Dear all:

Here below an edited version of my earlier posting about Senator McCain’s views on Taiwan. I have added Senator Obama’s views on Taiwan.

Regarding the topic of their voting record: the Taiwan bills we passed over the past 20 years in the Senate were passed unanimously or by voice vote. Only Senator Feinstein and Senator Bennett Johnson from Louisiana would mostly vote against or abstain.

So it is safe to say that both Senator McCain and Senator Obama supported every piece of Taiwan related legislation which came to the floor during their respective tenures as Senators.

Regards,

COEN

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SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN ON TAIWAN

Off Capitol Hill, McCain wrote in the November/December issue of the magazine Foreign Affairs (An Enduring Peace Built on Freedom – Securing America’s Future, Page 29):

“When China threatens democratic Taiwan with a massive arsenal of missiles and warlike rhetoric, the United States must take note.”

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For Immediate Release
February 23, 2007 Contact: Matt David
703-650-5550

Remarks As Prepared For Delivery: Senator John McCain At The Seattle World Affairs Council

“We see such a success story in Taiwan, whose people no longer comprise a one-part y state. I am pleased that the United States helped bring Taiwan into APEC and the World Trade Organization, and it is inspiring to see this vibrant democracy deal with its numerous security challenges. And while the government of Taiwan must not needlessly precipitate a crisis, we have to make clear to China’s leaders that attempts to isolate Taiwan internationally or militarily coerce it are unwise. Pointing nearly 900 missiles at Taiwan, passing laws authorize force against the island, and continually practicing amphibious landings are not prudent ways to convince the world of China’s peaceful rise.

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Stanford Summit: John McCain
by Colette Vogele, posted on August 1, 2007 – 4:19pm.

These are my notes from the “fireside chat” with John McCain at the Always On Stanford Summit:

Q: China/Taiwan issue… How would you stop Taiwan from declaring its independence from China.

A: I would discourage Taiwan declaring its independence. I would also encourage China to be more rational in how it deals with Taiwan. One starting point is that I’d try to get China to declare that it will never use force against Taiwan.

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Sen. John McCain Blasts Clinton Administration’s North Korea ‘Failure’
FOX NEWS with Sean Hannity
Wednesday, October 11, 2006

HANNITY: Rearming Japan, a resolution to defend Japan, South Korea and Taiwan, that would all be in the areas that you would suggest to the president at this particular point, remind the Chinese that, in fact, the Olympics are coming?

MCCAIN: Yes. And I would also make it clear to the Chinese that we’re not happy with some things, like the currency exchange. We’re not happy with their repression of democracy. We’re not happy with their failure to progress recently on a path to a free and open society.

And we will continue our steadfast belief that Taiwan will only be reunited to China if it’s done in a peaceful manner and the people of Taiwan desire to do so. Until then, we will protect them.

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China and the Candidates: John McCain
CBN News (Christian News)
January 8, 2007

As the New Hampshire primaries have captured the media spotlight, all Republican eyes are on John McCain. He still leads the state over rival Mitt Romney, and McCain supporters anticipate a repeat victory for him in the Granite State.

Beyond McCain’s momentum in New Hampshire lurks another, seldom-asked question: what would a McCain presidency look like in terms of US-China relations?

McCain has been one of the more vocal candidates on China (which doesn’t say too much considering the current crop of candidates), but to gain a better understanding of his perspective, you can listen to this YouTube clip and read some of his thoughts on China here:

“Managing the rise of China remains the single greatest long term challenge to U.S. foreign policy. . . . But the key question today is not whether China is on the rise, but rather what character the regime will assume tomorrow.- John McCain Apr. 2005 speech to Committee of 100

“China and the United States are not destined to be adversaries. We have numerous overlapping interests. U.S.-Chinese relations can benefit both countries and, in turn, the Asia-Pacific region and the world. But until China moves toward political liberalization, our relationship will be based on periodically shared interests rather than the bedrock of shared values.” -McCain to Foreign Affairs Nov./Dec. 2007

“I understand that China violates people’s intellectual property rights all the time, and I’ll take them to the WTO. I’ll put pressure on them to stop it. But, I’ll tell you – a developed Chinese economy, where they want their intellectual property rights respected, is probably one of the best ways to encourage them to respect intellectual property rights.”- John McCain to TechCrunch Nov., 2007.

From this small sampling of China statements, a few major themes come across: first of all remains the “challenge” of China. At the moment, McCain correctly asserts that US-China relations are more strongly based on shared interests than shared values. This presents the monumental question of whether the shared interests are enough, or whether it’s in the U.S. interest to export values along with airplanes or microchips.

Rather than explicitly hammering our values philosophy down the throats of the Chinese, McCain prefers to use our shared interests in order to find common ground. He acknowledges the uncertainty surrounding the future political philosophy of China’s government (which doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon). As a proponent of free trade, he would encourage continued trade with China, without the threat of sanctions or huge tariffs on Chinese imports.

At the same time, McCain has been very critical of the work of companies like Yahoo and Google in China, and in his TechCrunch interview, told other companies “not to accede to assisting that government in maintaining an oppressive and repressive society.”

While McCain has been “embarrassed” by Yahoo’s issues, he doesn’t just see Internet companies’ work in China as a black and white issue . Instead, he says that the technology can be used for good or evil, and that corporations must be held responsible to use their technology in an ethical manner.

Ultimately, McCain, like many of his competitors, wants to foster stronger relations with China, but not at the expense of our own sense of values. He has a more comprehensive understanding and better-articulated plan than most (which his Foreign Affairs essay documents quite well), but he continues to understand the difficult balance of maintaining positive relations with Taiwan, Japan, and China.

While New Hampshire voters seem to appreciate McCain’s policies thus far, whether his voice resonates with the greater country remains unknown.

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CHINA NEWS, August 16, 1999

Bush backs Taiwan, blasts Clinton policy: Presidential aspirants Dole, McCain also warn Beijing U.S. presidential frontrunner George W. Bush said he might use force to defend Taiwan against aggression from China if he were elected to the White House. “We need to be very resolute about our position when it comes to Taiwan,” the Texas governor said in a CNN television interview. Rival Republican presidential aspirants Elizabeth Dole and John McCain also voiced support for Taiwan in separate U.S. television interviews.

[…]

McCain, a Republican U.S. senator from the state of Arizona, warned China against taking any military action against Taiwan, saying the consequences would be severe. In an interview with “Fox News Sunday” McCain, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, said: “China has to understand that the United States of America will not allow them to carry out acts of aggression in a military fashion which will jeopardize everything in Asia.”

Asked if he thought China would take action against Taiwan, McCain said: “I hope they have the good sense to realize the consequences will be so severe there is nothing they can gain from it.” Chinese officials have made clear they are considering military action to punish the recent controversial assertions of statehood by Taiwan. Since the United States switched its diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, all U.S. presidents have embraced so-called strategic ambiguity to avoid specifying what Washington would do if Beijing carried out threats to attack.

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McCAIN WARNS CHINA OF CONSEQUENCES IF IT INVADES TAIWAN

Washington, March 3, 2000 (CNA) US Republican presidential candidate Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) warned Communist China Friday against its latest threat to invade Taiwan, saying Beijing would face consequences far greater than anything they might gain from such an action.

In an interview on the NBC “Today” program, McCain pointed out that “the one thing the Chinese have to understand is if they commit aggression against Taiwan, the consequences will be far greater than anything they might gain from it. It would be terribly destabilizing and harmful to everything in the region, which becomes more and more important to the United States of America.”

When asked weather the latest Communist threat against Taiwan should lead to the sale of such US weapons as Aegis destroyers and certain missile systems to Taiwan, McCain said he would first solicit recommendations from the Pentagon and the State Department as to whether the United States should sell them to Taiwan or not.

“More importantly, what I’d do is spend a lot of money to develop the sea-based missile defense system so we could put our ships in international waters in the area if they were threatened. So that might remove the requirement for the Taiwanese to have some of that equipment. I wouldn’t give them blanket approval; of course not,” added the former US Navy fighter pilot.

During a Republican primary debate in Los Angeles on Thursday, McCain said Taiwan should also observe the long-standing US “one China” policy, which calls for peaceful reunification, and not seek independence from China because there has been a strategic ambiguity in the US policy.

“But the person who destroyed the strategic ambiguity was President Clinton when he went to China in 1998 and called Jiang Zemin and the Chinese his strategic partner. And he destroyed the delicate balance of ambiguity which is causing many of these problems now, which is again an example of the fecklessness of the Clinton foreign policy,” noted the senator.

Texas Governor George W. Bush also warned Beijing in the Los Angeles debate that “what the Chinese need to assume is that if they violate the `one China’ policy…..which has clearly said that the United States expects there to be a peaceful resolution between China and Taiwan, if they decide to use force, the United States must help Taiwan defend itself.”

“And it’s important for the Chinese to recognize that our relationship is going to change from one of strategic partner to one of competitor,” Bush added. And he reminded Taiwan that a `one China’ policy is important for the peaceful resolution of cross-strait disputes and “the role of the United States is to use our prestige in the world to make sure that policy remains intact.” (By Nelson Chung)

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TAIPEI TIMES

McCain expresses support for Taiwan

STAFF WRITER, WITH CNA, LOS ANGELES
Friday, May 04, 2007, Page 3

Senator John McCain, a Republican US presidential contender from Arizona, expressed his staunch support for Taiwan on Wednesday on the campaign trail in Los Angeles.

McCain, who fought in the Vietnam War as a US Air Force pilot and who is known for his anti-communist stance, said the US administration should pay more attention to the situation in Asia.

Answering questions from Chinese-language media during a visit to a southern Los Angeles community known as “Little Saigon,” McCain reiterated his support for “free and democratic” Taiwan and said he firmly opposed China’s military buildup.

He said that cross-Taiwan Strait issues must be addressed through negotiation and that China’s intimidation of Taiwan and military threats should never be tolerated.

McCain’s support ratings lag behind those of Rudy Giuliani in the campaign for the Republican party’s nomination for next year’s presidential election, but he has an edge over his rivals in terms of his experience in diplomacy and defense.

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Senator McCain congratulated Ma Ying-jeou with his presidential election victory. For a Taipei Times article on the topic, see: bottom of this memo.

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SENATOR MCCAIN’s VOTING RECORD:

All Taiwan bills we passed over the past 20 years went unanimously or by voice vote. Only Senator Feinstein would vote against or abstain, and Senator Bennett Johnson from Louisiana Whose sons were involved in business in China.. So McCain supported everything…

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SENATOR MCCAIN’s COSPONSORSHIP OF TAIWAN LEGISLATION:

2006 ——- S.CON.RES.84: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding a free trade agreement between the United States and Taiwan. Sponsor: Sen Kyl, Jon [AZ] (introduced 3/28/2006) Cosponsors (15) Related Bills: H.CON.RES.342, H.CON.RES.346 Latest Major Action: 3/28/2006 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Referred to the Committee on Finance.

1997 ——- S.CON.RES.30: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress that the rules of multilateral economic institutions, including the International Monetary Fund and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, should be amended to allow membership for the Republic of China on Taiwan and other qualified economies. Sponsor: Sen Helms, Jesse [NC] (introduced 5/23/1997) Cosponsors (39) Committees: Senate Foreign Relations; House Banking and Financial Services Latest Major Action: 7/31/1998 Referred to House subcommittee. Status: Referred to the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy.

1998 ——- S.CON.RES.107: A concurrent resolution affirming U.S. commitments under the Taiwan Relations Act. Sponsor: Sen Lott, Trent [MS] (introduced 7/7/1998) Cosponsors (28) Committees: Senate Foreign Relations; House International Relations Latest Major Action: 7/14/1998 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on International Relations.

1995 ——— S.CON.RES.9: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of the Congress regarding a private visit by President Lee Teng-hui of the Republic of China on Taiwan to the United States. Sponsor: Sen Murkowski, Frank H. [AK] (introduced 3/6/1995) Cosponsors (53) Committees: Senate Foreign Relations Latest Major Action: 5/11/1995 Senate floor actions. Status: Indefinitely postponed by Senate by Unanimous Consent.

1995 —— S.RES.97 : A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to peace and stability in the South China Sea.Sponsor: Sen Thomas, Craig [WY] (introduced 3/30/1995) Cosponsors (12) Committees: Senate Foreign Relations Latest Major Action: 6/22/1995 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate with amendments and an amended preamble by Voice Vote.

1993 —— S.RES.148 Title: A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate that the United Nations should be encouraged to permit representatives of Taiwan to participate fully in its activities, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Sen Simon, Paul [IL] (introduced 10/5/1993) Cosponsors (42) Latest Major Action: 6/10/1994 Passed/agreed to in Senate. Status: Resolution agreed to in Senate without amendment and with a preamble by Voice Vote.

SENATOR OBAMA’s RECORD:

Obama’s views on Taiwan are largely unknown. For two reasons: 1. The senator has not been in office for long, 2. foreign policy and military affairs are not his forte (despite his seat on the foreign relations committee.); unlike John McCain’s who is the ranking member on the Senate Armed Services Committee, i.e. the most senior Republican on the Committee.

We have a letter Senator Obama (i.e. the senator’s staff) wrote to a FAPA member and the text of the letter the Senator’s staff wrote to congratulate Ma Ying-jeou with his presidential election victory (BTW: Senator McCain also congratulated MYJ)

From: senator_obama@obama.senate.gov
To: [name withheld]
Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 11:52 AM
Subject: Message from Senator Barack Obama

Dear [name withheld]

Thank you for contacting me to share your thoughts on U.S.-Taiwan relations. I appreciate having the benefit of your perspective on this issue.

Over the last few decades, Taiwan has made a transition to a full-fledged democracy with a vibrant economy. Today, Taiwan is a valued trading partner and has importance for U.S. political and security interests, and I agree that we must remain committed to the advancement of democracy and the preservation of human rights of the people of Taiwan. This means maintaining our military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening our alliances, and making clear to both Beijing and Taipei that a unilateral change in the states quo in the Taiwan Strait is unacceptable.

In the 110th Congress, Senators Johnson (D-SD) and Lott (R-MS) have introduced a Senate resolution S. Con. Res. 48, which expresses the sense of Congress that restrictions on visits by high-level elected and appointed officials of Taiwan should be lifted in order to strengthen a policy dialogue with Taiwan. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, you may rest assured that I will keep your thoughts in mind as I consider this and other pieces of legislation relevant to U.S.-Taiwan relations that come before the Senate.

Thank you again for writing. Please stay in touch.

Sincerely,

Barack Obama
United States Senator

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Transcript Congratulatory Letter of Senator Obama to Ma during first week of May:

Dear President Ma:

Please accept my warmest congratulations on your inauguration as the new President of Taiwan. This is an important event in the political history of the island, one which can deepen the ties between the United States and Taiwan. A sound U.S.-Taiwan relationship will certainly be the goal of my Administration. Your inauguration also holds promise for more peaceful and stable relations between the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, in no small measure because you have extended the hand of peace and cooperation to Beijing.

Your election is the latest step in consolidating a democracy that has advanced over the last two decades. The people of Taiwan showed great maturity by endorsing a track of peace, prosperity, and good relations with the United States.

I sincerely hope the People’s Republic of China will respond to the beginning of your presidency in a constructive and forward-leaning way. It is important for Beijing to demonstrate to the people of Taiwan that the practical and non-confrontational approach that you have taken towards the Mainland can achieve positive results. I hope that there will be progress on issues including development of economic ties, expanding Taiwan’s international space, and cross-Straits security, on which you have made proposals that deserve a good-faith response.

I support the “one China” policy of the United States, adherence to the three U.S.-PRC Joint Communiqués concerning Taiwan, and observance of the Taiwan Relations Act. On that foundation, I believe that the United States should strengthen channels of communication with officials of your government. We should continue to provide the arms necessary for Taiwan to deter possible aggression. And we should support your efforts to build closer ties with the Mainland that will lay the groundwork for a mores table and predictable relationship.

Your election on March 22nd and your inauguration on May 20th were good days for the people of Taiwan, for the forces of democracy around the world, and for peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and western Pacific. I will do all that I can to support Taiwan’s democracy in the years ahead.

With best wishes,

Barack Obama

* * *

US presidential rivals congratulate Ma
WELL-WISHERS: Illinois Senator Barack Obama sent the most detailed statement, dealing with a long list of issues facing Taiwan as it contends with China’s hostility
By Charles Snyder
TAIPEI TIMES
STAFF REPORTER IN WASHINGTON
Saturday, Mar 29, 2008, Page 3

The three candidates vying to become the next president of the US have all sent their congratulations to Ma Ying-jeou on his election, pledging support for good relations between Washington and Taiwan and heaping praise on the country’s democracy.

Illinois Senator Barack Obama, the leading candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, sent the most detailed statement, dealing with a long list of issues facing Taiwan as it contends with a hostile China, while senators John McCain, the Republican candidate, and Hillary Clinton, Obama’s rival for the Democratic nomination, sent shorter, less detailed messages.

“The people of Taiwan deserve our respect and admiration for this free and fair election, which is just the latest step in consolidating a democracy that has advanced over the last two decades,” Obama said.

“March 22nd was a good day for the people of Taiwan, for the forces of democracy around the world, and for peace and stability in the western Pacific. I will do all that I can to support Taiwan’s democracy in the years ahead,” he said.

MESSAGE TO CHINA

“I hope the People’s Republic of China responds to this election in a positive, constructive, and forward-leaning way. It is important for Beijing to demonstrate to the people of Taiwan that the practical and non-confrontational approach that President-elect Ma promises to take toward the Mainland will be met with good faith and progress,” Obama said.

“The PRC should reduce the military threat to Taiwan by drawing back the missiles it has deployed in southeast China and by other security confidence-building measures. And on issues such as Taiwan’s observer status in the World Health Organization, where the health of all Chinese people is at stake, it should allow Taiwan greater international space,” he said.

Turning to the US’ role in the Taiwan issue, Obama said the US “should respond to Ma Ying-jeou’s election by rebuilding a relationship of trust and support for Taiwan’s democracy. The US should reopen blocked channels of communication with Taiwan officials. We should continue to provide the arms necessary for Taiwan to deter possible aggression. And we should encourage both Taipei and Beijing to build commercial, cultural, and other ties, laying the groundwork for a closer relationship and ultimately movement toward resolution of their differences.”

Obama also said the US should maintain its “one China” policy, adherence to the three US-PRC Joint Communiques concerning Taiwan and observance of the Taiwan Relations Act.

MCCAIN’S STATEMENT

McCain, one of the leading supporters of Taiwan in the Senate, said “once again we are witnessing the peaceful transfer of political power from one government to another based on ballots in an election that was free and fair.”

“The vigorous campaigning of Ma Ying-jeou of the KMT [Chinese Nationalist Party] and the DPP’s [Democratic Progressive Party’s] Frank Hsieh are testimony to the press freedoms, democratic process and the rule of law that the Taiwanese people have worked so hard to build,” he said.

“Taiwan’s election is a fine example for the region,” McCain said.

Also, in an appearance on Wednesday before the Los Angeles World Affairs Council, McCain said: “It’s pretty clear that the people of Taiwan, the voters, have opted for closer relations with China and many have, to some degree, defused what might have been a bit of a crisis between Taiwan and the mainland [sic].”

“I respect that and frankly agree with it. But I most of all respect a very democratic decision made by the people of Taiwan,” McCain said.

Clinton, in a statement on Tuesday, said that Taiwan’s democratic achievements “have earned them the admiration of the entire international community.”

“The friendship between the people of Taiwan and the United States has remained deep as democracy on Taiwan has strengthened,” she said.

“I hope that under President Ma’s capable leadership, Taiwan’s political institutions will thrive, and that ways can be found to appropriately expand Taiwan’s contributions to the international community,” she said.

Clinton also expressed the hope that “cross-Strait dialogue will be possible, and will contribute significantly to a reduction of tensions in the Taiwan Straits [sic] and East Asia.”