Steve Chabot: “it's very unfortunate that we have to come back year after year to urge that restrictions should be lifted for…”

“it's very unfortunate that we have to come back year after year to urge that restrictions should be lifted for high-level visits by appointed and democratically elected leaders of Taiwan. Our misguided Taiwan policy is nothing new. The so-called ``One China'' policy is a bipartisan mistake--begun in the Nixon-Kissinger era and exacerbated by President Carter's abrogation of our Mutual Defense Treaty in 1980. It continues to this day. Just last week, dozens of Members of Congress welcomed Taiwan's Democrat Progressive Party's nominee for the Presidency, Mr. Frank Hsieh, to our Nation's Capitol. There was a little gallows humor at the gathering because, in fact, if Mr. Hsieh wins the election next year, he will no longer be able to come to visit with his friends in Washington, D.C. Our insulting policy toward our democratic friend and ally should be cast aside to reflect the reality of our strong relationship with Taiwan. Taiwan is a vibrant democracy of some 23,000,000. It is our 8th largest trading partner and the world's 18th largest economy. The Taiwanese people enjoy a full range of freedoms not enjoyed on the other side of the Taiwan Strait--freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom to elect all of their leaders. Taiwan is a model for young democracies and a great friend to the United States. We should recognize that friendship by abandoning our insulting policy on high level visits and welcoming our Taiwanese friends with open arms.”