Thu, Jun 28, 2007 page1

• US committee approves bill on high-level visits

  OPENING DOORS The non-binding `sense of Congress' resolution urges lifting the policy barring top Taiwanese officials from visiting Washington

  • By Charles Snyder / STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
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  Legislation that would allow President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) and other top Taiwanese officials to visit Washington unimpeded took its first step toward possible passage by Congress on Tuesday after the House Foreign Affairs Committee approved by unanimous consent a bill favoring such visits.

  If approved by US President George W. Bush, the bill would end nearly three decades of policy that has barred senior Taiwanese officials from Washington and has led to humiliating treatment of Chen in his transits through the US since his election as president.

  "Whenever high-level visitors from Taiwan -- including the president -- seek to come to the United States, their request results in a period of complex, lengthy and humiliating negotiations," the bill notes, while the US allows non-elected Chinese leaders "to routinely visit Washington [...] and welcoming them to the White House."

  The bill -- a non-binding "sense of Congress" resolution -- urges that "restrictions on visits to the United States by high-level elected and appointed officials of Taiwan, including the democratically elected president of Taiwan, should be lifted."

  The bill also requests that direct high-level exchanges be allowed "to strengthen a policy dialogue with Taiwan," and states that it is "in the interest of the United States to strengthen links between the United States and the democratically elected officials of Taiwan and demonstrate strong support for democracy in the Asia-Pacific region."

  The measure was introduced by Representative Steve Chabot, a co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, and co-sponsored by 32 other representatives, including committee chairman Tom Lantos and the ranking Republican member, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen.

  The bill describes Taiwan as "one of the strongest democratic allies of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region" and recalls that in the late 20th century "Taiwan made a remarkable transition to a full-fledged democracy with a vibrant economy and a vigorous multi-party political system that respects human right and the rule of law."

  The committee action marked the first time in three years that legislation endorsing high-level visits had made it through the committee. Such legislation was introduced last year in the House of Representatives and Senate, but neither bill was approved by a committee.

  Last year's House bill was also introduced by Chabot, and had 10 co-sponsors, while the Senate bill was introduced by Senator Tim Johnson, a co-chairman of the Senate Taiwan Caucus who was re-elected but who is still recovering from a stroke and brain hemorrhage, to which he almost succumbed last December.

  The bills in the past two years were introduced in a Republican-dominated Congress, which was loath to press for Taiwan legislation that the White House would oppose. When the Democrats took over Congress this year, many Taiwan supporters expressed hope that lawmakers, not held back by loyalty to a Republican president, would be more willing to advance laws more favorable to Taiwan.

  Lantos' decision to bring up the high-level visit measure before the committee may reflect that change.

  Following the committee, Chabot issued a statement saying he was pleased by the results.

  "It is terribly unfortunate that democratically elected officials from Taiwan are not permitted to visit our nation's capital -- while the unelected leaders of Communist China are given the red carpet treatment," he said.

  "Taiwan is our loyal friend and ally, a strong trading partner and a vibrant democracy. Our current policy is insulting to Taiwan and sends a wrong signal to the rest of the world," he said.

  The bill asserts that the measure "will help bring a US friend and ally out if its isolation, which will be beneficial to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region."

  It also points to a 1994 law that allows Taiwan's president and other high-level officials to visit the US "at any time to discuss a variety of important issues."

  Former president Clinton and the current administration never implemented that law.

  The bill now goes to the full House. No corresponding bill has yet been introduced in the Senate.

  In Taipei, a Ministry of Foreign Affairs official expressed approval at the resolution yesterday.

  Noting that the restrictions have been in place for years, spokesman David Wang (王建業) said lifting the restrictions would be favorable to the development of Taiwan-US relations.

  Additional reporting by CNA
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