For Immediate Release
Washington DC – May 16, 2016
Contact: (202) 547-3686
U.S. House Of Representatives Passes Six Assurances Legislation
At 4:40PM on May 16, 2016, H.Con.Res.88 “Reaffirming the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances as the Cornerstone of United States-Taiwan Relations” went to the floor of the full House of Representatives for a vote and passed.
Reps. Royce, Chabot, Engel, Ros-Lehtinen and Carter (GA) spoke in strong bi-partisan support of the resolution during the 20 minute long floor debate. (See: Attached)
HCR88 was introduced last October by former chairman of the Asian Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH). It concludes that “It is the sense of Congress that the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances together form the cornerstone of United States relations with Taiwan.”
The resolution first lauds the importance of the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act (TRA): “April 10, 2015, marked the 36th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8), codifying into law the basis for continued commercial, cultural, and other relations between the United States and the Taiwan.” The TRA was signed into law during the Carter administration.
However, when President Reagan agreed to sign the U.S.-China Third Communiqué of August 17, 1982, he was disturbed by its possible effect on Taiwan and therefore decided that Taiwan needed to be reassured that the U.S. would not abandon Taiwan.
Thus, before quoting all Six Assurances verbatim, the resolution reads: “Whereas in 1982 President Reagan wanted to reinforce United States support for Taiwan and therefore issued the Six Assurances.”
Before the resolution reached the floor, key members of Congress had signed onto Congressman Steve Chabot’s resolution as co-sponsors: Reps. Ed Royce, Pete Sessions, Elliot Engel, Chris Smith, Brad Sherman, Dana Rohrabacher, Michael Burgess, Garrett Graves, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Mimi Walters, Randy Weber, Rob Bishop, Matt Salmon, Michael McCaul, Paul Cook, Gerald Connolly, and Ted Yoho.
FAPA President Peter Chen states: “Since the “Six Assurances” were a verbal pledge, this is the first time in history that they reach the floor of Congress in the form of legislation. This adds tremendous weight and momentum to the Six Assurances and further solidifies the US commitment to Taiwan.”
Peter Chen concludes: “With the May 20 inauguration in Taiwan, passage of the resolution is a welcome gift to the people of Taiwan and a celebration of their continued commitment to freedom, human rights and democracy.”
