Title: Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should resume normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement with Taiwan, and support Taiwan's membership in international organizations.
Policy area: International Affairs

Summary:
This resolution calls on the President to abandon the One China Principle in favor of a policy that recognizes Taiwan as an independent country. The resolution also urges the President to bolster diplomatic and economic relations between the United States and Taiwan through specified means.

[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 117 Introduced in House (IH)]

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116th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. CON. RES. 117

 Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should resume 
  normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, negotiate a bilateral free 
    trade agreement with Taiwan, and support Taiwan's membership in 
                      international organizations.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                           September 16, 2020

 Mr. Tiffany submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
 referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and in addition to the 
Committee on Ways and Means, for a period to be subsequently determined 
 by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as 
        fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                         CONCURRENT RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should resume 
  normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, negotiate a bilateral free 
    trade agreement with Taiwan, and support Taiwan's membership in 
                      international organizations.

Whereas the people of Taiwan have established a free, open, pluralistic, and 
        democratic society;
Whereas the people of Taiwan have conducted 7 democratic Presidential elections 
        yielding 3 peaceful transfers of administration, successive democratic 
        elections for members of the national legislature, multiple nationwide 
        referenda, and numerous local elections;
Whereas Taiwan and its outlying islands have never been under the jurisdiction 
        or control of the Communist regime in Beijing, which continues to 
        illegitimately claim sovereignty over Taiwan and its people;
Whereas Communist China has weaponized the so-called ``One China Policy'' to 
        block Taiwan's membership and full participation in international 
        organizations and events ranging from the United Nations and the World 
        Health Organization to the Olympic Games;
Whereas the so-called ``One China Policy'' is obsolete, does not serve the 
        people of Taiwan or the United States, and fails to reflect the obvious 
        reality that Taiwan has been a sovereign and independent country for 
        over 70 years;
Whereas Taiwan maintains diplomatic, cultural, and economic links with several 
        countries around the world, demonstrating its clear independence from 
        the People's Republic of China;
Whereas Taiwan and the United States maintained normal diplomatic relations and 
        a Mutual Defense Treaty until President Carter abruptly abandoned both 
        without the approval of Congress in 1979;
Whereas Congress responded by adopting the landmark, bipartisan Taiwan Relations 
        Act, codifying in law the basis for continued friendly relations between 
        the people of the United States and Taiwan;
Whereas former President Reagan strengthened ties with Taiwan by issuing the 
        ``Six Assurances'', noting that the United States would not formally 
        recognize Communist Chinese sovereignty over Taiwan;
Whereas former President Clinton declared ``that the issues between Beijing and 
        Taiwan must be resolved peacefully and with the assent of the people of 
        Taiwan'';
Whereas President Trump has approved the sale of defense articles to Taiwan and 
        signed bipartisan legislation allowing for expanded high-level exchanges 
        and cooperation between Taiwanese and American officials; and
Whereas Taiwan remains a steadfast ally of the United States and a responsible 
        and conscientious member of the international community: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That--
            (1) the United States commends the people of Taiwan for 
        their commitment to democracy, civil liberties, and human 
        rights; and
            (2) it is the sense of Congress that--
                    (A) the President should abandon the antiquated 
                ``One China Policy'' in favor of a policy that 
                recognizes Taiwan as an independent country not 
                governed by or included within the territory of the 
                People's Republic of China;
                    (B) the President should recognize the legitimacy 
                of the democratically elected National Government in 
                Taipei, normalize diplomatic relations between our two 
                nations, appoint a United States ambassador to Taiwan, 
                and receive a Taiwanese ambassador to the United 
                States;
                    (C) the President should rescind arbitrary agency 
                guidelines that restrict normal communication and 
                interaction between United States and Taiwanese 
                officials;
                    (D) the United States Trade Representative should 
                initiate formal negotiations with Taiwan on the 
                establishment of a United States-Taiwan Free Trade 
                Agreement; and
                    (E) the President, the Permanent Representative of 
                the United States to the United Nations, and other 
                relevant United States officials should take steps to 
                advocate for Taiwan's full membership in the United 
                Nations and other international organizations in which 
                the United States is a member.
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