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USIS Washington File

02 February 2000

Text: Gilman on Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, H.R. 1838

(Urges Administration to "rethink its opposition" to act) (3160)
Scorning what he termed Beijing's "thuggish attempts at intimidation,"
Representative Benjamin A. Gilman (Republican of New York), exulted in
a sweeping bipartisan 341 to 70 vote in favor of H.R. 1838 -- the
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act -- in the U.S. House of
Representatives February 1.
The chairman of the House International Relations Committee in a
February 1 press release called on the Clinton administration to
"rethink its opposition" to the act which would strengthen U.S.
military ties to Taiwan in a number of ways.
The Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, Gilman said, "requires reports to
Congress from the Administration on the security situation in the
Taiwan Strait and the ability of the United States to respond to a
major contingency in the Asia-Pacific region where U.S. interests on
Taiwan are at risk."
"China has said that this bill, which calls for modest steps between
two democracies, will undermine U.S.-China relations," Gilman noted.
"We disagree."
"What will undermine U.S.-China relations," Gilman emphasized, "are
nuclear espionage, illegal campaign contributions, human rights
abuses, the refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan and a
belligerent military posture across the Taiwan Straits."
Gilman observed that advisors to President Clinton are recommending he
veto the bill if it reaches his desk. But before it could face a
presidential veto, the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act must also pass
in the Senate where observers say there is less support for such
legislation.
H.R 1838 stresses the differences between Beijing and Taiwan. "In
recent years," H.R. 1838 states, "Taiwan has undergone a major
political transformation, and Taiwan is today a true multiparty
democracy with a political system separate from and totally unlike
that of the People's Republic of China."
Similarly, H.R. 1838 notes that "the economy of Taiwan is based upon
free market principles and is separate and distinct from the People's
Republic of China."
The United States, H.R. 1838 stresses, "will maintain the capacity to
resist any form of coercion that jeopardizes the security, or the
social or economic system, of the people of Taiwan."
The Taiwan Security Enhancement Act had the support of 200
Republicans, 140 Democrats, and one Independent. Those opposed to the
legislation were 10 Republicans, 59 Democrats, and one Independent.
Following is the text of Gilman press release and H.R. 1838:
(begin Gilman text)
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE PRESS RELEASE
February 1, 2000
GILMAN CHALLENGES CLINTON OVER TAIWAN
WASHINGTON (Feb. 1) - Rejecting China's "thuggish attempts at
intimidation," U.S. Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (20th-NY), Chairman of the
House International Relations Committee, today urged the Clinton
administration to "rethink its opposition" to the Taiwan Security
Enhancement Act. His full statement follows:
"The passage of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act today has sent an
important message to Beijing that both parties in Congress support
improving Taiwan's security. This vote indicates that there continues
to be broad support for the Taiwan Relations Act in Congress and that
Congress will continue to stand by our democratic allies in Taiwan in
the face of a growing Chinese military threat.
"In summary, this bill: (1) requires the Secretary of Defense to
establish direct secure communications between U.S. and Taiwanese
armed forces; (2)requires the Secretary of Defense to implement a plan
that will enhance operational training and exchanges with senior
officers of U.S. and Taiwanese armed forces; (3) requires the
Administration to make every effort to reserve additional positions
for Taiwanese military officers at U.S. defense schools, including our
service academies; (4) requires an increase in the technical staff at
the American Institute in Taiwan working on arms transfer matters,
when requested by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency; (5)
requires the administration to comply with the spirit of section 3(b)
of the Taiwan Relations Act by disclosing annually to Congress what
defense articles and services Taiwan has requested from the United
States, what justification Taiwan provided for each such request, and
what decision the Administration made with respect to each such
request; and (6) requires reports to Congress from the Administration
on the security situation in the Taiwan Strait and the ability of the
United States to respond to a major contingency in the Asia-Pacific
region where U.S. interests on Taiwan are at risk.
"China has said that this bill, which calls for modest steps between
two democracies, will undermine US-China relations. We disagree. What
will undermine US-China relations are nuclear espionage, illegal
campaign contributions, human rights abuses, the refusal to renounce
the use of force against Taiwan and a belligerent military posture
across the Taiwan Straits. If Beijing truly cares about US-China
relations, it must take steps to address these concerns.
"President Clinton's advisors are recommending a veto of this bill. In
a classic example of Orwellian doublespeak, the administration has
asserted that this bill, which clearly enhances Taiwan's defensive
capability, would 'seriously diminish Taiwan's security.' I hope the
administration will rethink its opposition to this legislation. The
United States should not be intimidated by Beijing's thuggish attempts
at intimidation.
"I'd like to thank our Majority Whip, Tom Delay, for leading the House
to passage of this important bill. In addition, our Republican Policy
Committee Chairman, Chris Cox, played an invaluable role. On our
International Relations Committee, our vice chairman, Doug Bereuter,
and our Ranking Democratic Member, Sam Gejdenson, proposed a number of
important changes and additions that made the Taiwan Security
Enhancement Act a better bill. Thank you."
(end Gilman text)
(begin H.R. 1838 text)
H.R.1838
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (Reported in the House)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 1, 2000
Additional sponsors: Mr. SCHAFFER, Mr. FORBES, Mr. WEXLER, Mr.
EHRLICH, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. GARY MILLER of California, Mr. ENGLISH, Mr.
BLILEY, Mrs. MORELLA, Mr. CRANE, Mr. HEFLEY, Mr. DEAL of Georgia, Mr.
MCNULTY, Mr. HASTINGS of Florida, Mr. SUNUNU, Mr. WHITFIELD, Mr.
BARTON of Texas, Mr. FRANK of Massachusetts, Mr. CALVERT, Mr. FOLEY,
Mr. GEJDENSON, Mr. RADANOVICH, Mr. BARR of Georgia, Mrs. MALONEY of
New York, Mr. BILIRAKIS, Mr. LINDER, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. KLECZKA, Mr.
VITTER, Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut, Ms. DUNN, Mr. MARTINEZ, Mr. ROGAN,
Ms. PRYCE of Ohio, Mr. BACHUS, Mr. ARMEY, Mr. WYNN, Mr. FRANKS of New
Jersey, Mr. NEY, Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. DEMINT, Mr. FROST, Mr. PAYNE, Mr.
TANCREDO, Mr. CHABOT, Mr. BURR of North Carolina, Mr. COBLE, Mr.
SANFORD, Mr. MCCOLLUM, Mr. HANSEN, Mr. ETHERIDGE, Mr. TALENT, Mr.
TAYLOR of North Carolina, Mr. SESSIONS, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr.
KING, Mr. TIAHRT, Mr. HUTCHINSON, Mr. HOEFFEL, Mr. MEEKS of New York,
Mr. VENTO, Mr. UNDERWOOD, Mr. ACKERMAN, Mr. CROWLEY, Mr. ORTIZ, Mr.
SHERMAN, and Mr. JONES of North Carolina
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on May
18, 1999]
A BILL
To assist in the enhancement of the security of Taiwan, and for other
purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United
States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the `Taiwan Security Enhancement Act'.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Since 1949, the close relationship between the United States and
Taiwan has been of enormous benefit to both societies.
(2) In recent years, Taiwan has undergone a major political
transformation, and Taiwan is today a true multiparty democracy with a
political system separate from and totally unlike that of the People's
Republic of China.
(3) The economy of Taiwan is based upon free market principles and is
separate and distinct from the People's Republic of China.
(4) Although on January 1, 1979, the United States Government withdrew
diplomatic recognition of the government on Taiwan as the legitimate
government of China, neither at that time nor since has the United
States Government adopted a formal position as to the ultimate status
of Taiwan other than to state that status must be decided by peaceful
means. Any determination of the ultimate status of Taiwan must have
the express consent of the people on Taiwan.
(5) The People's Republic of China refuses to renounce the use of
force against democratic Taiwan.
(6) The Taiwan Relations Act has been instrumental in maintaining
peace, security, and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the Western
Pacific since its enactment in 1979.
(7) The Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96-8) states that--
(A) peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait area are in the
political, security, and economic interests of the United States and
are of international concern;
(B) the decision of the United States to establish diplomatic
relations with the People's Republic of China rests upon the
expectation that the future of Taiwan will be determined by peaceful
means; (C) the United States would consider any effort to determine
the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including boycotts
or embargoes, a threat to the peace and security of the Western
Pacific region and of grave concern to the United States;
(D) the United States will maintain the capacity to resist any form of
coercion that jeopardizes the security, or the social or economic
system, of the people of Taiwan; and
(E) the preservation and enhancement of the human rights of all people
on Taiwan are objectives of the United States.
(8) The Taiwan Relations Act establishes on the part of the United
States a continuing connection with and concern for Taiwan and its
people. Continued adherence to the Act will help Taiwan to maintain
its democracy free of coercion and to safeguard its people from the
use of force against them. Furthermore, the maintenance by Taiwan of
forces adequate for its defense is in the interest of the United
States in that it helps to maintain peace in the Western Pacific
region.
(9) The military modernization and weapons procurement efforts by the
People's Republic of China, as documented in the February 1, 1999,
report by the Secretary of Defense on `The Security Situation in the
Taiwan Strait', could threaten cross-Strait stability and United
States interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
(10) The Taiwan Relations Act provides explicit guarantees that the
United States will make available defense articles and services
necessary in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to
maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.
(11) The Taiwan Relations Act requires timely reviews by United States
military authorities of Taiwan's defense needs in connection with
recommendations to the President and the Congress.
(12) Congress and the President are committed by the Taiwan Relations
Act to determine the nature and quantity of Taiwan's legitimate
self-defense needs.
(13) It is the policy of the United States to reject any attempt to
curb the provision by the United States of defense articles and
services legitimately needed for Taiwan's self-defense.
(14) In accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States
has, since 1979, sold defensive weapons to Taiwan, and such sales have
helped Taiwan maintain its autonomy and freedom. The Congress supports
the continued provision of additional defense articles and defense
services in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act.
(15) It is in the national interest of the United States to eliminate
ambiguity and convey with clarity continued United States support for
Taiwan, its people, and their ability to maintain their democracy free
from coercion and their society free from the use of force against
them. Lack of clarity could lead to unnecessary misunderstandings or
confrontations between the United States and the People's Republic of
China, with grave consequences for the security of the Western Pacific
region.
(16) A possible consequence of such ambiguity and lack of clarity was
the People's Republic of China's decision to conduct military
exercises and live fire missile tests in the Taiwan Strait in March
1996, necessitating House Concurrent Resolution 148, approved by the
House of Representatives by a vote of 369-14 on March 19, 1996, and by
the Senate by a vote of 97-0 on March 21, 1996, which stated that `the
United States, in accordance with the Taiwan Relations Act and the
constitutional process of the United States, and consistent with its
friendship with and commitment to the democratic government and people
of Taiwan, should assist in defending them against invasion, missile
attack, or blockade by the People's Republic of China.'. Immediately
following Congressional passage of House Concurrent Resolution 148,
the United States deployed on an emergency basis two aircraft carrier
battle groups to the Taiwan Strait, after which the People's Republic
of China ceased further planned military exercises.
(17) An earlier consequence of such ambiguity and lack of clarity was
the expressed surprise by the People's Republic of China that Congress
and the American people fully supported President Lee Teng-hui's
private visit to his alma mater, Cornell University, necessitating
House Concurrent Resolution 53, approved by the House of
Representatives by a vote of 390-0 on May 2, 1995, and by the Senate
by a vote of 97-1 on May 9, 1995, which stated such support
explicitly.
SEC. 3. TRAINING OF MILITARY OFFICERS AND SALE OF DEFENSE ARTICLES AND
SERVICES TO TAIWAN.
(a) TRAINING OF TAIWAN MILITARY OFFICERS- The Secretary of Defense and
the Secretaries of the military departments shall make every effort to
reserve additional positions for Taiwan military officers at the
National Defense University and other professional military education
schools specified in section 2162(d) of title 10, United States Code,
and for prospective Taiwan military officers at the United States
Military Academy, the United States Naval Academy, and the Air Force
Academy.
(b) FOREIGN MILITARY SALES- The Secretary of State shall, when
considering foreign military sales to Taiwan--
(1) take into account the special status of Taiwan, including the
defense needs of Taiwan in response to the military modernization and
weapons procurement efforts by the People's Republic of China; and
(2) make every effort to ensure that Taiwan has full and timely access
to price and availability data for defense articles and defense
services.
SEC. 4. DETERMINATIONS OF DEFENSE NEEDS OF TAIWAN.
(a) INCREASE IN TECHNICAL STAFF OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE IN TAIWAN-
Upon the request of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the
President shall use funds available to the Department of Defense under
the Arms Export Control Act for the employment of additional technical
staff at the American Institute in Taiwan.
(b) ANNUAL REPORTS- Beginning 60 days after the next round of arms
talks between the United States and Taiwan, and annually thereafter,
the President shall submit a report to Congress, in classified and
unclassified form--
(1) detailing each of Taiwan's requests for purchase of defense
articles and defense services during the one-year period ending on the
date of the report;
(2) describing the defense needs asserted by Taiwan as justification
for those requests; and
(3) describing the decision-making process used to reject, postpone,
or modify any such request.
SEC. 5. STRENGTHENING THE DEFENSE OF TAIWAN.
(a) MAINTENANCE OF SUFFICIENT SELF-DEFENSE CAPABILITIES OF TAIWAN-
Congress finds that any determination of the nature or quantity of
defense articles or defense services to be made available to Taiwan
that is made on any basis other than section 3(b) of the Taiwan
Relations Act (22 U.S.C. 3302(b)), whether such alternative basis is
the August 17, 1982, communique signed with the People's Republic of
China, or any similar executive agreement, order, or policy, would
violate the intent of Congress in the enactment of such Act.
(b) COMBINED TRAINING AND PERSONNEL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS- Not later than
210 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of
Defense shall implement a plan for the enhancement of programs and
arrangements for operational training and exchanges of senior officers
between the Armed Forces of the United States and the armed forces of
Taiwan for work in threat analysis, doctrine, force planning,
operational methods, and other areas. At least 30 days prior to such
implementation, the Secretary of Defense shall submit the plan to
Congress, in classified and unclassified form.
(c) REPORT REGARDING MAINTENANCE OF SUFFICIENT SELF-DEFENSE
CAPABILITIES- Not later than 45 days after the date of the enactment
of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Secretary of Defense shall
submit to the Congress, in classified and unclassified form, an annual
report on the security situation in the Taiwan Strait. Such report
shall include an analysis of the military forces facing Taiwan from
the People's Republic of China, evaluating recent additions to the
offensive military capability of the People's Republic of China. The
report shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of the
surface and subsurface naval threats, the ballistic missile threat,
the air threat, and the threat to the military and civilian
communications links in Taiwan. The report shall include a review of
the steps taken by the armed forces of Taiwan to address its security
situation.
(d) COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN UNITED STATES AND TAIWAN MILITARY COMMANDS-
Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act,
the Secretary of Defense shall certify to the Committee on
International Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the
House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign Relations and
the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate that direct secure
communications exist between the armed forces of the United States and
the armed forces of Taiwan.
(e) RELATION TO ARMS EXPORT CONTROL ACT- Nothing in this section
supersedes or modifies the application of section 36 of the Arms
Export Control Act to the sale of any defense article or defense
service under this section.
SEC. 6. REPORT REGARDING THE ABILITY OF THE UNITED STATES TO RESPOND
IN ASIA-PACIFIC CONTINGENCIES THAT INCLUDE TAIWAN.
(a) REPORT- Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of
this Act, and updated as appropriate, the Secretary of Defense shall
prepare and submit to the chairmen and ranking minority members of the
Committee on International Relations and the Committee on Armed
Services of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Foreign
Relations and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate a report
in classified and unclassified form on the ability of the United
States to successfully respond to a major contingency in the
Asia-Pacific region where United States interests on Taiwan are at
risk.
(b) CONTENTS- The report described in subsection (a) shall include--
(1) a description of planning on the national, operational, and
tactical levels to respond to, prosecute, and achieve United States
strategic objectives with respect to a major contingency described in
subsection (a); and
(2) a description of the confidence level of the Secretary of Defense
in United States military capabilities to successfully respond to such
a contingency.
(c) PREPARATION OF REPORT- In preparing the report under subsection
(a), the Secretary of Defense shall use the resources and expertise of
the relevant unified commands, military departments, the combat
support agencies, and the defense components of the intelligence
community, as required, and other such entities within the Department
of Defense as the Secretary considers necessary.
(end H.R. 1838 text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State)



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