16 March 2000
Text: House International Relations Chairman on Taiwan, China Threats
("These threats are unacceptable," Gilman says) (500)
Representative Benjamin A. Gilman, chairman of the House International
Relations Committee, criticized China's recent statements concerning
the upcoming Taiwan election as "unacceptable" and "contemptible
threats."
In a press release issued March 15, Gilman encouraged the people of
Taiwan to choose the presidential candidate that they feel will best
represent them, adding that "whoever is selected to lead Taiwan will
have a productive working relationship with the American people, the
American Congress and the American government."
"It is also regrettable," Gilman said, "that the Chinese have turned
to blaming the United States for the problems in their relationship
with Taiwan. It seems to me that the refusal to renounce the use of
force, an unprecedented military buildup, and threatening rhetoric
against Taiwan would be more central to the difficulties in the
relationship. The United States has been key to the peace and
stability that we have seen across the Taiwan Strait for over 50
years."
Following is the text of the press release from Gilman's office:
(begin text)
HOUSE INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE
PRESS RELEASE
DATE: March 15, 2000
GILMAN BLASTS CHINESE INTIMIDATION OF TAIWAN
WASHINGTON (March 15) - U.S. Rep. Benjamin A. Gilman (20th-NY),
Chairman of the House International Relations Committee, released the
following statement today concerning the Taiwanese election set for
Saturday, March 18:
"On Saturday, the people of Taiwan will be free to choose a new
president. Regrettably, officials of the People's Republic of China
have made statements designed to intimidate the Taiwanese people into
voting for a candidate acceptable to China.
"These threats are unacceptable. The United States insists that the
status of Taiwan be decided by peaceful means with the consent of the
people of Taiwan. It is my hope that the people of Taiwan will ignore
these contemptible threats and choose the candidate that they feel
will best represent them. Whoever is selected to lead Taiwan will have
a productive working relationship with the American people, the
American Congress and the American government.
"Rather than engaging in threatening behavior, China should be
congratulating Taipei for the consolidation of its democracy -- the
first in 5,000 years of Chinese history -- and for laying the
groundwork for working with the new Taiwanese president for the
betterment of the people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
"It is also regrettable that the Chinese have turned to blaming the
United States for the problems in their relationship with Taiwan. It
seems to me that the refusal to renounce the use of force, an
unprecedented military buildup, and threatening rhetoric against
Taiwan would be more central to the difficulties in the relationship.
The United States has been key to the peace and stability that we have
seen across the Taiwan Strait for over 50 years."
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: usinfo.state.gov)
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