House Resolution on Taiwan's democracy introduced

Washington, 10 March 2000

On Thursday, 9 March 2000, a Resolution was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. The measure was co-sponsored by 30 members of the House.

The Resolution commends the people of Taiwan for reaffirming, in their upcoming presidential elections, their dedication to democratic ideals. It also expresses American willingness to work with the next democratically-elected President of Taiwan.

The resolution echoes President Clinton's recent statement that the ultimate status of Taiwan must have the express consent of the people of Taiwan, and criticizes China's recent threats by stating that it is the right of the people of Taiwan to freely elect their president without any interference from the PRC.

Professor Chen Wen-yen, President of the Formosan Association for Public Affairs, welcomed the resolution on behalf the the Taiwanese-American community, and said: "This is a clear message to China: keep your hands off Taiwan."

United States House of Representatives

106th CONGRESS 2nd Session

Concurrent Resolution H. CON. RES. 272

Commending the people of Taiwan for reaffirming, in their upcoming presidential elections, their dedication to democratic ideals, and for other purposes.

• Whereas 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;
• Whereas the government of Taiwan no longer claims to be the government of China;
• Whereas since January 1, 1979, the United States Government has insisted that the ultimate status of Taiwan must have the express consent of the people on Taiwan and must be decided by peaceful means;
• Whereas United States interests are served by supporting democracy around the world;
• Whereas the centerpiece of Taiwan's democracy is its system of competitive and free elections;
• Whereas Taiwan is a democracy with its second direct presidential elections scheduled for March 18, 2000;
• Whereas this election will only be the latest example of Taiwan's commitment to the democratic ideals of freedom and pluralism, values that it shares with the United States;
• Whereas in March of 1996 the political leadership of the People's Republic of China used provocative military maneuvers, including missile launch exercises in the Taiwan Strait, in an attempt to intimidate the people of Taiwan during their first ever historic, free, and democratic presidential elections;
• Whereas 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 as specified in the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8), signed into law in 1979;
• Whereas the People's Republic of China has threatened to use force against Taiwan at various times, as most recently manifested in the Chinese Policy Paper of February 21, 2000, and continues to refuse to renounce the use of force against Taiwan:

Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that --

1. the United States commends the people of Taiwan for having established a democracy on Taiwan over the past decades and for repeatedly reaffirming their dedication to democratic ideals;
2. the United States commends the people of Taiwan for carrying out the second free, fair and democratic direct presidential election in Taiwan's history this March;
3. it is the right of the people of Taiwan to freely elect their president without any interference from the People's Republic of China;
4. the United States looks forward to working with the next democratically elected president of Taiwan;
5. the United States insists that the ultimate status of Taiwan must have the express consent of the people on Taiwan and must be decided by peaceful means.