China's "anti-secession law"

On 17 February 2005, Congressman Steve CHABOT (R-OH) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should strongly oppose China's anti-secession legislation with respect to Taiwan.

• Whereas on December 29, 2004, the standing Committee of the Chinese National People's Congress (NPC) voted to submit anti-secession legislation with respect to Taiwan to the full People's Congress, which will convene on March 5, 2005;
• Whereas the People's Republic of China will unilaterally change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through the enactment of the anti-secession legislation;
• Whereas it is stated policy of the United States to oppose any unilateral action by either China or Taiwan to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait;
• Whereas as exemplified by his May 20, 2004, inauguration speech and address to the National Day rally, President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan has repeatedly shown his determination to maintaining peace, stability, and the status quo across the Taiwan Strait;
• Whereas on January 15, 2005, representatives of both Taiwan and the People's Republic of China reached a consensus through negotiations in Macau on the arrangement of Lunar New Year cross-Taiwan Strait charter flights, which could serve as the foundation for the resumption of cross-Strait negotiations and the starting point for normalized relations between Taiwan and China;
• Whereas since its enactment in 1979, the Taiwan Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), which codified into law the basis for continued commercial, cultural, and other relations between the United States and Taiwan, has been instrumental in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait; 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 Congress that--
1. the Government of the United States should strongly oppose the anti-secession legislation of the People's Republic of China, as it will alter the status quo in the region, and thus is a grave concern to the United States;
2. the President of the United States should direct all appropriate United States Government officials to reflect the grave concern with which the United States views the enactment of the anti-secession legislation to their counterpart officials in the Government of the People's Republic of China;
3. the Government of the United States should reaffirm its policy that the future of Taiwan should be resolved by peaceful means and with the consent of the people of Taiwan; and
4. the Government of the United States should continue to encourage dialogue between Taiwan and the People's Republic of China.