CONTENTS H. Con. Res. 154, to congratulate the Republic of China on Taiwan on the occasion of its first Presidential democratic election Statement of the Honorable Gary L. Ackerman En bloc amendment to H. Con. Res. 154 offered by Mr. Funderburk MARKUP OF H. CON. RES. 154 WEDNESDAY, MAY 15, 1996 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, COMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS, Washington, DC The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:09 a.m., in room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC, the Honorable Benjamin A. Gilman, chairman of the committee, presiding. Chairman GILMAN. The meeting will come to order. The committee on International Relations meets today in open session pursuant to notice to consider certain legislation and for the purpose of holding a hearing on the Armenian Genocide. We will be handling the relatively non-controversial resolution on Taiwan first, and will then begin our hearing. With respect to the resolution, the Chair will entertain a motion that it be requested to obtain consideration of the resolution on the suspension calendar. Does the Minority have any opening statements? Mr. Menendez, any opening statement on the Taiwan resolution? Mr. MENENDEZ. On Taiwan, no, Mr. Chair. Chairman GILMAN. We will now consider H. Con. Res. 154, which congratulates the Republic of China on Taiwan on occasion of its first democratic Presidential election. This resolution was introduced by our colleague, Mr. Funderburk of North Carolina, on March 26th. It was considered favorably in the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific on May 9, 1996, and it Iwas ordered forwarded to the full committee without amendment. The Chair lays the concurrent resolution before the committee. The clerk will report the title of the concurrent resolution. The CLERK. H. Con. Res. 154, To congratulate the Republic of China on Taiwan on the occasion of its first Presidential democratic election. [H. Con. Res. 154 appears in the appendix.] Chairman GILMAN. The clerk will read the preamble and text of the concurrent resolution for amendment. The CLERK. Whereas the Chinese people have the world's oldest continuous civilization; Chairman GILMAN. Without objection, both the preamble and the text of the concurrent resolution are considered as having been read and are open to amendment at any point, as is the title of the concurrent resolution. The Chair will now recognize the distinguished Chairman of the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, the gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. Bereuter, for 5 minutes to introduce the resolution. (1) Mr. BEREUTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The resolution before us today, H. Con. Res. 154, congratulates the popularly elected President of Taiwan, Lee Teng-hui, as well as the courageous people of Taiwan for the overwhelming success of their March 23, 1996 Presidential elections. The Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific passed the resolution on May 9 without objection or amendment. I understand that at today's markup, there will be an amendment I endorse, offered by the sponsor of the resolution, the distinguished gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Funderburk. First, on a personal level, I would like to congratulate President Lee for his outstanding electoral victory. Garnering 54 percent of the vote in a four-way contest is a truly remarkable feat. Second, I believe the people of Taiwan have earned the respect and admiration of people throughout the world and deserve our greatest praise. They have embraced democratic reforms with the same enthusiasm and good sense that has driven Taiwan's economy to its current heights. In addition, the people of Taiwan conducted themselves with great courage and resolve throughout the crises created by Beijing's heavy-handed effort to bully them through provocative live-fire exercises and missile tests. Finally, let me make an editorial comment about the message that Taiwan's successful transition to democracy holds for all of Asia. Nothing belies the notion that democratic principles are alien to traditional values better than what has transpired in Taiwan during the last 10 years. Taiwan joins Korea, Thailand, Mongolia and the Philippines as an important success story in Asian democracy and human rights. All of them are in different stages of their development. Success of Taiwan's democratic development demonstrates clearly that democracy and economic development are compatible and mutually reinforcing. I urge my colleagues to support H. Con. Res. 154. I yield back the balance of my time. Chairman GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Bereuter. Mr. Funderburk. Mr. FUNDERBURK. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank Chairman Bereuter for his help in the Asia Subcommittee. And we wanted this to be voted on in the House by May the 20th, which is the date of the inauguration of President Lee. Today, I wanted to thank my staff assistant, Dr. Sam K. Lee, who was born in China. I thank him for his help with this and also for the cooperative support of Democrats. The reason and purpose for this is to extend heartfelt congratulations from one of the oldest democratic republics to one of the youngest and to extend a special welcome to the Chinese people on Taiwan to a unique fraternity among nations, the democracies. To this end, I submitted the House concurrent resolution, extending our congratulations to the Republic of China on Taiwan. The resolution is a strong signal that the United States stands with friendly democratic countries and will defend them in the face of bullying threats. I want to applaud Taiwan's act of self-determination and this bi-partisan legislation draws a clear line of dis tinction between Taiwan, a free market democracy and Mainland China. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Mr. SMITH. Mr. Chairman. Chairman GILMAN. Yes, who is seeking recognition? Mr. Smith. Mr. SMITH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. This resolution is a welcome step toward focusing our China policy where it ought to be focused. For too many years, the United States has ignored and insulted a faithful and freedom-loving ally in order to curry favor with a totalitarian dictatorship. This policy is not only morally problematic; it is also self-defeating. The recent Taiwan elections have shown that the Chinese people, like people the world over, will choose democracy and freedom when they are given the opportunity. The election also highlights a difficult choice for the people of Taiwan, whether their government should move gradually toward official independence or continue to assert its historic status as the government of the Republic of China? The United States should take no position on this question. We should insist only that the choice be freely made by the people themselves, acting through legitimately elected institutions. We should also recognize that the only real hope for eventual reunification of China rests in the possibility that freedom and democracy will also come to the mainland. Today, as the Chinese regime tightens its grip on power, this possibility seems remote. But the Taiwan election should offer both an example and an incentive to Beijing. The message they send is clear; join us in choosing freedom, we will never go back to slavery. The people of Taiwan will never choose absorption by a Communist Government. The model for reunification, if it is ever to happen, is not Hong Kong, where millions of people who have had no say in the matter are about to be delivered forcibly into the hands of despotism. Rather the model is Germany, where people who had thrown off the shackles of communism quickly and freely chose unity with the free and prosperous society that had been built by their countrymen, who were happy to welcome and assist them. I congratulate Congressman Funderburk for this important resolution and I thank you, Mr. Chairman, for giving it such expeditious consideration here. Chairman GILMAN. Are any other members seeking recognition? Mr. Chabot. Mr. CHABOT. Yes. I appreciate the opportunity. I will be very brief. I work very closely with the Taiwanese community in Cincinnati in the district that I represent with Dr. C.T. Lee, Dr. Mark Tswang, and many others. And, Dr. Lee, for example, went over during the elections to Taiwan to see first-hand democracy in action. And I just would like to congratulate those in my community, as well as the people of Taiwan, for holding the first democratic Presidential election in Chinese history. It is just a first step, but a very big first step. And I just want to offer my heartfelt congratulations on this tremendous opportunity. Thank you. Chairman GILMAN. Thank you, Mr. Chabot. |