan and progress toward democracy, the 
rule of law, and protection of human and religious 
rights in the People’s Republic of China; and 
(5) the provisions of the Taiwan Relations Act 
(Public Law 96–8) are hereby affirmed as the legal 
standard by which United States policy toward Tai-
wan shall be determined. 
Æ 
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