NOVEMBER 17, 1999
Referral to the Committee on Armed Services extended for a period ending
not later than November 18, 1999
NOVEMBER 18, 1999
Referral to the Committee on Armed Services extended for a period ending
not later than November 19, 1999
NOVEMBER 19, 1999
Referral to the Committee on Armed Services extended for a period ending
not later than November 22, 1999
NOVEMBER 22, 1999
Referral to the Committee on Armed Services extended for a period ending
not later than February 4, 2000
FEBRUARY 1, 2000
Additional sponsors: Mr. SCHAFFER, Mr. FORBES, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. EHR-
LICH, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. GARY MILLER of California, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr.
BLILEY, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. CRANE, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. DEAL of Geor-
gia, Mr. MCNULTY, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. SUNUNU, Mr.
WHITFIELD, Mr. BARTON of Texas, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr.
CALVERT, Mr. FOLEY, Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. BARR of
Georgia, Mrs. MALONEY of New York, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. LINDER, Mr.
BERMAN, Mr. KLECZKA, Mr. VITTER, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Ms.
DUNN, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. ROGAN, Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. BACHUS,
Mr. ARMEY, Mr. WYNN, Mr. FRANKS of New Jersey, Mr. NEY, Mr. DOO-
LITTLE, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. FROST, Mr. PAYNE, Mr. TANCREDO, Mr.
CHABOT, Mr. BURR of North Carolina, Mr. COBLE, Mr. SANFORD, Mr.
MCCOLLUM, Mr. HANSEN, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. TALENT, Mr. TAYLOR
of North Carolina, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr.
KING, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. MEEKS of
New York, Mr. VENTO, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. CROW-
LEY, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr. SHERMAN, and Mr. JONES of North Carolina
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May 18, 1999]
A BILL
To assist in the enhancement of the security of Taiwan,
and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Taiwan Security En-
hancement Act’’.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Since 1949, the close relationship between the
United States and Taiwan has been of enormous ben-
efit to both societies.
(2) In recent years, Taiwan has undergone a
major political transformation, and Taiwan is today
a true multiparty democracy with a political system
separate from and totally unlike that of the People’s
Republic of China.
(3) The economy of Taiwan is based upon free
market principles and is separate and distinct from
the People’s Republic of China.
(4) Although on January 1, 1979, the United
States Government withdrew diplomatic recognition
of the government on Taiwan as the legitimate gov-
ernment of China, neither at that time nor since has
the United States Government adopted a formal posi-
tion as to the ultimate status of Taiwan other than
to state that status must be decided by peaceful
means. Any determination of the ultimate status of
Taiwan must have the express consent of the people
on Taiwan.
(5) The People’s Republic of China refuses to re-
nounce the use of force against democratic Taiwan.
(6) The Taiwan Relations Act has been instru-
mental in maintaining peace, security, and stability
in the Taiwan Strait and the Western Pacific since
its enactment in 1979.
(7) The Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–
8) states that—
(A) peace and stability in the Taiwan
Strait area are in the political, security, and
economic interests of the United States and are
of international concern;
(B) the decision of the United States to es-
tablish diplomatic relations with the People’s Re-
public of China rests upon the expectation that
the future of Taiwan will be determined by
peaceful means;
(C) the United States would consider any
effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other
than peaceful means, including boycotts or em-
bargoes, a threat to the peace and security of the
Western Pacific region and of grave concern to
the United States;
(D) the United States will maintain the ca-
pacity to resist any form of coercion that jeop-
ardizes the security, or the social or economic
system, of the people of Taiwan; and
(E) the preservation and enhancement of
the human rights of all people on Taiwan are ob-
jectives of the United States.
(8) The Taiwan Relations Act establishes on the
part of the United States a continuing connection
with and concern for Taiwan and its people. Contin-
ued adherence to the Act will help Taiwan to main-
tain its democracy free of coercion and to safeguard
its people from the use of force against them. Further-
more, the maintenance by Taiwan of forces adequate
for its defense is in the interest of the United States
in that it helps to maintain peace in the Western Pa-
cific region.
(9) The military modernization and weapons
procurement efforts by the People’s Republic of China,
as documented in the February 1, 1999, report by the
Secretary of Defense on ‘‘The Security Situation in
the Taiwan Strait’’, could threaten cross-Strait sta-
bility and United States interests in the Asia-Pacific
region.
(10) The Taiwan Relations Act provides explicit
guarantees that the United States will make available
defense articles and services necessary in such quan-
tity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to main-
tain a sufficient self-defense capability.
(11) The Taiwan Relations Act requires timely
reviews by United States military authorities of Tai-
wan’s defense needs in connection with recommenda-
tions to the President and the Congress.
(12) Congress and the President are committed
by the Taiwan Relations Act to determine the nature
and quantity of Taiwan’s legitimate self-defense
needs.
(13) It is the policy of the United States to reject
any attempt to curb the provision by the United
States of defense articles and services legitimately
needed for Taiwan’s self-defense.
(14) In accordance with the Taiwan Relations
Act, the United States has, since 1979, sold defensive
weapons to Taiwan, and such sales have helped Tai-
wan maintain its autonomy and freedom. The Con-
gress supports the continued provision of additional
defense articles and defense services in accordance
with the Taiwan Relations Act.
(15) It is in the national interest of the United
States to eliminate ambiguity and convey with clar-
ity continued United States support for Taiwan, its
people, and their ability to maintain their democracy
free from coercion and their society free from the use
of force against them. Lack of clarity could lead to
unnecessary misunderstandings or confrontations be-
tween the United States and the People’s Republic of
China, with grave consequences for the security of the
Western Pacific region.
(16) A possible consequence of such ambiguity
and lack of clarity was the People’s Republic of Chi-
na’s decision to conduct military exercises and live
fire missile tests in the Taiwan Strait in March 1996,
necessitating House Concurrent Resolution 148, ap-
proved by the House of Representatives by a vote of
369–14 on March 19, 1996, and by the Senate by a
vote of 97–0 on March 21, 1996, which stated that
‘‘the United States, in accordance with the Taiwan
Relations Act and the constitutional process of the
United States, and consistent with its friendship with
and commitment to the democratic government and
people of Taiwan, should assist in defending them
against invasion, missile attack, or blockade by the
People’s Republic of China.’’. Immediately following
Congressional passage of House Concurrent Resolu-
tion 148, the United States deployed on an emergency
basis two aircraft carrier battle groups to the Taiwan