VINCENT SNOWBARGER: “For 20 years the United States has had a consistent policy toward the dispute between China and Taiwan. We have long…”

“For 20 years the United States has had a consistent policy toward the dispute between China and Taiwan. We have long acknowledged that China's position is there is one China and that Taiwan is a part of China, but we have never endorsed the Chinese position. Now, true, this is a nuance, but we are familiar with the importance of the nuance in both international and interpersonal relations. We all have acquaintances who hold strong beliefs that we are not willing to agree to but do not directly challenge. Nations behave in the same way. We have never said that China's position is also the position of the United States; that is, until June 30, 1998, when the President suddenly and unilaterally announced a new policy, or what appears to be a new policy. I personally regret the necessity for the House to have to consider this resolution, but Congress must set the record straight and reassure the world that the United States will not turn its back on our friends and that we will maintain the longstanding policy which has kept the judicious balance between China and Taiwan and has kept peace in the Taiwan Straits for many years.”