
Text of Taiwan
Security Enhancement Act
H.R. 1838 was
originally introduced on May 18, 1999, by Rep. Tom DeLay (R-Texas) and a
bipartisan group of 14 co-sponsors. In the ensuing weeks, a total of 77
Members of Congress co-sponsored the bill. A substantially revised version,
authored by Rep. Benjamin Gilman (R-N.Y.) and Rep. Sam Gejdensen (D-Conn.)
was introduced as an amendment during the House International Relations
Committee mark-up of the bill on October 26, 1999. The Committee approved the
bill by a 32-6 vote, and it went to the floor of the House of Representatives
on February 1, 2000. After debate, the bill was approved by a vote of 341-70.
[
News ] [ Papers ]

Senate GOP Tables Taiwan
Bill
(Washington
Post, April 27, 2000) Senate Republican leaders have decided to put off
consideration of a bill to strengthen military ties with Taiwan, after the island's newly elected
president asked a visiting senator to avoid measures that might provoke China
at a sensitive time. Sen. Frank H. Murkowski (R-Alaska), who visited Taiwan
last week, said that President-elect Chen Shui-bian and several other leading
Taiwanese politicians urged the Senate to wait until after Chen is
inaugurated on May 20 and has set up his administration before voting on the
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act.
Senate Leader Presses for Arm Sales to Taiwan
While Supporting TSEA
(CNA, April
7, 2000) US Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) is pressing for arms
sales to Taiwan
while aggressively supporting a bill designed to strengthen military ties
with the island, his spokesman said on Friday. John Czwartacki dismissed as
an "irresponsible piece of journalism" a report in Friday's
Washington Times that Lott intended to kill the Taiwan Security Enhancement
Act (TSEA) in exchange for the administration's promise to sell four Aegis
guided-missile destroyers to the island.
China Assures US: No Crisis over Taiwan
(Straits
Times, Feb. 5, 2000) Still fuming over a Bill approving closer US
military-to-military contacts with Taiwan, China sought to assure the United
States that it was not planning any military operations against the island,
if the current status quo was maintained. "I do not foresee a military
crisis, if Taiwan
does not provoke it," Mr Liu Xiaoming, the second-ranking Chinese
diplomat here, told journalists.
Clinton Discusses Taiwan Bill
(AP, Feb. 4,
2000) A House-passed bill to boost U.S. military ties with Taiwan could
boomerang to the detriment of the island in its lingering dispute with China,
President Clinton said today. "I don't think it's in Taiwan's best interest," Clinton said. He added,
however, that he is not sure the legislation would complicate his goal of
bringing China
into the World Trade Organization.
U.S. Told Not To Mistake China For Yugoslavia
(Reuters,
Feb. 4, 2000) The mouthpiece of the People's Liberation Army, furious over
U.S. Congress passing legislation to boost military ties with Taiwan, warned
the United States on Friday not to mistake China for Yugoslavia. "China is not Yugoslavia. And Taiwan is not Kosovo," the
Liberation Army Daily said in a commentary.
China Calls on Clinton to Keep His Promise on Taiwan Act
(AFP, Feb 3,
2000) China Thursday urged US President Bill Clinton to honour his promise to
block legislation boosting military ties with Taiwan, and hurled invectives
at the US Congressmen who approved the bill.
China Protests U.S. House Vote on Taiwan
(New York
Times, Feb. 2, 2000) China vehemently protested today the United States House
of Representatives' vote to expand military ties with Taiwan, calling it a
"serious encroachment on China's sovereignty" and a "gross interference
in China's internal affairs." Ambassador Joseph Prueher was summoned to
the Foreign Ministry this afternoon to hear the protest, which was delivered
by Deputy Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi.
Clinton Threatens Veto of Closer Military Ties to Taiwan
(New York
Times, Feb. 2, 2000) The White House said today that President Clinton would
veto a bill approved overwhelmingly by the House on Tuesday that would expand
military ties between Taiwan
and the United States.
Taiwan Welcomes US Bill to Boost Security Ties
(AFP, Feb. 2,
2000) Taiwan on Wednesday
welcomed a bill approved by the US House of Representatives aimed at boosting
Washington's
commitment to the security of this nationalist island. "The bill will
serve as a deterrent against China's
attempt to threaten Taiwan's
security in the upcoming presidential polls," said DPP parliamentarian
Chen Pao-ching.
House Votes for Stronger Military Ties to Taiwan
(Washington
Post, Feb. 2, 2000) In a broad bipartisan vote, the House voted yesterday to
strengthen military ties with Taiwan,
brushing aside objections by the Clinton
administration and warnings from the Chinese government.
U.S. House Votes to Boost Military Ties With Taiwan
(Reuters,
Feb. 1, 2000) In a move likely to further complicate relations with China, the U.S. House of Representatives on
Tuesday approved legislation to boost America's
military ties with Taiwan.
The bill, called the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act, was approved in a
bipartisan vote of 341-70 despite opposition by the Clinton Administration.
The legislation provides for direct military communications to be established
between Washington and Taipei and directs the U.S, military to
expand its training of Taiwanese officers.
Bucking China,
U.S. Congress To Vote On Taiwan
(Reuters,
Jan 29, 2000) Republican leaders in the U.S. Congress are pressing ahead with
legislation to boost U.S.
military ties with Taiwan,
bucking the White House and risking a backlash from China ahead of a critical vote on a landmark
trade agreement with Beijing.
The legislation, scheduled for a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives on
Tuesday, would establish direct military communications between Washington and Taipei
and expand U.S.
training of Taiwanese military officers.
China Not Assuaged by Delay in Vote on Taiwan
Security Enhancement Act
(AFP, Nov.
2, 1999) China said
Tuesday it was not at all relieved that US legislators had decided to
postpone a vote on a controversial law that would strengthen Washington's military ties with Taiwan. Lu Shuning, minister
counselor and spokesman for the Chinese embassy here, said China would stay
"on alert" in opposing the Republican-sponsored Taiwan Security
Enhancement Act which it says would severely damage US-China ties and raise
tension in the Taiwan Strait.
House Leaders Delay Taiwan Vote On Concerns Over China Talks
(Washington
Post, Nov. 2, 1999) House leaders have decided to put off a floor vote on a
controversial bill to improve U.S.-Taiwan military relations, after some
lawmakers raised concerns that the move could interfere with sensitive
negotiations to bring China into the World Trade Organization.
China Opposes US Bill to Strengthen Military Ties with Taiwan
(AFP, Oct.
28, 1999) China on
Thursday said it strongly objected to a United
States Congressional bill to strengthen military ties
with Taiwan,
calling it a potential threat to Sino-US relations. "The bill violates China's sovereignty and it brutally interferes
with China's
internal affairs. China
expresses strong indignation and firm opposition to the bill," said
Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue at a news briefing.
US House Panel Votes to Boost Taiwan Military Ties
(Reuters,
Oct. 26, 1999)A U.S. House of Representatives panel, reflecting concern over
simmering tensions between Taiwan and mainland China, on Tuesday approved a
bill to strengthen U.S. military ties with Taipei. The House International
Relations Committee, by a vote of 32-6, approved a measure that would
establish direct military communications between the two countries and expand
U.S.
training of Taiwanese military officers.
U.S.-Taiwan Security Act Criticized
(AP, Oct.
26, 1999) A House committee moved Tuesday to expand U.S.-Taiwan security ties
and send a clear message to China
that the United States
would respond to aggression against Taiwan. The Clinton
administration said the measure could worsen tensions across the Taiwan Strait.
AIT Chairman Opposes Taiwan Security Enhancement Act
(CNA, Oct.
12, 1999) The chairman of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) on Tuesday
said he opposes the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TSEA) proposed in the US
Congress because it would severely impact trilateral ties among Washington, Taipei and Beijing.
White House Opposes Bill Aimed To Boost Taiwan Security
(AFP, Sep
16, 1999) A bill (Taiwan Security Enhancement Act) aimed at boosting Taiwan's
security is "unnecessary" and could have "serious, unintended
negative consequences," two key aides to U.S. President Bill Clinton
warned lawmakers.

Prospects for the
Taiwan
Security Enhancement Act By Ted
Galen Carpenter
(CATO Institute, Mar. 15, 2001) Bush's opposition to
that legislation is revealing for two reasons. First, he fought the measure
even though it was supported by the Republican leadership in the House of
Representatives and backed by Republican House members. (Indeed, a good many
Republicans were less than pleased about his action because the bill probably
would have passed if he had remained silent). Second, Bush himself had
expressed skepticism about the wisdom of the Kosovo mission and U.S.
involvement in the Balkans generally.
TSEA 'Could Backfire' for Taiwan
(Taipei
Times, Feb. 14, 2000) Contrary to a memo from a U.S. think tank arguing that
Senate approval of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TESA) would prevent
mainland China's possible interference in Taiwan's presidential election next
month, analysts here said that such a move could backfire and heighten
cross-strait tensions.
Taiwan Military Ties By Vincent Wei-Cheng Wang
(New
York Times,, Feb. 5, 2000) Taiwan's military vulnerabilities became evident
amid China's coercive "missile diplomacy" in 1995 and 1996. If one
day the United States
should need to intervene militarily to help Taiwan,
it will find itself knowing little about Taiwan's military doctrines or
grand strategy.
TSEA: A Stabilizing Factor in the Taiwan Strait By Cheng-yi
Lin
(Peace
Forum, Feb. 3, 2000) What concerns Taiwan most is the way in which US arms
sales have been complicated by political and diplomatic factors facing the US
and the PRC. Compared with the PRC, Taiwan is undervalued by US
strategic calculations, both in the Asia-Pacific and globally. US arms sales
are attuned to Beijing's tolerance, not to Taipei's evaluated
needs.
Reality Check: House Enhances Tensions, Not Taiwan's Security By Greg
May
(Nixon Center
February 2, 2000) The House of Representatives did Taiwan no favors by passing the
Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TSEA) on Tuesday. This bill succeeds in
worsening an already tense situation without actually doing anything substantial
to "enhance" Taiwan’s
security. The timing of Tuesday's vote showed a remarkable lack of concern
for Taiwan.
TSEA is a Right Step
(Taiwan
News, Feb. 3, 2000) We argue here that the TRA is broken, so it needs to be
fixed. The TRA falls short on two major points: 1. The TRA falls short in
helping Taiwan's
membership in international organizations. 2. The second area in which the
TRA falls short is in the area of safety and security.
TSEA Vital for Taiwan's
Security By Lin Cheng-yi
(Taipei
Times, Nov. 9, 1999) It has been 20 years since the enactment of the Taiwan
Relations Act (TRA). Although the ambiguous language of the act provides the
US government with much maneuvering flexibility, the TSEA is needed to
supplement the existing military cooperation between the US and Taiwan which
is inadequate to handle any potential crisis in the Taiwan Strait in view of
China's ever-increasing military and political threats toward Taiwan.
Enhancing Taiwan's
Security By Bruce J. Dickson
(Taipei
Times, Nov. 6, 1999) Debate over Taiwan Security Enhancement Act may provide
at least one useful service: bringing into the open many of the latent issues
that surround US-China-Taiwan relations. There is too little consensus within
the US regarding its
relations with China and Taiwan.
Actions by China and Taiwan have complicated the picture, making a
new consensus either within the US or across the straits even
less likely.
The Taiwan
Security Reduction Act By David M. Lampton
(Washington
Post, Oct. 31, 1999) The most dangerous piece of foreign policy legislation
in memory is moving through Congress. It is titled the Taiwan Security
Enhancement Act. Introduced in the Senate by Jesse Helms (R-N.C.) and Robert
Torricelli (D-N.J.) and in the House by Rep. Tom DeLay, it ought to be called
the Taiwan Security Reduction Act.
Taiwan Balancing Act
(Editorial,
The Wall Street Journal, Oct. 29, 1999) As the U.S. stepped away from its
commitment to Taiwan, China
stepped away from its commitment to solve the reunification problem without
recourse to violence. Rep. Ben Gilman, chairman of the House International
Relations Committee, says the bill was in response to "Beijing's
outright refusal to renounce the use of force against Taiwan."
Why Taiwan's Security Needs to be Enhanced By Stephen
J. Yates
(The Heritage
Foundation, Executive Memorandum, No. 632 October 25, 1999) The legislative
history of the TRA makes clear that these two provisions were intended to
ensure that Taiwan was not relegated to using second-class military hardware
and technology, that its defense needs would be determined without regard to
the views of the Mainland, and that the President would at least consult with
Congress in making this determination. Today, Taiwan suffers from the inability
to participate in (or even observe) advanced joint military exercises. And
the United States
is failing to faithfully implement the legislative intent of the TRA.
Lobbying for Taiwan's Security By Parris Chang
(Taipei
Times, Oct. 23, 1999) Yao Eng-chi, the vice speaker of the Legislative Yuan,
led a bipartisan team of legislators to Washington between Oct. 11 and 14 for
an intensive series of meetings with Senators and House representatives to
lobby the passage of the Taiwan Security Enhancement Act (TSEA).
|