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House approves easing curbs on Taiwan contacts

The US House of Representatives on Thursday unanimously passed a measure that would eliminate a long list of restrictions on contacts between Taiwan and US officials imposed by the US Department of State that have severely crimped communications between the two sides since Washington recognized Beijing in 1978.

The House acted by adding an amendment to a bill funding the State Department and other foreign affairs operations for next year. The funding bill will now go to the Senate, where the fate of the Taiwan amendment is unclear.

The amendment, introduced by Republican Representative Tom Tancredo, would prohibit the administration of US President George W. Bush from spending money on any action to enforce a series of guidelines issued by the department that prohibits many high-level contacts and imposes restrictions on the way the two sides interact in Washington. Such restrictions must be followed by all US executive departments.

Describing the guidelines as "nonsensical," Tancredo said in a speech on the House floor that "this is an absurd way to treat a friendly democratic ally, particularly when the State Department is speaking directly with Iran and North Korea -- both state sponsors of terrorism."

The guidelines "raise serious questions about who is really calling the shots when it comes to America's Taiwan policy: Is it our government, or is it the communist government in Beijing?" he said.

He said the guidelines "needlessly complicate" Washington's ability to effectively communicate with Taiwan.

"The restrictions range from just silly to downright absurd," he said.

Republican Representative Steve Chabot, a founding co-chair of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, joined Tancredo in sponsoring the amendment, calling it "long overdue."

"Taiwan is our friend -- a longtime democratic ally and major trading partner," he said.

Ticking off a list of human rights and other failings in China in contrast with Taiwan's democracy, Chabot complained that "when it comes to dealing with the two nations diplomatically, we often treat Taiwan like a pariah nation and kowtow to the Beijing bullies."

The guidelines bar Taiwanese officials, legislators and political party representatives from entering the State Department and White House; prohibit all executive branch personnel from attending functions at Taiwan's Twin Oaks mansion, in which most social functions are held; and bar foreign affairs officials or other high-level officials from attending the Double Ten Day celebrations.

As a result, virtually all bilateral meetings are held in downtown Washington restaurants or social clubs, rather than in offices.

Senior and mid-level State Department and Pentagon officials cannot travel to Taiwan, and officials must clear personal trips with the State Department. All officials must travel on tourist passports.

US officials are not permitted to correspond directly with officials at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office or with officials in Taiwan.

The US official must ask the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) to send a letter to the Taiwanese official "incorporating the views of the concerned US department or agency."

The enclosed letter must be on plain paper and cannot identify the writer's title. Even thank-you notes must be on plain paper in plain envelopes.

While these policies have been in effect since 1979, the Tancredo amendment aims at what is believed to be the latest update, issued by the department on Feb. 2, 2002.

In addition to the communications curbs, the four-page guidelines contain strictures on how the US refers to Taiwan. US officials are not allowed to use the terms "Republic of China" or "Republic of China on Taiwan."

They cannot refer to Taiwan as a government or country. The term "Taiwanese" is also taboo. The term "people on Taiwan" is used instead.

"The proper noun and adjective to refer to the island, the entity and its authorities are Taiwan," the document states.

Taiwan's government is called "the Taiwan authorities."

A similar amendment to the foreign affairs spending bill, also introduced by Tancredo, was approved unanimously by the House last year, but failed to make it through the Senate.
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