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

Text: Motion Backs Taiwan's Membership in International Bodies
(H. Res. 221 says Taiwan deserves full membership in UN)

Lawmakers submitted a resolution August 2 in the House of Representatives calling for Taiwan's membership in international organizations.

Representative Robert Schaffer (Republican of Colorado) introduced House Resolution 221 (H. Res. 221) with nine co-sponsors to the House of Representatives. The proposed resolution was referred to the House International Relations Committee.

H. Res. 221 says Taiwan, with its 23 million people, deserves "full and equal membership in the United Nations and other international organizations."

The proposed resolution urges that the United States "should take a leading role in gaining international support for Taiwan's participation in these organizations."

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding
United States policy toward Taiwan's
membership in international organizations

Introduced in the House
HRES 221 IH
107th CONGRESS
1st Session

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding United States policy toward Taiwan's membership in international organizations.

Mr. SCHAFFER (for himself, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. WYNN, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. CRANE, Mr. SMITH of New Jersey, Mrs. LOWEY, Mr. WEXLER, Mr. CHABOT, and Mr. BROWN of Ohio) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations

Expressing the sense of Congress regarding United States policy toward Taiwan's membership in international organizations.

Whereas Taiwan has dramatically improved its record on human rights and routinely holds free and fair elections in a multiparty system, as evidenced most recently by Taiwan's second democratic presidential election of March 18, 2000, in which Mr. Chen Shui-bian was elected as President;

Whereas the 23,000,000 people on Taiwan are not represented in the United Nations and their human rights as citizens of the world are therefore severely abridged;

Whereas Taiwan has in recent years repeatedly expressed its strong desire to join the United Nations and other international organizations;

Whereas the world community has reacted positively to Taiwan's desire for international participation, as shown by Taiwan's membership in the Asian Development Bank, Taiwan's admission to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group as a full member, and Taiwan's anticipated membership in the World Trade Organization;

Whereas Taiwan, as evidenced in the preceding provisions, possesses ample resources and creativity to contribute to the work and funding of the United Nations and its affiliate organizations such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as benefit from these organizations; and

Whereas Public Law 106-137 required the Secretary of State to submit a report to the Congress on Administration efforts to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations: Now, therefore, be it

(1) Taiwan and its 23,000,000 people deserve full and equal membership in the United Nations and other international organizations; and

(2) the United States should take a leading role in gaining international support for Taiwan's participation in these organizations. (end text)

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