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DATE=7/20/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-235764
TITLE=CONGRESS / TAIWAN (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=PAULA WOLFSON
DATELINE=CAPITOL HILL
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 
INTRO:  THE U-S HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HAS PASSED A RESOLUTION 
REAFFIRMING AMERICAN SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN.  V-O-A'S PAULA WOLFSON 
REPORTS, A SIMILAR MEASURE PASSED THE SENATE TEN DAYS AGO.
TEXT:  MEMBERS OF CONGRESS SAY PRESIDENT CLINTON SENT A MIXED 
MESSAGE DURING HIS TOUR OF CHINA.  THEY SAY THE LANGUAGE HE USED 
TO DESCRIBE U-S POLICY TOWARD TAIWAN WAS AMBIGUOUS, AND INDICATED
A LACK OF SUPPORT FOR THE TAIWANESE PEOPLE.
ONE OF THE PRESIDENT'S BIGGEST CRITICS IN THE HOUSE -- REPUBLICAN
TOM DELAY OF TEXAS -- URGED CONGRESS TO SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE.
                          //DELAY ACT//
         THE UNITED STATES HAS ALWAYS INSISTED THAT THE FUTURE OF
         TAIWAN BE RESOLVED BY PEACEFUL MEANS WITH THE 
         PARTICIPATION OF THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN.  AND IN SHORT, WE
         BELIEVE THE TAIWANESE PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO DETERMINE
         THEIR OWN FUTURE WITHOUT THE THREAT OF OUTSIDE INFLUENCE
         OR THE USE OF FORCE.
                           //END ACT//
(OPT) THE HOUSE RESOLUTION REAFFIRMS ALL COMMITMENTS UNDER THE 
1979 LAW THAT SET THE PARAMETERS FOR U-S RELATIONS WITH TAIWAN.  
IN ADDITION TO THE CALL FOR A PEACEFUL RESOLUTION TO TAIWAN'S 
FATE, THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT ALSO CLEARS THE WAY FOR THE SALE 
OF DEFENSIVE WEAPONS TO TAIPEI. (END OPT)
INDIANA DEMOCRAT LEE HAMILTON SAYS GIVEN ALL THE CONFUSION 
SURROUNDING THE PRESIDENT'S COMMENTS, A RESTATEMENT OF POLICY AT 
THIS TIME IS WARRANTED.  MR. HAMILTON SAYS HE DOES NOT BELIEVE 
PRESIDENT CLINTON ANNOUNCED A CHANGE OF POLICY WITH HIS COMMENTS 
IN SHANGHAI.  BUT HE SAYS THE PRESIDENT COULD HAVE CHOSEN HIS 
WORDS A BIT MORE CAREFULLY.
                        //HAMILTON ACT//
         I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE HERE THAT NO SUPPORT FOR
         TAIWANESE INDEPENDENCE HAS BEEN U-S POLICY SINCE 1972 --
         THE SHANGHAI COMMUNIQUE.  I THINK IT IS CORRECT TO SAY 
         THAT PRESIDENT CLINTON IS THE FIRST U-S PRESIDENT 
         EXPLICITLY TO STATE OPPOSITION TO TAIWAN'S INDEPENDENCE.
                           //END ACT//
THE RESOLUTIONS PASSED BY THE HOUSE AND SENATE ARE EXPRESSIONS OF
OPINION AND DO NOT HAVE THE FORCE OF LAW.  THE SENATE ACTED 
FAIRLY QUICKLY AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S RETURN FROM CHINA.  THE 
HOUSE WAITED A BIT -- HOLDING ITS DEBATE ON THE RESOLUTION JUST 
DAYS BEFORE A SCHEDULED VOTE ON CHINA'S MOST FAVORED NATION TRADE
STATUS.  (SIGNED)
NEB/PW/ENE-T/PT
20-Jul-98 8:04 PM EDT (0004 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.