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HCON 138 IH

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the movement toward democracy by the 21,000,000 people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and addressing the increasingly dangerous behavior of the People's Republic of China.

January 31, 1996

Mr. SOLOMON (for himself, Mr. GILMAN, Mr. LANTOS, Mr. ROYCE, Mr. ROHRABACHER, Mr. COX of California, and Mr. ACKERMAN) submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the movement toward democracy by the 21,000,000 people of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and addressing the increasingly dangerous behavior of the People's Republic of China.

Whereas vital interests of the United States increasingly lie in Asia, where 36 percent of the international trade of the United States is conducted, the largest source of investment capital resides, the fastest-growing markets are developing, and the major portion of world energy trade routes and energy reserves may be found;

Whereas the interests of the United States in regional stability, nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, democracy, and free trade are shared with several allies and partners in the region, and it is critical that the emergence of a regional hegemonic power be prevented by effective and timely diplomacy and clearly stated policies, incentives, and penalties;

Whereas United States policy should be driven by the values and vital interests of the United States and must seek to differentiate clearly between types of behavior that support and threaten such values and interests;

Whereas the people of the Republic of China (ROC) will have a democratically elected government at every level when the presidential elections are held in March of 1996;

Whereas the ROC, in less than 50 years, has increased its per capita gross national product from $50 to $12,000, acquired the world's largest currency reserves, is the 13th largest trading economy, is host to more than 2,600 United States companies, and is the shipping and communication hub of Asia--all while making a peaceful transition to democracy;

Whereas the ROC, sharing with the United States the fundamental values of political, religious, and economic freedom, free trade, rule of law, tolerance for diversity, and peaceful relations, is a model for the rapidly developing and strategically critical Asian region;

Whereas the People's Republic of China (PRC) has in recent months staged numerous military exercises near the Taiwan Straits area, including tests of nuclear-capable ballistic missiles;

Whereas the military exercises have caused a high degree of tension in the Taiwan Straits area and serious concern in the neighboring countries, who are mindful of the fact that the People's Liberation Army has initiated conflicts with its neighbors, including Russia, India, Taiwan, Vietnam, Tibet, and Korea in the past 45 years, and in the United States, which is mindful of the thousands of its soldiers lost in three major wars in Asia;

Whereas this concern is spurred by the 140 percent increase in the military budget of the PRC in the past 6 years, with particular concern arising from the concentration of the PRC on airborne and amphibious rapid-deployment capabilities supported by new submarines and aircraft, as well as advanced negotiations to purchase aircraft carriers;

Whereas the PRC is the only nation that continues to officially target the United States with nuclear weapons, is the only country other than Russia to operate road-mobile ballistic missiles, and is violating its pledges with respect to the development of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons;

Whereas the PRC continues to provide training, technology, components, and complete nuclear and missile systems to other countries, including hostile and unstable middle east regimes such as those in Iran, Iraq, Syria;

Whereas the decision of the United States to establish diplomatic relations with the PRC, as expressed in the Taiwan Relations Act, is based `upon the expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful means';

Whereas the people of Taiwan and the PRC have the right to be represented respectively in the world community;

Whereas the ROC has repeatedly stated that its participation in international organizations is that of `parallel representation', with no intention of challenging the current international status of the PRC;

Whereas international organizations such as the United Nations have established ample precedents concerning such `parallel representation', such as in the case of Korea and Germany; and

Whereas Taiwan's increasing international standing as a leading market economy, a contributor of assistance to other countries, and a democracy, and its membership in the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the Asian Development Bank, amplify the sense of the Senate as expressed in Senate Resolution 270, passed in October 1994, that Taiwan should become a member, at the earliest possible time, of the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development: Now, therefore, be it

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

(1) the President should take all appropriate steps to acknowledge and embrace the full accession to democratic status by the people of the Republic of China (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the `ROC') upon the successful completion of their presidential election, and convey the support and appreciation of the people of the United States for this accomplishment, which has been a goal long supported by the United States Government;

(2) any attempt by the People's Republic of China (hereafter in this resolution referred to as the `PRC') to threaten the peace and stability of the ROC is a threat to peace and security in the Pacific and a matter of grave concern to the United States;

(3) the President should immediately undertake intensified diplomatic initiatives to insist that the PRC reduce tensions with the ROC by means of dialogue and other confidence building measures and provide to the Congress, within 90 days after the date on which this resolution is adopted, a report on the progress of these initiatives;

(4) the President should immediately join the Congress in condemning the use by the PRC of `missile diplomacy', military intimidation, subversion, or economic warfare against any sovereign democratic country in the region, especially Taiwan;

(5) the President should immediately join the Congress in condemning the recent implicit threats by the PRC of missile attacks against the United States as irresponsible, dangerous, unacceptable, and a clear signal to the United States that greater attention be paid to the nuclear program of the PRC;

(6) the President should, within 90 days after the date on which this resolution is adopted, submit to the Congress a comprehensive report on how to accommodate Taiwan's strong aspiration for participation in international organizations, in particular the functional organizations such as the World Trade Organization, the International Monetary Fund, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the International Maritime Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Telecommunications Union, and INTELSAT;

(7) the President should review the defense needs of the ROC, under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act, and take appropriate actions on the basis of that review; and

(8) the President should, within 30 days after the date on which this resolution is adopted, submit to the Congress a report on the range of options available to provide the people of Taiwan, and the 100,000 United States forces in the east Asian region, with adequate warning and defense capabilities against ballistic missiles of the PRC and naval blockades and other forms of military aggression by the PRC.

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