114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 88 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Whereas the Cold War years cemented the close friendship 
between the United States and Taiwan, with Taiwan as 
an anti-Communist ally in the Asia-Pacific; 
Whereas United States economic aid prevented Taiwan from 
sliding into an economic depression in the 1950s and 
greatly contributed to the island’s later economic takeoff;
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Whereas Taiwan has flourished to become a beacon of democ-
racy in Asia and leading trade partner for the United 
States, and the relationship has endured for more than 
65 years through many shifts in Asia’s geopolitical land-
scape; 
Whereas the strong relationship between the United States 
and Taiwan is based on mutually beneficial security, com-
mercial, and cultural ties; 
Whereas Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Susan Thorn-
ton stated in her testimony before the House Foreign Af-
fairs Committee on February 11, 2016, that ‘‘The people 
on Taiwan have built a prosperous, free, and orderly soci-
ety with strong institutions, worthy of emulation and 
envy’’; 
Whereas Deputy Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken stated 
on March 29, 2016, that with Taiwan’s January 2016 
elections, ‘‘the people of Taiwan showed the world again 
what a mature, Chinese-speaking democracy looks like’’; 
Whereas on January 1, 1979, when the Carter Administra-
tion established diplomatic relations with the People’s Re-
public of China (PRC), it ended formal diplomatic ties 
with the Republic of China on Taiwan; 
Whereas the United States Congress acted swiftly to reaffirm 
the United States-Taiwan relationship with the enact-
ment of the Taiwan Relations Act just 100 days later, 
ensuring the United States maintained a robust and en-
during relationship with Taiwan; 
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8) was 
enacted on April 10, 1979, codifying into law the basis 
for continued commercial, cultural, and other relations 
between the United States and Taiwan;
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Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act was enacted ‘‘to help 
maintain peace, security, and stability in the Western Pa-
cific’’, which ‘‘are in the political, security, and economic 
interests of the United States and are matters of inter-
national concern’’; 
Whereas the United States Congress significantly strength-
ened the draft legislation originally submitted by the Ex-
ecutive Branch to include provisions concerning Taiwan’s 
security in the Taiwan Relations Act; 
Whereas then-Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Kin Moy 
stated in his written testimony before the House Foreign 
Affairs Committee on March 14, 2014, that, ‘‘Our endur-
ing relationship under the Taiwan Relations Act rep-
resents a unique asset for the United States and is an 
important multiplier of our influence in the region’’, and 
credited the Taiwan Relations Act for having ‘‘played 
such a key part in protecting Taiwan’s freedom of action 
and U.S. interests the last 35 years in the Asia-Pacific 
area’’; 
Whereas then-Special Assistant to the President and National 
Security Council Senior Director for Asian Affairs Evan 
Medeiros noted on March 28, 2014, that the Taiwan Re-
lations Act was ‘‘an enduring expression to the people of 
Taiwan about our commitment to their well-being, their 
security, their economic autonomy, and their inter-
national space’’; 
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act states ‘‘the United States 
decision to establish diplomatic relations with the Peo-
ple’s Republic of China rests upon the expectation that 
the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful 
means’’;
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Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act states that it is the policy 
of the United States to ‘‘provide Taiwan with arms of a 
defensive character’’ and ‘‘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 so-
cial or economic system, of the people on Taiwan’’; 
Whereas each successive United States Administration since 
the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act has provided 
arms of a defensive character to Taiwan; 
Whereas a 2015 Department of Defense report to Congress 
on Military and Security Developments Involving the 
People’s Republic of China stated that, ‘‘Preparing for 
potential conflict in the Taiwan Strait remains the focus 
and primary driver of China’s military investment’’; 
Whereas the United States has an abiding interest in the 
preservation of cross-Strait peace and stability, and in 
peace and stability in the entire Asia-Pacific region; 
Whereas on July 14, 1982, as the United States negotiated 
with the People’s Republic of China over the wording of 
a joint communique´ related to United States arms sales 
to Taiwan, President Ronald Reagan instructed his rep-
resentative in Taiwan, American Institute in Taiwan 
(AIT) Director James R. Lilley, to relay a set of assur-
ances to Taiwan’s then-President Chiang Ching-kuo; 
Whereas in House and Senate testimony immediately after 
the issuance of the August 17, 1982, Joint Communique´ 
with the PRC, then-Assistant Secretary of State for East 
Asian and Pacific Affairs John H. Holdridge stated on 
behalf of the Executive Branch that— 
(1) ‘‘* * * [W]e did not agree to set a date certain 
for ending arms sales to Taiwan’’;
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(2) ‘‘* * * [W]e see no mediation role for the United 
States’’ between Taiwan and the PRC; 
(3) ‘‘* * *[N]or will we attempt to exert pressure on 
Taiwan to enter into negotiations with the PRC’’; 
(4) ‘‘* * * [T]here has been no change in our long-
standing position on the issue of sovereignty over Tai-
wan’’; 
(5) ‘‘We have no plans to seek’’ revisions to the Tai-
wan Relations Act; and 
(6) the August 17 Communique´, ‘‘should not be read 
to imply that we have agreed to engage in prior consulta-
tions with Beijing on arms sales to Taiwan’’; 
Whereas these assurances, first delivered to Taiwan’s presi-
dent by AIT Director Lilley, have come to be known as 
the Six Assurances; 
Whereas in testimony before the House Foreign Affairs Com-
mittee on October 4, 2011, then-Assistant Secretary of 
State Kurt Campbell stated that, ‘‘[The] Taiwan Rela-
tions Act, plus the so-called Six Assurances and Three 
Communique´s, form the foundation of our overall ap-
proach’’, to relations with Taiwan; and 
Whereas in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations 
Committee on April 3, 2014, Assistant Secretary of State 
Daniel R. Russel stated that the Six Assurances ‘‘con-
tinue to play an important part as an element of our ap-
proach to Taiwan and the situation across the strait’’: 
Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
concurring), That Congress—
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(1) affirms that the Taiwan Relations Act and 
the Six Assurances are both cornerstones of United 
States relations with Taiwan; and 
(2) urges the President and Department of 
State to affirm the Six Assurances publicly, 
proactively, and consistently as a cornerstone of 
United States-Taiwan relations. 
Passed the House of Representatives May 16, 2016. 
Attest: 
Clerk.
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. CON. RES. 88 
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 
Reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six 
Assurances as cornerstones of United States– 
Taiwan relations.