Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should resume normal diplomatic relations with Taiwan, negotiate a bilateral free trade agreement with Taiwan, and support Taiwans membership in international organizations.
This concurrent resolution expresses Congress's sense that the United States should fundamentally change its diplomatic approach to Taiwan. The bill calls for the U.S. to abandon the "One China Policy," establish formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan (including exchanging ambassadors), negotiate a free trade agreement, and support Taiwan's membership in international organizations like the United Nations. The resolution argues that Taiwan is a democratic, independent nation that has been separate from mainland China for over 70 years and should not be blocked from international participation due to Beijing's claims of sovereignty. This is a non-binding expression of congressional opinion rather than legislation that would automatically change policy. However, it signals strong bipartisan support among House members for a significant shift in U.S.-Taiwan relations, which could influence executive branch decision-making.
Key Points
- 1Diplomatic Recognition: Calls for the President to recognize Taiwan as an independent country, normalize full diplomatic relations, and exchange ambassadors—a major departure from current U.S. policy
- 2Abandonment of "One China Policy": Declares the current policy "obsolete" and argues it doesn't reflect Taiwan's 70+ years of de facto independence and democratic governance
- 3Free Trade Agreement: Directs the U.S. Trade Representative to begin formal negotiations on a bilateral trade deal with Taiwan
- 4International Organization Membership: Urges U.S. officials to advocate for Taiwan's full membership in the UN and other international bodies currently restricted by China's objections
- 5Removal of Communication Restrictions: Calls for rescinding guidelines that limit official interactions between U.S. and Taiwanese government officials