TEXT: SENATOR MURKOWSKI STATEMENT ON TAIWAN RESOLUTIONS
(Resolutions look to realize U.S. commitment to Taiwan)Washington -- Senator Frank Murkowski (Republican of Alaska) introduced two resolutions concerning Taiwan which were passed by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee March 23: S.Con. Res. 17 commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, and S.Res. 26 regarding Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization.
"These are both timely measures that I hope the full Senate will adopt in the next few days," Murkowski said.
In a statement made during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the Taiwan Relations Act March 25, Murkowski said he welcomed the Clinton administration's efforts to "look for ways to have Taiwan's voice heard" in international organizations, but submitted his resolutions because he does not believe that this commitment has been fully realized.
"S.Con.Res. 17 expresses concern about several issues including the process for evaluating Taiwan's self-defense needs, the lack of high-level dialog between Taiwan's senior military officials and American defense officials on the many issues of mutual concern," he said.
"The resolution also expresses Congress's grave concern over the possible threat to security in the Taiwan Strait from China's defense modernization and procurement as documented in the February 1, 1999 report to Congress by the Secretary of Defense on "The Security Situation in the Taiwan Strait." This includes, of course, China's growing arsenal of nuclear and conventionally armed ballistic missiles."
Following is the text of Senator Murkowski's statement, as prepared for delivery:
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PREPARED STATEMENT OF
SENATOR FRANK MURKOWSKI
BEFORE THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEESUBJECT - TWENTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT
Let me begin by thanking my good friend, Chairman Helms, for welcoming me back to the Foreign Relations Committee where I served for twelve years. I also want to thank Chairman Helms, Senator Biden and the other members of the Committee for approving on Tuesday two resolutions I introduced regarding Taiwan: S.Con. Res. 17 commemorating the twentieth anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act and S.Res. 26 regarding Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization. These are both timely measures that I hope the full Senate will adopt in the next few days.
I was not a Member of the Senate when the Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, but I have great respect for the wisdom that those who proceeded me played in passing this enduring piece of legislation.
As former Senator Boren said during debate over the adoption of the TRA:
"We are here setting precedent, not merely a matter of legal precedents of the past. We are here setting policy. How healthy it would be for us to state, as a matter of policy, that while we are going to move ahead with a relationship with 800 million people on the mainland, that does not mean that we have to turn our backs on the people of Taiwan, who have been our friends. March 12, 1979."
In talking to colleagues and former Administration officials who were here for the creation of the TRA, you get the sense that no one expected Taiwan to be around for very long. But Taiwan not only survived, she thrived. Taiwan turned into one of the Asian Tigers, and has weathered the Asian flu. She is a full-fledged multi-party democracy that respects human rights and civil liberties. She serves as a model of successful democratic reform.
The positive changes in Taiwan are a tribute to the spirit and perseverance of her people, who have achieved an almost impossible dream in the view of many. The United States cannot take credit for Taiwan's achievements, but we can be proud of the role the TRA has played and that we in Congress and in the Administration have played in maintaining peace, security and stability throughout East Asia.
There have been times over the last twenty years when tensions have gripped the Taiwan Strait. Most recently, in 1996, China chose to launch missiles over Taiwan on the eve of the first direct presidential election on the island. The Clinton Administration responded by sending two aircraft carriers to the region. This action was consistent with both the spirit and the letter of the TRA and I believe demonstrated the resolve of the United States to stand by our commitments to Taiwan.
All who have studied the TRA recognize that, at its heart, it is about security. The most important commitment the United States made is in Section 3, "(T)he United States will make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability."
As we near the twentieth anniversary of the TRA on April 10, it is important to reflect on this commitment and others incorporated in the TRA and to determine whether our policies meet those commitments. Back in 1978, when the U.S. broke off diplomatic relations with the ROC and recognized the PRC we lived in a very different world. A wall still divided the two Germanies, the Soviet Union was the Evil Empire and the people of Taiwan lived under martial law. This was the state of the world when the United States passed the Taiwan Relations Act.
Although the world has changed dramatically since then, our policy has not. The Clinton Administration conducted a review of our policy toward Taiwan in 1994 and made some small adjustments regarding what level of meetings could occur and where they could occur. I welcomed those changes, but I believe that we can and should do more. The Department of State committed also to "support more actively" Taiwan's membership in international organizations that accept non-states as members, and to "look for ways to have Taiwan's voice heard" in international organizations where Taiwan's membership is not possible. I do not believe that this commitment has been fully realized, and that is one of the reasons I submitted S.Res. 26, urging Taiwan's participation in the World Health Organization.
S.Con.Res. 17 expresses concern about several issues including the process for evaluating Taiwan's self-defense needs, the lack of high-level dialog between Taiwan's senior military officials and American defense officials on the many issues of mutual concern. The resolution also expresses Congress's grave concern over the possible threat to security in the Taiwan Strait from China's defense modernization and procurement as documented in the February 1, 1999, report to Congress by the Secretary of Defense on "The Security Situation in the Taiwan Strait". This includes, of course, China's growing arsenal of nuclear and conventionally armed ballistic missiles.
With Secretary Kramer and his able deputy, Kurt Campbell, here today, I would like to commend the Pentagon for producing what I found to be a very informative report, and I hope that similar reports can be produced for Congress on an annual basis.
I understand that Chairman Helms yesterday introduced the "U.S.-Taiwan Security Enhancement Act," which would codify some of the policies Suggested in my resolution. I welcome the Chairman's initiative, and ask that I be added as a co-sponsor.
Because the Congress and this Committee in particular play a key role in the oversight and implementation of the Taiwan Relations Act, it is very fitting that we take special note of this important anniversary. I look forward to working with my colleagues and with the Administration in maintaining our strong and special relationship with Taiwan.
Thank you.
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