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[Page: S3531]

Mr. LIEBERMAN submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

S. Con. Res. 20

Whereas the governments in both Beijing (China) and Taipei (Taiwan) claim that they represent all of China, including Taiwan;

Whereas Taiwan was a Japanese colony during the period between 1895 and 1945;

Whereas at the end of World War II, the United States military temporarily allowed the Chinese Nationalist President, Chiang Kai-shek, to rule Taiwan;

Whereas the period of civil war which took place on mainland China between 1945 and 1949 ended when the Chinese Nationalist (Kuomingtang) Government was overthrown by the Communist regime (People's Republic of China) that remains in power today;

Whereas subsequent to this overthrow, the Communists forced the Nationalists off the mainland, and they fled to Taiwan;

Whereas ever since 1949, Taiwan has been a politically and economically independent entity completely separated from the People's Republic of China;

Whereas until 1971, appointees of the Chinese Nationalist Government, based in Taipei, represented Taiwan and mainland China in the United Nations; however, during that year, the Government of the People's Republic of China, based in Beijing, assumed the role of representing both mainland China and Taiwan;

Whereas on December 15, 1978, the United States and the People's Republic of China released a joint communique that announced a switch in United States diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing;

Whereas that joint communique also stated that, `the United State will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan';

Whereas on December 15, 1978, in a unilateral statement released concurrently with that joint communique, the United States stated that it `continues to have an interest in the peaceful resolution of the Taiwan issue and expects that the Taiwan issue will be settled peacefully by the Chinese themselves';

Whereas on April 10, 1979, President Carter signed into law the Taiwan Resolution Act (Public Law 96-8) which created a domestic legal authority of the conduct of unofficial relations with Taiwan;

Whereas since January 1, 1979, the United States, in accord with the Taiwan Resolution Act, has continued the sale of selected defensive military equipment and defense technology, to Taiwan;

Whereas Taiwan, with a population of 20,000,000, has in the past 40 years become an independent political entity and an important partner in world trade and the international economy (Taiwan has the world's largest foreign currency reserve, is the 5th largest trading partner of the United States, and is the 13th largest trading nation in the world);

Whereas in spite of its economic achievements and significant role in the world economy and in world affairs, the government of Taiwan does not have representation in the United Nations and in other international organizations;

Whereas the people of Taiwan have, through their elected legislators, expressed a strong desire to join the United Nations and other international organizations;

Whereas Taiwan's membership in the United Nations and in other international organizations would further enhance the peace, security, and stability in the Pacific and is in the best interest of the United State: Now, therefore, be it

resolved that the Senate (with the House of Representatives concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that the 20,000,000 people of Taiwan deserve to be represented in the United Nations and in other international organizations by appointees representing Taiwan's government.

[Page: S3532]

• [Begin insert]

Such a move would affirm what has been a reality for nearly 40 years. During that time, Taiwan has become one of the leading economic models in Asia. It has the world's largest foreign currency reserve, is the 5th largest trading partner of the United States, and is the 13th largest trading nation in the world.

The people of Taiwan have taken a different political direction than the people of mainland China. While Taiwan is still far from being a perfect democracy, it has made substantial strides in developing democratic representative institutions, including a free press. Mainland China remains under Communist rule, with thousands of political prisoners.

By granting U.N. membership, we will be sending a clear message that Taiwan is a full-fledged member of the world community, whose independence cannot be threatened by mainland China. China still makes menacing statements about the use of force against Taiwan. U.N. membership would establish that Taiwan's status is not an internal affair, but a truly international concern.

Mr. President, Taiwan is a separate nation, and should be free to continue to chart its own course. It is time that we officially recognize its sovereignty by supporting full-fledged membership for Taiwan in the United Nations.

• [End insert]

END