U.S. Representatives Introduce UN-for-Taiwan Resolution

U.S. Representatives introduce UN-for-Taiwan resolution as UN General Assembly convenes for annual session.

On September 14th 2010 — the same day the annual session of the General Assembly of the United Nations kicked off in New York — Representatives Scott Garrett (R-NJ), John Duncan (R-TN), Mike Coffman (R-CO) and Walter Jones (R-NC) introduced Congressional resolution HCR316 calling for Taiwan’s full membership in the United Nations. The resolution concludes that “it is the sense of the Congress that Taiwan and its 23,000,000 people deserve membership in the United Nations”.

Over the years, several resolutions in support of full UN membership for Taiwan have been introduced in and passed by the United States Congress. Congressman Garrett himself introduced HCR250 in the previous 110th Congress.

Other resolutions in support of meaningful participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization have been introduced and passed by Congress as well.

Rep. Garrett states: “The people of Taiwan and their freely elected government continue to be ignored by the United Nations. […] Not only is this continued ignorance clearly counter to the lofty goals of the United Nations, it is also dangerous. Because of Taiwan’s difficulties in gaining recognition with the world body, they have been excluded from many of the World Health Organization’s structures to prevent the international spread of disease.”

In response to the introduction, FAPA President Professor Bob Yang, stated: “We warmly welcome Congressman’s Garrett’s initiative. It is important that this message from the U.S. Congress is sent out to the world today that the 23 million people of Taiwan are left out of the family of nations. The fact that the resolution is introduced on the same day the UN General Assembly opens its annual session is very symbolic.”

Dr. Yang continued: “We want to remind the international community that Taiwan’s membership in the UN is not only to the benefit of the people of Taiwan, but that Taiwan is ready, willing, able and anxious to fully contribute to the United Nations and the international community as well.”

Dr. Yang concluded: “Taiwan’s full and equal membership in the United Nations and other international organizations is long overdue. The rationale of the world community in 1971 was that they were righting one wrong in giving China a seat in the United Nations. Now it is time to right the wrong created at that time, namely the U.N. disenfranchisement of Taiwan’s citizens.”

Text of “Dear Colleague” letter

September 14, 2010

Support Taiwan’s Admission to the United Nations
The Taiwanese People Remain Unrepresented in the World Body

Dear Colleague:

The people of Taiwan and their freely elected government continue to be ignored by the United Nations. The world body continues to pretend that the unelected communist government of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) truly represents the interests of the 23 million people living in Taiwan.

Not only is this continued ignorance clearly counter to the lofty goals of the United Nations, it is also dangerous. Because of Taiwan’s difficulties in gaining recognition with the world body, they have been excluded from many of the World Health Organization’s structures to prevent the international spread of disease. Several years ago, the PRC waited 10 days before sending along an important WHO alert. Clearly, mainland China is not looking out for the health and welfare of those living in Taiwan.

Taiwan is the only democratically-governed nation in the world who is not represented in the United Nations. Taiwan is not asking to represent all of China in the UN or to control the Chinese seat on the Security Council. It is only fitting that 23 million people who freely elect their own government should have one vote in the General Assembly of the United Nations.

We, the democratically elected legislators of the United States should stand up for our counterparts in Taiwan. Please consider cosponsoring the attached resolution which calls for our nation to work toward a proper recognition of Taiwan in the world body. To cosponsor or for more information please contact etc…

Sincerely,

Scott Garrett
Member of Congress

Photo Credit: 阿仁(Wikipedia Commons)

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Texas Congressman Introduces Legislation To Expedite Delivery Of F-16s To Taiwan

One day after President Obama concluded his China trip and after the introduction of H.R.4102 in Congress of legislation highlighting the stalled U.S. arms sale to Taiwan, Texas Congressman Joe Barton (Republican) introduced H.Res. 927 to boost the expeditious delivery of F-16s to Taiwan yesterday afternoon. Congress introduced two resolutions within 24 hours on U.S. arms sales to Taiwan and Taiwan’s security right after President Obama issued a joint statement in China earlier this week.

The resolution concludes that “(1) it shall continue to be the policy of the United States, consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act, to make available to Taiwan such defense articles and services as may be necessary for Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability; and (2) the United States should determine the nature and quantity of such defense articles and services ‘based solely’ upon the legitimate defense needs of Taiwan.”

The bill references that “Taiwanese Defense Ministry has requested and the Executive Yuan approved in August 2007 a 2008 defense budget that includes approximately $764,000,000 for the second year’s budget for F–16C/D fighters.”

On October 9, at a Washington press conference, Senator John McCain what his own views are on providing Taiwan with F-16s. The Senator stated: “My position on F-16s for Taiwan is that I believe that we should provide Taiwan with the equipment that they feel is necessary to defend themselves. We know that there’s a significant military buildup on the other side of the Strait. So, I personally favor the sale of F-16s to Taiwan.”

FAPA President Bob Yang, PhD, says: “This bill intends to remind the administration to truthfully follow the letter and the spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act. It is yet another message from the legislative branch to the executive branch to move forward with arms sale to Taiwan, and in this case, the F-16s.”

Dr. Yang concludes: “The sales and delivery of arms to Taiwan should solely be based on the defense needs of Taiwan – not on the politics of the day in the U.S. or in Taiwan, or on the state of U.S.-China relations.”

德州眾議員提出決議案，呼籲儘快出售台灣F-16戰機

在歐巴馬總統甫結束中國一行，以及繼美國國會於18日提出4201號法案，喚起各界重視久遭擱置的對台軍售之後，德州眾議員巴頓(Joe Barton, R-TX)隨即於昨日（19日）提出第927號決議案(H.Res. 927)，呼籲歐巴馬政府儘快決定出售F-16戰機給台灣。決議案表示：「(1)美國政策應在符合台灣關係法下，使台灣能夠獲得數量足以使其維持足夠自衛能力的防衛物資及技術服務；(2)美國將『單獨』依據台灣需要的判斷，來決定防衛物資及服務的種類及數量。」這是美國國會在歐巴馬總統於中國發表美中共同聲明後，在二十四小時內相繼提出兩項對台軍售與台灣安全相關的議案。

927號議案提到台灣國防部已正式要求，並獲行政院在2007年8月及2008年通過的國防預算裡包括有大約七億六千四百萬美元給F-16C/D的撥款預算。

參議員麥侃10月9日在華府一場記者會上曾發表對此議題的看法。他表示：「我們應該提供台灣他們認為足以防衛自己的系統。我們知道在海峽另一岸有著顯著的軍事擴建。所以我本人是支持出售F-16給台灣。」

FAPA會長楊英育表示：「這項決議案旨在提醒行政部門要真實遵循台灣關係法的條文與精神。這也是立法部門再一次傳達訊息給行政部門，呼籲對台軍售儘快有所進展，例如這裡所提到的F-16。」

楊英育表示：「對台軍售應該單單就台灣的國防需求來做決定，而不應受到台灣或是美國當時政治生態的影響，也不應該取決於美中關係。」

Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore (Flickr)

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Senior House Members Introduce Legislation Re. Arms Sales For Taiwan – Resolution Seeks to Reinvigorate Congressional Oversight on Defense Consultation

In an attempt to pressure the Obama administration to expedite a decision on F-16C/Ds sale and notify Congress of the remainder of the defense services and articles for Taiwan that were approved by the Bush administration, ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), along with Taiwan caucus co-chairs, Reps. Shelley Berkley (D-NV), Phil Gingrey (R-GA) and Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL), and Reps. Ed Royce (R-CA), Mike Ross (D-AK), Dan Burton (R-IN) and Walter Minnick (D-ID) introduced H.R. 4102 this afternoon, requiring the administration to provide detailed briefings to Congress on U.S. arms sale to Taiwan.

The bill, if passed, would “mandate briefings no later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act and at least annually thereafter, the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, shall provide detailed briefings to Congress on (1) any discussions conducted between any executive branch agency and the Government of Taiwan; (2) any potential transfer of defense articles or defense services to the Government of Taiwan.”

FAPA President Bob Yang says, “The introduction of the resolution today is most timely as Taiwan supporters are disturbed by President Obama’s statements in China in regards to Taiwan. President Obama’s omission of the Taiwan Relations Act while stating that the U.S. respects China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity through the three joint communiqués is likely to embolden China to press even harder her spurious claim over Taiwan. Such statements seriously undermine U.S. legitimacy to continue providing defense articles and services to Taiwan as codified in the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8) and compromise the strategic interests of not only Taiwan but also of the U.S. in the region.”

Yang continues, “For the past few years, members of Congress have been expressing strong concern about the stalemate in U.S. arms sales to Taiwan. Their repeated appeals to the administration went unheeded. Annual briefings, as mandated by this bill, will reassert Congress’ prerogative to co-determine with the President the nature and the quantity of the defense articles and services for Taiwan, as stated in Section 3(b) of the Taiwan Relations Act.”

美資深眾議員提出對台軍售法案，重拾美國國會軍售諮商監督權

為了施壓歐巴馬政府儘快就出售台灣F-16一事作出決定，以及儘快通知美國國國會數項布希政府已通過的相關軍售，眾議院外交委員會副主席蘿斯列敦娜(Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL)與台灣連線三位共同主席柏克莉(Shelley Berkley, D-NV)、金格瑞(Phil Gingrey, R-GA)、迪亞斯巴拉特(Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-FL)，以及眾議員羅依斯(Ed Royce, R-CA)、羅斯(Mike Ross, D-AK)、柏頓(Dan Burton, R-IN)與明尼克(Walt Minnick, D-ID)，特於今日下午提出第4102號議案，要求行政部門向國會詳細報告對台軍售事宜。

此項法案如果正式通過，將要求美國國務卿與國防部長相磋商，在法案通過90天之內，以及往後每年向國會就台灣政府與行政部門之間的討論，以及未來可能的對台軍售進行詳細簡報。

FAPA會長楊英育表示：「這項法案在今天正式提出，是再適當也不過的時機，因為許多台灣支持者對歐巴馬總統在中國發表的聲明感到不安。歐巴馬總統在美中共同聲明中提及美國透過三項公報尊重中國的主權與領土完整，卻未提及台灣關係法，將有可能導致中國得寸進尺，強化中國擁有台灣主權的荒謬立場。這樣的聲明嚴重損及台灣關係法裡美國有權提供台灣防衛武器的正當性，更影響到台灣與美國在當地的戰略利益。蘿斯列敦娜議員今天提出的法案與與她去年第6646號議案相類似。我們尤其支持她今年這項法案中提到行政部門對台軍售的國會簡報必須年年實行。」

楊英育接著表示：「過去幾年來，部份國會議員多次強烈關切美國對台軍售一再遭到擱置。他們的關心與訴求很可惜的並未受到行政部門的採納。正因如此，今天這項法案裡特別制訂年度簡報的要求，這正是美國國會意欲重拾主導權，以符合台灣關係法第三條(b)項條文規定，由行政部門與國會共同決定對台軍售的質與量。」

Photo Credit: Wikipedia Commons

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Future Of Taiwan Should Be Determined With The Express Consent Of The People Of Taiwan

House Armed Services Committee member and a long-time friend of Taiwan, Congressman Robert Andrews (D-NJ), introduced House Concurrent Resolution 200 last night “expressing the sense of Congress regarding the freedom, security, and stability of Taiwan.”

The resolution concludes that it is the sense of Congress that– (1) grave concerns exist concerning the continued deployment by the People’s Republic of China of over 1400 ballistic missiles directed toward Taiwan, which threaten the security and stability in the Taiwan Strait; (2) the President should seek a public and unequivocal renunciation from the leaders of the People’s Republic of China of any threat or use of force against Taiwan; (3) the future of Taiwan should be determined free from coercion by the People’s Republic of China, peacefully, and with the express consent of the people of Taiwan.

The resolution highlights China’s coercion and increasing military threat against Taiwan and refers to the latest Pentagon report on the Chinese military power and to the passage by China of the anti-secession law in 2005 that drew a severe rebuke from the U.S. Congress.

The 2009 Pentagon Report warns that the People’s Liberation Army’s military modernization “could in the future be used to pressure Taiwan toward a settlement of the cross-Strait dispute on Beijing’s terms while simultaneously attempting to deter, delay, or deny any possible U.S. support for the island in case of conflict.”

The House of Representatives characterized the China’s passage of the Anti-Secession Law at the time as “a unilateral change to the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.”

The resolution also invokes pertinent sections of the Taiwan Relations Act, “which is the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations,” which reaffirms the U.S. commitment to Taiwan’s security.

FAPA President Bob Yang, Ph.D. states, “The fact that Rep. Andrews is a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee adds to the relevance and importance of this resolution. Taiwan’s security interests are intricately interwoven with those of the U.S. in the region.”

Yang continues, “In addition to the military threat, China is now also gaining tremendous economic leverage over Taiwan. China’s dual strategy of economic and military coercion to compel Taiwan into submission has alarmed many Taiwan supporters in the U.S. Congress.”

Dr. Yang concludes: “The missiles that China has targeted at the 23 million peace-loving people of Taiwan are the equivalent of China putting a gun to the heads of the people of Taiwan. They are the clearest and strongest indicator of China’s real intentions vis-à-vis Taiwan. The people of Taiwan live under a constant dark cloud of threats, intimidation and harassment. It is not only high time that Beijing remove its missiles, it is time that the people of Taiwan be able to determine their own future free from fear.”

美國眾議員提出決議案，支持台灣前途應獲得台灣人民同意

眾議院軍事委員會委員，也是台灣長期友人，安德魯斯眾議員(Robert Andrews, D-New Jersey)於昨晚(15日)就台灣自由、安全與穩定提出第200號決議案。

決議案表示: (1)（美國國會）嚴重關切中華人民共和國超過一千四百枚的導道飛彈佈署瞄準台灣，此舉威脅台灣海峽安全與穩定；(2) 美國總統應尋求中華人民共和國領導人公開並清楚地宣示放棄威脅或武力犯台；(3)　台灣前途必須在不受中華人民共和國的威脅下，獲得台灣人民的明示同意。

決議案並引用美國國防部近期的中國軍力報告，並提及中國於2005年通過的反分裂法，引來美國國會的嚴厲讉責，以突顯出中國恐嚇台灣技倆與日益增強的軍事威脅。

決議案提到，美國國防部在2009年的報告裡公開警告「中國人民解放軍的軍事現代化極有可能在未來台海爭端上，壓迫台灣接受北京的要求，並同時嚇阻、拖延、或是阻礙任何美國可能在台海戰事中台灣的協助。」

決議案也表示，美國國會曾在2005年的一項決議案裡表示，中國通過反分裂法是「片面改變台海現狀。」

決議案並引用台灣關係法裡數項重要條文，重申美國對台灣安全的承諾。

FAPA會長楊英育表示：「由於安德魯斯議員身為資深眾議院軍事委員會員，熟稔軍事與安全議題，更彰顯這項決議案的相關性與重要性。」

楊英育繼續表示：「中國除了對台武力威脅外，也開始積極透過經濟誘引來施壓台灣。許多美國國會台灣友人已經警覺到這個雙管齊下，透過軍事、經貿脅迫策略逼使台灣臣服於中國之下的現象。」

楊英育最後表示：「中國以飛彈瞄準台灣二千三百萬人民，就好像拿著一把槍對著台灣人民的腦袋。這才是中國對台灣再清楚也不過的強烈意圖。台灣人民活在威脅、恐嚇和騷擾的陰影之下。我們呼籲現在正是北京撤退飛彈的時候，現在正是台灣人民在不受恐懼之下決定他們前途的時候。」

Photo Credit: 台灣總統府（Flickr）

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Resolution Calling For Diplomatic Recognition Of Taiwan And End To One China Policy Introduced In U.S. House Of Representatives

Today, during the first week of the new 111^th Congress, long-time Taiwan supporter Rep. John Linder (R-GA) introduced a resolution urging the Administration to establish diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Similar resolutions were introduced in 2005 and 2007 by then Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO), who has since retired from Congress. Additionally, the resolution calls for end to the U.S. One China Policy and Taiwan’s full membership in international organizations.

Since 1979, the United States and Taiwan have not had formal diplomatic ties. Instead, U.S.-Taiwan trade and economic relations have been handled through “private” channels, by the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT).

The resolution calls on the President of the United States to (A) abandon the fundamentally flawed `One China Policy’ in favor of a more realistic “One China, One Taiwan Policy” that recognizes Taiwan as a sovereign and independent country, separate from the Communist regime in Beijing; (B) begin the process of resuming normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan; and (C) aggressively support Taiwan’s full participation in the United Nations and any other international organization of which the Unite d States is a member, and for which statehood is a requirement for membership.”

FAPA President Bob Yang, PhD says: “Last Thursday (January 1) marked the 30th anniversary of the establishment of the U.S.-China diplomatic ties. The introduction of Rep. Linder’s resolution during the first week of 2009 when the new Congress gets back to work is extraordinarily poignant as a reaffirmation of United States Congress’ support for Taiwan.”

Yang continues, “Despite the severance of diplomatic ties by the U.S. thirty years ago, Taiwan has flourished into a fledgling democracy with impressive economic achievements. Now that the world knows Taiwan simply as ‘Taiwan’ and recognizes Taiwan as a beacon of freedom, Congress clearly feels the increasing need to ditch the outdated ‘One China’ concept.”

Yang concludes: “U.S. diplomatic recognition of Taiwan is an idea whose time has come. Such separate recognition by the U.S of China and Taiwan can be a model for those nations which seek to align both countries in a mutual co-existing relationship.”

美國國會提出決議案呼籲美台建交，並應廢除一中政策

在美國第111屆國會上任新會期首週，長期支持台灣的林德眾議員隨即於今日提出一決議案，呼籲美國政府承認台灣，與台灣建立外交關係，以展現對台灣民主的支持。決議案並支持台灣在聯合國等國際組織內的完整會員籍。甫退任的唐克多議員過去在第109與110屆會期（2005年與2007年）中便曾兩度提出這項決議案。

林德議員的這項決議案建議美國政府：(A)揚棄一中政策，改採符合現狀的「一中一台」政策以承認台灣為一主權獨立國家；(B) 開始有關與台灣復交等事宜的相關程序；(C)積極支持台灣完整參與聯合國以及美國為會員國等國際組織，即便國家身份為入會資格。

FAPA會長楊英育表示：「上週四(元月一日)適逢美中建交三十週年紀年。林德議員在新國會上任第一週特地選擇提出這項決議案，重申美國國會對台灣的堅定支持，意義格外重大。」

楊英育接著表示：「美國雖然在三十年前與台灣斷交，台灣卻仍蛻變為一經濟傲人的新興民主國家。當今天全世界都知道台灣的名稱就是台灣，加上全球已公認台灣為自由指標之一時，美國國會顯然認為揚棄過時的一中理念越來越有其必要性。」

楊英育最後表示：「美國與台灣建交的時機就是現在。美國如開啓分別承認之例，將可協助其他有意與台灣中國兩國保持良好關係的國家效法美國的典範。」

Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

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