U.S. Dept. of State - IIP: The United States and China

Text: House Passes Sense of Congress Welcoming Chen Shui-Bian
(H. Con. Res. 135 hails ties between Taiwan, United States)

The House of Representatives passed by unanimous consent a resolution May 17 welcoming Taiwan's President Chen Shui-bian to the United States. The Taiwan leader arrived in the United States May 21 on the way to visiting Latin American countries.

House Concurrent Resolution 135 (H. Con. Res. 135) passed in the form of an amendment offered as a substitution. It was sent to the Senate, where it was referred to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

The amendment was offered by Representative Ben Gilman (Republican of New York), and was agreed to without objection.

"Taiwan is one of our nation's most important friends in the world. We share the values of democracy, human rights and free markets," said Gilman, who is the chairman emeritus of the House International Relations Committee.

Chen, he added, "deserves a warm welcome as he comes to New York City and later to Houston, Texas."

The New York Republican praised Taiwan's democracy and economy for having thrived "despite direct threats from" Beijing.

"We must send a strong message to China that Taiwan and the United States stand together against such intimidation," Gilman said.

H. Con. Res. 135 said the Congress "warmly welcomes President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan upon his visit to the United States," and requested him to "communicate to the people of Taiwan the support of the Congress and of the people of the United States."

While the State Department said Chen Shui-bian was only being allowed to transit the United States on the way to visiting other countries in the hemisphere, the Congress termed the stop over "another significant opportunity to broaden and strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the United States and Taiwan."

Following is the text of House Concurrent Resolution 135 from the Congressional Record:

Resolved, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations (Referred in Senate)

HCON 135 RFS
107th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. CON. RES. 135
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 17, 2001
Resolved, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress welcoming President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to the United States.

Whereas for more than 50 years, a close relationship has existed between the United States and Taiwan, which has been of enormous economic, cultural, and strategic advantage to both countries;

Whereas the United States and Taiwan share common ideals and a vision for the 21st century;

Whereas freedom and democracy are the strongest foundations for peace and prosperity;

Whereas Taiwan has demonstrated an improved record on human rights and a commitment to democratic ideals of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, and free and fair elections routinely held in a multiparty system, as evidenced by the March 18, 2000, election of Chen Shui-bian as Taiwan's new president; and

Whereas the upcoming May 21, 2001, visit to the United States by President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan is another significant opportunity to broaden and strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the United States and Taiwan: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That the Congress--

(1) warmly welcomes President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan upon his visit to the United States;

(2) requests President Chen Shui-bian to communicate to the people of Taiwan the support of the Congress and of the people of the United States; and

(3) recognizes that the visit of President Chen Shui-bian to the United States is another significant opportunity to broaden and strengthen the friendship and cooperation between the United States and Taiwan.

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)