March 1996 in an attempt to intimidate the people
of Taiwan in their first presidential elections.
(16) The Taiwan Relations Act states that ‘‘[i]t
is the policy of the United States . . . to consider
any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by
other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or
embargoes, a threat to the peace and security of the
Western Pacific area and of grave concern to the
United States’’.
SEC. 3. STUDY AND REPORT RELATING TO ESTABLISH-
MENT AND OPERATION OF A THEATER BAL-
LISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM IN THE
ASIA-PACIFIC REGION.
(a) STUDY.—The Secretary of Defense shall carry
out a study of the architecture requirements for the estab-
lishment and operation of a theater ballistic missile de-
fense system in the Asia-Pacific region that would have
the capability to protect Taiwan from ballistic missile at-
tacks. The study shall include a description of appropriate
measures by which the United States would cooperate with
Taiwan and provide Taiwan with an advanced local-area
ballistic missile defense system.
(b) REPORT.—Not later than July 1, 1998, the Sec-
retary of Defense shall submit to the Committee on Na-
tional Security of the House of Representatives and the
Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report con-
taining—
(1) the results of the study conducted under
subsection (a);
(2) the factors used to obtain such results;
(3) a description of any existing United States
missile defense system that could be transferred to
Taiwan in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act
in order to allow Taiwan to provide for its self-de-
fense against limited ballistic missile attacks.
(c) FORM OF REPORT.—The report under subsection
(b) shall be submitted in both classified and unclassified
form.
SEC. 4. TRANSFER OF BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE SYS-
TEMS TO TAIWAN.
It is the sense of the Congress that the President,
if requested by the Government of Taiwan and in accord-
ance with the results of the study conducted under section
3, should transfer to the Government of Taiwan appro-
priate defense articles or defense services under the for-
eign military sales program under chapter 2 of the Arms
Export Control Act (22 U.S.C. 2761 et seq.) for the pur-
pose of establishing and operating a local-area ballistic
missile defense system to protect Taiwan, including the
Penghu Islands, Kinmen, and Matsu, against limited bal-
listic missile attacks.
SEC. 5. STATEMENT OF POLICY RELATING TO UNITED
STATES THEATER MISSILE DEFENSES FOR
THE ASIA-PACIFIC REGION.
The Congress declares that it is in the national inter-
est of the United States that Taiwan be included in any
effort at ballistic missile defense cooperation, networking,
or interoperability with friendly and allied nations in the
Asia-Pacific region.
SEC. 6. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS URGING THE PRESIDENT
TO MAKE CLEAR TO THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC
OF CHINA THE COMMITMENT OF THE AMER-
ICAN PEOPLE TO SECURITY AND DEMOC-
RACY IN TAIWAN.
It is the sense of the Congress that the Clinton Ad-
ministration should make clear to the leadership of the
People’s Republic of China, the American people’s firm
commitment for security and democracy for the people of
Taiwan and that the United States fully expects that the
resolution of security issues on both sides of the Taiwan
Strait will be resolved by peaceful means.
SEC. 7. ADDITIONAL SENSE OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING
TAIWAN.
It is the sense of the Congress that—
(1) the transfer of Hong Kong to the People’s
Republic of China does not alter the current and fu-
ture status of Taiwan;
(2) the future of Taiwan should be determined
by peaceful means through a democratic process;
and
(3) the United States, in accordance with the
Taiwan Relations Act and the constitutional proc-
esses of the United States, should assist in the de-
fense of Taiwan in case of threats or military attack
by the People’s Republic of China against Taiwan.
Passed the House of Representatives November 6,
1997.
Attest:
Clerk.