US House committee passes Taiwan Security Enhancement Act
Published: Oct. 27, 1999 Source: China Times
The United States House International Relations Committee yesterday passed an amended version of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, by a vote of 32 to 6. The act will now be sent to the full House of Representatives for deliberation.
Attending the committee hearing, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Stanley Roth, who oversees military affairs in the Taiwan area, was very displeased with the outcome, saying that the passage of this act is harmful, not beneficial, to Taiwan.
According to the act, the United States would be required to enhance its efforts in many areas to ensure that Taiwan receives timely and complete defense requirements.
The Department of Defense would also be obliged to provide military personnel from Taiwan increased training at U.S. defense universities and other military education schools, and increase exchanges, and the administration would have to present reports to Congress annually on Taiwan's military requests, U.S. military sales to Taiwan and other matters.
The act also states that any determination of Taiwan's defense procurements according to the August 17, 1982 Communique or other agreements reached between Washington and Beijing would "violate the intent of Congress" in the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act.
The act stipulates that within 45 days of its implementation, the Secretary of Defense must provide Congress with an assessment of security in the Taiwan Strait, including a detailed analysis of possible PRC threat against Taiwan in such areas as naval, air and missile defenses.
Within 210 days after passage, the Secretary of Defense must provide congress with a plan describing how the United States will strengthen military exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan.
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