S.Res. 657

96 SRES 657 IS: Commending Taiwan on the 30th anniversary of its first direct presidential election in 1996, and expressing support for Taiwan in the preservation of its democratic institutions.
 U.S. Senate
 2026-03-23
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 III  119th CONGRESS  2d Session  S. RES. 657  IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES   March 23, 2026   Ms. Duckworth  (for herself,  Mr. Curtis ,  Mr. Kaine ,  Mr. Ricketts ,  Mr. Merkley ,  Mr. Scott of Florida ,  Mr. Van Hollen ,  Mr. Cruz ,  Ms. Rosen ,  Mr. Bennet , and  Mr. Fetterman ) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the  Committee on Foreign Relations    RESOLUTION
Commending Taiwan on the 30th anniversary of its first direct presidential election in 1996, and expressing support for Taiwan in the preservation of its democratic institutions.
Whereas Taiwan, the government of which officially calls itself the Republic of China, began transitioning to a liberal democracy in the late 1980s, lifted martial law in 1987, and held its first direct legislative election in 1992;
Whereas, on March 23, 1996, the people of Taiwan held their first direct presidential election, marking a historic milestone in Taiwan’s democratic development;
Whereas Taiwan has now held 8 presidential and multiple legislative and local elections since its democratic transition, all of which were free, fair, and representative of the will of the people of Taiwan;
Whereas Taiwan has demonstrated the strength of its democratic system through multiple peaceful transfers of political power, which is a bedrock of a free, stable, and representative political system;
Whereas the democratic institutions of Taiwan codify the freedoms of speech, press, assembly, and religion into law, and the citizens of Taiwan have exercised these freedoms in practice to build a vibrant civil society, a strong journalistic and media sector, and an advanced business community;
Whereas Taiwan has continued to strengthen and safeguard its democratic system in the face of growing military, economic, and political pressure from the People’s Republic of China;
Whereas the people of Taiwan have shown resilience and steadfast commitment to democratic values despite ongoing coercion and intimidation;
Whereas Taiwan’s democracy and respect for the rule of law contribute to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region;
Whereas the Taiwan Relations Act ( 22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq. ) and the Six Assurances, which were originally conveyed by President Ronald Reagan to Taiwan in 1982, remain fundamental elements of United States policy toward Taiwan; and
Whereas the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan continue to stand as partners against coercion, and threats to regional peace and stability: Now, therefore, be it
1.
Commemoration statement
The Senate of the United States—
(1)
commemorates the historic significance of Taiwan’s first direct presidential election, which was held on March 23, 1996;
(2)
commends Taiwan for building and sustaining a robust democratic system, and the example it has set for self-governance, not just for the Pacific region, but for the world;
(3)
regards the democracy of Taiwan as a great strategic strength for the free world and a key component of strong and enduring United States-Taiwan relations;
(4)
is committed to supporting Taiwan’s self-defense and the liberty of its people; and
(5)
remains committed to the United States policy toward Taiwan that has been established by the Taiwan Relations Act ( Public Law 96–8 ;  22 U.S.C. 3301 et seq. ), the Three Communiqués, and the Six Assurances towards Taiwan.
2.
Rule of construction
Nothing in this resolution may be construed as authorizing the use of military force.