H.Res. 185 — Introduced in House

IV 113th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 185 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES April 26, 2013 Mr. Bentivolio submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs RESOLUTION Declaring that it should be the policy of the United States to encourage visits between the United States and Taiwan at all levels. Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act (Public Law 96–8; 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq.), enacted in 1979, has continued for 34 years to be the cornerstone of United States-Taiwan relations and has served as an anchor for peace and security in the Western Pacific region; Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act declares that peace and stability in the Western Pacific area are in the political, security, and economic interests of the United States, and are matters of international concern; the United States considers any effort to determine the future of Taiwan by other than peaceful means, including by boycotts or embargoes, a threat to the peace and security of the Western Pacific and are of grave concern to the United States; Whereas Taiwan has succeeded in a momentous transition to democracy beginning in the late 1980s and has been a beacon of democratic practices in Asia, and Taiwan’s democratic achievements inspire many countries and people in the region; Whereas through the Taiwan Relations Act, the United States treats Taiwan as a de facto sovereign, independent nation; Whereas visits by United States cabinet officials and other high-ranking officials are an indicator of the breadth and depth of ties between the United States and its friends and Allies; Whereas over the past decades, United States-Taiwan relations have suffered from a lack of communication due to the self-imposed restrictions that the United States maintains on high-level visits with Taiwan; and Whereas it should be the policy of the United States to encourage visits between the United States and Taiwan at all levels: Now, therefore, be it 1. Short title This resolution may be cited as the Taiwan Travel Act. 2. Policy Notwithstanding the 1994 Taiwan policy review and current guidance from the Department of State pertaining to contacts with Taiwan, it should be United States policy to— (1) allow all high-level officials of Taiwan to enter into the United States or its embassies and consulates under conditions which demonstrate appropriate respect for the dignity of such leaders; (2) allow meetings between all high-level Taiwanese and United States officials in United States executive departments, including the Department of State and Department of Defense; and (3) allow the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office and all other instrumentalities established by Taiwan to conduct official business activities, including activities which involve participation by Members of the United States Congress and other representatives of the Federal, State, and local governments, and all high-level Taiwanese officials, without obstruction from the United States Government or any foreign power.