[House Hearing, 106 Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 18, 2000, AND REAFFIRMING THE UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD TAIWAN AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ======================================================================= MARKUP BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON ASIA AND THE PACIFIC OF THE COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED SIXTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION __________ MARCH 22, 2000 __________ Serial No. 106-105 __________ Printed for the use of the Committee on International Relations U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 64-590 CC WASHINGTON : 2000 COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS BENJAMIN A. GILMAN, New York, Chairman WILLIAM F. GOODLING, Pennsylvania SAM GEJDENSON, Connecticut JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa TOM LANTOS, California HENRY J. HYDE, Illinois HOWARD L. BERMAN, California DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, New Jersey ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American DAN BURTON, Indiana Samoa ELTON GALLEGLY, California MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, California ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, Florida DONALD M. PAYNE, New Jersey CASS BALLENGER, North Carolina ROBERT MENENDEZ, New Jersey DANA ROHRABACHER, California SHERROD BROWN, Ohio DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, Georgia EDWARD R. ROYCE, California ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida PETER T. KING, New York PAT DANNER, Missouri STEVE CHABOT, Ohio EARL F. HILLIARD, Alabama MARSHALL ``MARK'' SANFORD, South BRAD SHERMAN, California Carolina ROBERT WEXLER, Florida MATT SALMON, Arizona STEVEN R. ROTHMAN, New Jersey AMO HOUGHTON, New York JIM DAVIS, Florida TOM CAMPBELL, California EARL POMEROY, North Dakota JOHN M. McHUGH, New York WILLIAM D. DELAHUNT, Massachusetts KEVIN BRADY, Texas GREGORY W. MEEKS, New York RICHARD BURR, North Carolina BARBARA LEE, California PAUL E. GILLMOR, Ohio JOSEPH CROWLEY, New York GEORGE P. RADANOVICH, California JOSEPH M. HOEFFEL, Pennsylvania JOHN COOKSEY, Louisiana THOMAS G. TANCREDO, Colorado Richard J. Garon, Chief of Staff Kathleen Bertelsen Moazed, Democratic Chief of Staff ------ Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific DOUG BEREUTER, Nebraska, Chairman JAMES A. LEACH, Iowa TOM LANTOS, California DANA ROHRABACHER, California HOWARD L. BERMAN, California PETER T. KING, New York ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, American MARSHALL ``MARK'' SANFORD, South Samoa Carolina MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, California MATT SALMON, Arizona SHERROD BROWN, Ohio JOHN McHUGH, New York ROBERT WEXLER, Florida RICHARD BURR, North Carolina JIM DAVIS, Florida PAUL GILLMOR, Ohio EARL POMEROY, North Dakota DONALD A. MANZULLO, Illinois GARY L. ACKERMAN, New York EDWARD R. ROYCE, California ALCEE L. HASTINGS, Florida JOHN COOKSEY, Louisiana Michael P. Ennis, Subcommittee Staff Director Dr. Robert King, Democratic Professional Staff Member Matt Reynolds, Counsel Alicia A. O'Donnell, Staff Associate C O N T E N T S ---------- APPENDIX Page Bills: H. Con Res.292................................................... 8 Additional materials for the record: A statement from the Honorable Sherrod Brown, a Representative in Congress from Ohio............................................. 12 CONGRATULATING THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN FOR THE SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS ON MARCH 18, 2000, AND REAFFIRMING THE UNITED STATES POLICY TOWARD TAIWAN AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA ---------- Wednesday, March 22, 2000 House of Representatives, Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, Washington, D.C., The Subcommittee met, pursuant to notice, at 1:13 p.m., Hon. Doug Bereuter [Chairman of the Subcommittee) presiding. Mr. Bereuter. Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific meets in open session to consider a resolution. May I say, how much I appreciate my colleague, Tom Lantos, the Ranking Member of this Subcommittee? The clerk will read House Concurrent Resolution 292-- Congratulating the people of Taiwan on the recent elections. CLERK. Cooksey. House Concurrent Resolution 292, a concurrent resolution congratulating the people of Taiwan for the successful conclusion of Presidential elections on March 18, 2000, and reaffirming United States policy toward Taiwan and the People's Republic of China. Whereas, section 2---- Mr. Bereuter. Without objection, further reading of the resolution will be dispensed with, printed in the record in full, and open for amendments. [The resolution appears in the appendix.] Mr. Bereuter. This resolution was introduced by the Majority Leader to congratulate the people of Taiwan for the successful conclusion of their presidential election on March 18. Indeed, this election represents the first such transition of national office from one elected leader to another elected leader in the very long history of Chinese society, and, of course, it marks a change in the party affiliation from the current leadership of Taiwan. The people of Taiwan are to be congratulated for their continuing efforts in developing and sustaining a free, democratic society which respects human rights and embraces free markets. Contrary to the claims of those trying to defend Communism and other authoritarian forms of government, this election clearly demonstrates that democracy works in China and that the Chinese people yearn for it and would flourish with it. The success of democracy in Taiwan is, indeed, a powerful model for the mainland. This resolution also acknowledges that a stable and peaceful security environment in East Asia is essential to the furthering democratic developments in Taiwan and other countries, and it reaffirms U.S. policy toward Taiwan as set forth in the Taiwan Relations Act. In this regard, the resolution appropriately expresses the sense of Congress that the People's Republic of China (PRC) should abandon its present provocative threats against Taiwan and that the PRC should undertake steps that would lead to substantive dialogue, including a renunciation of the use of force against Taiwan and the encouragement of democracy, to the rule of law, and to the protections of human and religious rights in the People's Republic of China. I am encouraged that since the election in Taiwan, Beijing has curtailed, to a certain degree, its aggressive and unhelpful rhetoric and that it appears again, to a certain degree, to be extending the offer for a renewed dialogue. It is an offer which I hope is presented in good faith. Across the strait, President-elect Chen and others in Taipei are also calling for a renewed dialogue with the PRC and are already adopting the kind of responsible, statesman-like policies, or at least rhetoric at this point, that could expand and accelerate the dialogue. As you know, the inauguration isn't until May 20th. I would like to point out to the Subcommittee Members that this resolution is the product of input from Majority and Minority members, and that a similar resolution with this bipartisan language is being introduced in the Senate. Our colleague, Mr. Lantos, and others have made very helpful suggestions which, by the way, have been accepted by the Majority Leader. I want to express my appreciation for the interest and support of Mr. Lantos, the distinguished gentleman from California, for facilitating the prompt consideration of this resolution and for his unwavering support for human rights and democracy in East Asia and throughout the world through his leadership on the Human Rights Caucus. I turn to him for any comments he may wish to make at this point. Mr. Lantos. Mr. Lantos. I thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and let me fully reciprocate all of your very gracious comments. I am in full support of the resolution. I think it is a carefully crafted resolution and I hope that it will get overwhelming, if not unanimous support when we take it to the floor. I think it is important in dealing with China to understand, as I know both you and our friend from California, Mr. Rohrabacher, fully understand, that all of us view China as one of the great civilizations on this planet. There is nothing that we would like to see more than increasingly harmonious and constructive and growing relations with China, and in this instance, the example of Taiwan, in having developed one of the most remarkable economic success stories of the last period, while simultaneously transforming itself from an authoritarian society to a full-fledged political democracy, is one of the great success stories of the post-World War II era. It is a remarkable phenomenon. When we support Taiwan and when we congratulate Taiwan, the president-elect of Taiwan, we do so in a very genuine fashion. There are no second thoughts behind our congratulations. You remember the old story of the two psychiatrists meeting on the street, and one is telling the other, ``Hello,''and the second psychiatrist responding, ``Hello.'' Then they walk on, and then they both stop and turn around and say, ``I wonder what he meant by that.'' We mean by this exactly what we are saying. We are congratulating the people of Taiwan for having achieved an incredible economic success story and for having built a political democracy. Now, I think I speak for both you and Mr. Rohrabacher and myself, this is what we all want. This is what we all want in Cuba. That is what we all want everywhere. This is not an anti-China statement, it is a statement congratulating the people of Taiwan and hoping the people of China will move in a similar direction. I think it is very important for the people who are in charge in Beijing now to fully understand that whenever we express views supportive of democracy, this is not a hidden slap at them. When, several years ago, I introduced a resolution ordering the State Department to issue a visa to President Lee of Taiwan, it was not an anti-Chinese move, it was a move recognizing that we, as a free society, should allow distinguished graduates of our own distinguished universities to visit the United States. That is not a subversive thought. It is not anti-anybody. So, I want to commend you, Mr. Chairman, for your support of this resolution. I am very pleased to support the resolution, and I commend the Majority Leader for introducing it. I yield the balance of my time. Mr. Bereuter. Thank you, Mr. Lantos. I believe the Majority Leader would welcome co-sponsorships, and I intend to add my name if he will have it. Perhaps the two gentlemen here would also like to. Are there further comments? The gentleman from California, Mr. Rohrabacher. Mr. Rohrabacher. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Lantos, for that very generous set of remarks. Again, we often have disagreements, Mr. Lantos and I go at it every now and then, but one of the great things that we have got going for us here in America, that we want to share with everybody, is the fact that we all have a common commitment to freedom and liberty and justice, and treating people decently. That overpowers anything where we could disagree, and most of our disagreements are just basically on interpretations and not anything fundamental, and on this resolution, I think it is exemplified by this resolution, by the fact I believe it will get unanimous--at least bipartisan, if not unanimous support. The people of Taiwan, they have just gone through a major historic event, and the Republic of China on Taiwan is now demonstrating that democracy will work within the context of a Chinese culture, and China being such an important civilization, that this is a powerful historic statement. So we applaud this resolution of what will applaud and I am sure does applaud, we applaud the courage of the people of the Republic of China on Taiwan in this free election. They faced down threats, they faced down intimidation by an unelected regime on the mainland of China, and they came through this belligerency, as I say, with strength and courage of conviction, and held their elections, and their election was a model for many people in the developing world. The people of Taiwan, in fact, by having this free election in the midst of this type of intimidation and belligerence on the part of the mainland, have inspired all people who believe in liberty and justice and democracy throughout the world. It is really an incredible inspiration. I wonder how many people in our country, who sometimes don't even go out and vote, shouldn't take note that here we have people who are going out and voting in the most severe of situations, where people are threatening to do them harm if they actually went through with this democratic election. So, again, their courage has not only served themselves, but served the cause of human freedom by inspiring other people throughout the world, and serves as a model for developing countries, and, also, what we have seen now serves as a model for the mainland. The people on the mainland of China must be asking themselves now, ``Why can't we have a say in directing our own destiny through a free election?'' This is the first time in history that a Chinese government will change, will transfer power from one group of people to another based on the wishes of the people expressed through a free election. This is a model for the mainland of China. They have got prosperity, they have got freedom, and they have got a social cohesion on Taiwan that would serve well on the mainland of China if they only gave free government a chance. So, I join you, Mr. Chairman, and join Mr. Lantos in this piece of legislation. We congratulate President Lee for the good job that he has done on Taiwan in these last 5 years, and we wish good luck and best wishes to President-elect Chen, and we are with the people of the Republic of China on Taiwan and all people who believe in democracy. Thank you. Mr. Bereuter. Thank you, Mr. Rohrabacher. It is indeed, as mentioned, the first time that an elected Chinese government has given way to another elected Chinese government. Dr. Cooksey, we are about to go to the amendatory process, if amendments are in order, so, if you do have an opening statement, this would be the time to present it. Would you care to make any comments? Dr. Cooksey. Just very briefly. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I, too, want to associate my remarks with several of the remarks of Mr. Rohrabacher. Lee Teng-hui had done a great job, I think, as the President, and he was really the first one that brought China--Taiwan or Nationalist China to some form of a democracy, and that has really been in recent years. So they are not too many years ahead of the PRC, but they were there, they have done a lot of the right things. I happen to have met President-elect Chen Shui-bian last August. He is a very bright guy; he is well-educated. He was not considered a serious candidate when I met him, but I think he is a capable person, and, most importantly, he was elected through a free and open democratic process. I am pleased to see that his vice president is a woman, and, hopefully, we can make that much progress in this democracy sometime in the not too distant future, to elect a female vice president in this country. I have confidence that the Nation of Taiwan will survive. I understand the desire of a lot of people on both sides of the Taiwan Straits to have one China, and I think that is a decision to be made by the Chinese people. I think it is a decision to be made through a democratic process, again, and not through belligerence and saber-rattling. There is a tendency to do that in that country, as we do in this country too much, when there are political campaigns going on. But, again, my congratulations to the President-elect, Mr. Chen Shui-bian and to his Vice President, Annette Hsiu-lu. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Bereuter. Dr. Cooksey, thank you very much. If there is no further introductory comment from Members, the resolution is open for amendment at any point. Are there amendments to be offered? [No response.] Mr. Bereuter. If there are no amendments, and, apparently there are not, the question occurs on agreeing to the resolution. As many as in favor will say aye. [A chorus of ayes.] Mr. Bereuter. As many as opposed will say no. [No noes.] Mr. Bereuter. The ayes have it, and the resolution is agreed to without objection. The staff is authorized to make technical, grammatical, and conforming changes to the text just agreed to. I thank my colleagues for their attendance at this mark-up, and I want them to know that it is my understanding that it is the intention of the International Relations Committee to mark- up this resolution tomorrow morning at the conclusion of the Committee's oversight hearing on U.S. policy toward Iraq and to mark-up another resolution coming from the International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee. With that, I thank my colleagues again, and the Subcommittee is adjourned. [Whereupon, at 1:19 p.m., the Subcommittee adjourned.] ======================================================================= A P P E N D I X March 22, 2000 ======================================================================= [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T4590.001 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T4590.002 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T4590.003 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T4590.004 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T4590.005 [GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] T4590.006