109TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 98
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Expressing the grave concern of Congress regard-
ing the recent passage of the anti-secession law
by the National People’s Congress of the People’s
Republic of China.
109TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. CON. RES. 98
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas on December 9, 2003, President George W. Bush
stated it is the policy of the United States to ‘‘oppose any
unilateral decision, by either China or Taiwan, to change
the status quo’’;
Whereas in the past few years, the Government of the United
States has urged both Taiwan and the People’s Republic
of China to maintain restraint;
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Whereas the National People’s Congress of the People’s Re-
public of China passed its anti-secession law on March
14, 2005, which constitutes a unilateral change to the
status quo in the Taiwan Strait;
Whereas the passage of China’s anti-secession law escalates
tensions between Taiwan and the People’s Republic of
China and is an impediment to cross-strait dialogue;
Whereas the purpose of China’s anti-secession law is to cre-
ate a legal framework for possible use of force against
Taiwan and mandates Chinese military action under cer-
tain circumstances, including when ‘‘possibilities for a
peaceful reunification should be completely exhausted’’;
Whereas the Department of Defense’s Report on the Military
Power of the People’s Republic of China for Fiscal Year
2004 documents that, as of 2003, the Government of the
People’s Republic of China had deployed approximately
500 short-range ballistic missiles against Taiwan;
Whereas the escalating arms buildup of missiles and other of-
fensive weapons by the People’s Republic of China in
areas adjacent to the Taiwan Strait is a threat to the
peace and security of the Western Pacific area;
Whereas given the recent positive developments in cross-strait
relations, including the Lunar New Year charter flights
and new proposals for cross-strait exchanges, it is par-
ticularly unfortunate that the National People’s Congress
adopted this legislation;
Whereas since its enactment in 1979, the Taiwan Relations
Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), which codified in law the
basis for continued commercial, cultural, and other rela-
tions between the people of the United States and the
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people of Taiwan, has been instrumental in maintaining
peace, security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait;
Whereas section 2(b)(2) of the Taiwan Relations Act declares
that ‘‘peace and stability in the area are in the political,
security, and economic interests of the United States,
and are matters of international concern’’;
Whereas, at the time the Taiwan Relations Act was enacted
into law, section 2(b)(3) of such Act made clear that the
United States decision to establish diplomatic relations
with the People’s Republic of China rested upon the ex-
pectation that the future of Taiwan would be determined
by peaceful means;
Whereas section 2(b)(4) of the Taiwan Relations Act declares
it 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’’;
Whereas section 2(b)(6) of the Taiwan Relations Act declares
it the policy of the United States ‘‘to maintain the capac-
ity of the United States to resist any resort to force or
other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the secu-
rity, or the social or economic system, of the people on
Taiwan’’; and
Whereas any attempt to determine Taiwan’s future by other
than peaceful means and other than with the express
consent of the people of Taiwan would be considered of
grave concern to the United States: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate
concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—