Sec. 101. Statement of policy relating to Taiwan Relations Act
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Congress finds the following: The Taiwan Relations Act has been instrumental in maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific since its enactment in 1979, and it is in the political, security, and economic interests of the United States. The Taiwan Relations Act affirmed that the United States’ decision to establish a diplomatic relationship with the People’s Republic of China was based on the expectation that the future of Taiwan would be determined by peaceful means.
The Taiwan Relations Act also states that it is the policy of the United States to provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character and to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people on Taiwan . The Taiwan Relations Act also states that it is the policy of the United States to preserve and promote extensive, close, and friendly commercial, cultural, and other relations between the people of the United States and the people on Taiwan, as well as the people on the China mainland and all other peoples of the Western Pacific area .
The relationship between the United States and Taiwan has been strengthened with— Taiwan’s evolution into a free society and a full-fledged, multi-party democracy; the development of Taiwan’s robust market economy; Taiwan’s collaboration with the United States to combat terrorism, as demonstrated in part by its participation in the Container Security Initiative; and the role Taiwan has played in addressing transnational and global challenges, including its active engagement in humanitarian relief measures, public health endeavors, environmental protection initiatives, and financial market stabilization efforts.
The United States is the third largest trading partner and the largest investor in Taiwan, while Taiwan is the twelfth largest trading partner of the United States and the eighth largest United States agricultural market. Taiwan’s democracy has deepened with the second peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another after the presidential election in March 2008. The United States and Taiwan are united in our shared values in free elections, personal liberty, and free enterprise.
Congress— reaffirms its unwavering commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act as the cornerstone of relations between the United States and Taiwan; reaffirms its support for Taiwan’s democratic institutions; reaffirms that peace in the Taiwan Strait should be maintained to the benefit of the Asia-Pacific region; supports the United States commitment to Taiwan's security in accord with the Taiwan Relations Act, including Taiwan’s procurement of sophisticated weapons of a defensive character, such as F–16 C/Ds aircraft and diesel electric submarines; reaffirms its commitment to deepen United States-Taiwan trade and investment relations as well as support for Taiwan’s inclusion in bilateral and regional trade agreements at the appropriate time and under the right conditions in which outstanding issues affecting United States exports are being addressed; and supports the strong and deepening relationship between the United States and Taiwan.