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Week Ending August 3, 2007

H.CON.RES.136 Expressing the sense of Congress regarding high level visits to the United States by democratically-elected officials of Taiwan.

<< Click flag for map and country data, Taiwan

The island of Taiwan sits across the straits from China. In the early mid 1900’s, Chinese despot, Chiang Kai shek left China under pressure of Communist leader Mao Tse tung and essentially occupied Taiwan. Since then Taiwan has been of strategic importance to the US due to the Communist government of China and its location in the region.

Eventually, the corrupt Chiang regime was replaced by a vigorous democratic process in Taiwan. The US has pledged to protect Taiwan against any attack, sells it great amounts of military aid and engages in non-military trade but has barred the President, Vice President, Premier, Foreign Minister and Defense Minister of Taiwan from coming to Washington, D.C.

The preamble notes that despite the restriction on Taiwanese officials, the US does receive officials from China. This resolution calls for lifting the restrictions.

More resolution below…..

Sponsor:  Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH-1^st)

Vote: Passed House by voice vote July 30, 3007

Cost to the taxpayers: No discernible cost.

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Whereas, for over half a century, a close relationship has existed between the United States and Taiwan, which has been of enormous political, economic, cultural, and strategic advantage to both countries;

Whereas Taiwan is one of the strongest democratic allies of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region;

Whereas it is United States policy to support and strengthen democracy around the world;

Whereas, during the late 1980s and early 1990s, Taiwan made a remarkable transition to a full-fledged democracy with a vibrant economy and a vigorous multi-party political system that respects human rights and the rule of law;

Whereas in spite of its praise for democracy in Taiwan, the United States Government continues to adhere to guidelines from the 1970s that bar the President, Vice President, Premier, Foreign Minister, and Defense Minister of Taiwan from coming to Washington, DC;

Whereas the United States Government has barred these high-level officials from visiting Washington, DC, while allowing the unelected leaders of the People's Republic of China to routinely visit Washington, DC, and welcoming them to the White House;

Whereas these restrictions deprive the President, Congress, and the American public of the opportunity to engage in a direct dialogue regarding developments in the Asia-Pacific region and key elements of the relationship between the United States and Taiwan;

Whereas whenever high-level visitors from Taiwan, including the President, seek to come to the United States, their request results in a period of complex, lengthy and humiliating negotiations;

Whereas lifting these restrictions will help bring a United States friend and ally out of its isolation, which will be beneficial to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region;

Whereas in consideration of the major economic, security, and political interests shared by the United States and Taiwan, it is to the benefit of the United States for United States officials to meet and communicate directly with the democratically-elected officials of Taiwan;

Whereas since the Taiwan Strait is one of the flashpoints in the world, it is essential that United States policymakers directly communicate with the leaders of Taiwan; and

Whereas section 221 of the Immigration and Nationality Technical Corrections Act of 1994 (8 U.S.C. 1101 note) provides that the President or other high-level officials of Taiwan may visit the United States, including Washington, DC, at any time to discuss a variety of important issues: Now, therefore, be it

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

(1) restrictions on visits to the United States by high-level elected and appointed officials of Taiwan, including the democratically-elected President of Taiwan, should be lifted;

(2) the United States should allow direct high-level exchanges at the Cabinet level with the Government of Taiwan, in order to strengthen a policy dialogue with Taiwan; and

(3) it is in the interest of the United States to strengthen links between the United States and the democratically-elected officials of Taiwan and demonstrate stronger support for democracy in the Asia-Pacific region.

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