SUPPORTING TAIWAN'S MEMBERSHIP IN THE UNITED NATIONS -- HON. DENNIS M. HERTEL (Extension of Remarks - September 26, 1991) --- HON. DENNIS M. HERTEL in the House of Representatives THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 1991
- Mr. HERTEL. Mr. Speaker, today, I rise to introduce a resolution which supports Taiwan's membership in the United Nations and other international organizations. Taiwan is presently represented by appointees from the Government of the People's Republic of China.
- Taiwan was a Japanese colony during the period between 1895-1945. At the end of World War II, the United States alliance with the Nationalist Chinese administration allowed the Nationalist President, Chiang Kai-shek, to consolidate the Nationalist position on Taiwan under United States military protection. A period of civil war followed between 1945-1949, resulting in the overthrow of the Chinese Nationalist Government by the communistic regime that remains in control of the mainland today. The Chinese nationalists were forced off the mainland, and fled to Taiwan where they established a `provisional' capitol in Taipei, Taiwan in December, 1949.
- Taiwan has been politically and economically independent from the People's Republic of China since 1949; furthermore, appointees of the Chinese Nationalist Government, based in Taipei, represented Taiwan and China in the United Nations until 1971. During that year, appointees of the Government of the People's Republic of China, based in Beijing, assumed the role of representing both mainland China and Taiwan.
- The Nationalist Government of China, based in Taipei, was granted diplomatic recognition by the United States until December 15, 1978 when the United States and the People's Republic of China released a joint communique announcing a switch in United States diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing. The United States also stated in the joint communique that the `United States will maintain cultural, commercial, and other unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan.' In a unilateral statement released concurrently with the joint communique, the United States further 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'.
- The People's Republic of China has made no attempts to settle the Taiwan issue peacefully or otherwise, and has repeatedly threatened to invade Taiwan. I do not want to see another example of the the People's Republic of China's ability to use force to quench internal strife. The brutal crackdown in 1989 on the prodemocracy demonstrations in Beijing proves that the Chinese Government is capable of acting out on their threats of violence.
- Historically, the United States has had friendly relations with Taiwan. On April 10, 1979, the United States signed into law the Taiwan Relations Act which created a domestic legal authority for the conduct of unofficial relations with Taiwan. Since January 1, 1979, the United States has even continued the sale of selected defensive military equipment and defense technology to Taiwan, in accord with the Taiwan Relations Act.
- Taiwan has in the past 40 years become an independent political entity and an important partner in world trade and international economy. Taiwan has the world's largest foreign currency reserve, is the fifth trading nation in the world. In spite of its economic achievement and significant role in the world economy and in world affairs, the government of Taiwan does not have representation in the United Nations and other international organizations. Taiwan is represented by a country it has been politically and economically separated from since 1949.
- It was in the United States' best interest during our cold war with the U.S.S.R. to have friendly relations with China, but the cold war is over, and I think it is now time to stand up for the people of Taiwan.
- Mr. Speaker, every year since becoming a Member of Congress, I introduced a resolution designating June 14 as `Baltic Freedom Day'. The people of the Baltic countries are now free, and have self-determination and representation in the United Nations. I am hopeful that I will see the day when the 20 million people in Taiwan can enjoy the same representation in the United Nations.
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