A resolution expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) and the harmful conflation of China's "One China Principle" and the United States'"One China Policy".
- Bill Number
- S.Res. 86
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- International Affairs
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-04-28: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 56.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-05T22:04:17Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This Senate resolution (S. Res. 86) expresses the collective view of the U.S. Senate on United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (passed in 1971), which recognized the People's Republic of China (PRC) as the representative for "China" at the UN. The resolution aims to clarify that this UN action did not address Taiwan's political status or endorse China's "One China Principle" (a PRC policy claiming Taiwan as part of China). It highlights the distinction between this principle and the U.S. "One China Policy" (which acknowledges China's position without recognizing its sovereignty over Taiwan) and opposes China's efforts to misuse the UN resolution to isolate Taiwan internationally.
Key Provisions
The resolution includes a detailed preamble outlining historical context, PRC actions, and U.S. positions, followed by 11 specific affirmations in the "Resolved" section:
- Reaffirms the U.S. "One China Policy" as acknowledging (but not endorsing) PRC claims over Taiwan, emphasizing peaceful resolution without U.S. pressure on Taiwan to negotiate with China.
- States that the U.S. and allied "one China policies" are not the same as the PRC's "One China Principle."
- Clarifies that UN Resolution 2758 only dealt with UN representation for China and does not support PRC sovereignty claims over Taiwan or represent global consensus on the issue.
- Opposes China's use of the principle to coerce the U.S., Taiwan, or other nations into accepting its Taiwan claims.
- Supports Taiwan's diplomatic ties with allies and encourages broader global partnerships with Taiwan.
- Reaffirms U.S. backing for Taiwan's involvement in international organizations where statehood is not required (e.g., World Health Organization) and meaningful participation elsewhere.
- Recognizes Taiwan as a key partner in areas like global health and manufacturing, whose expertise benefits the world.
- Calls for Taiwan passport holders to access UN facilities without needing PRC-issued identification.
- Urges U.S. collaboration with partners to counter China's narratives on the UN resolution.
- Encourages other countries to distinguish their policies from China's "One China Principle" to challenge PRC propaganda.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
This is a non-binding "sense of the Senate" resolution, meaning it does not create new laws, amend statutes, or impose legal obligations. It restates and reinforces longstanding U.S. policies (e.g., the Six Assurances to Taiwan from 1982) without introducing changes to existing legal frameworks like the Taiwan Relations Act (1979), which governs U.S.-Taiwan ties.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: May guide the U.S. Department of State in diplomatic efforts, such as pushing for Taiwan's inclusion in international bodies or countering PRC influence at the UN, potentially increasing advocacy resources or statements from officials.
- On Citizens: Limited direct impact on U.S. citizens, but could indirectly support travel and participation for Taiwanese individuals (e.g., journalists or NGO representatives) at UN events by challenging entry barriers.
- On International Relations: Strengthens U.S. signaling to China against coercive tactics, bolsters support for Taiwan's global role, and could encourage allies (e.g., Australia, UK, EU) to adopt similar stances, potentially straining U.S.-PRC ties while enhancing U.S.-Taiwan and multilateral partnerships. It may also pressure the UN to revisit exclusions of Taiwan, affecting organizations like the World Health Organization.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- U.S. Government and Senate: Primary actors, as the resolution reflects congressional intent and bipartisan sponsorship (from senators like Risch, Shaheen, and others).
- Taiwan: Benefits from affirmed U.S. support for its international participation and opposition to isolation efforts.
- People's Republic of China (PRC): Directly challenged for misusing UN Resolution 2758 and pressuring nations to sever ties with Taiwan (e.g., influencing 10 countries since 2016 to do so).
- United Nations and International Organizations: Prompted to address distortions of Resolution 2758, potentially easing Taiwan's access to forums like the World Health Organization, International Civil Aviation Organization, and Interpol.
- U.S. Allies and Partners: Encouraged to counter PRC narratives, including entities like the European Parliament, Australian Senate, and countries facing PRC coercion (e.g., South Africa).
- Taiwan's Diplomatic Allies: Supported in maintaining ties, with only 12 countries currently recognizing Taiwan formally.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: No enforceable changes, but it aligns with existing U.S. law (e.g., no recognition of PRC sovereignty over Taiwan) and could inform executive branch actions under the Constitution's foreign affairs powers shared between Congress and the President.
- Constitutional: Reinforces Congress's role in shaping foreign policy through resolutions, without infringing on executive authority, and upholds free association principles by supporting Taiwan's non-state memberships.
- Political: Bipartisan (119th Congress, introduced February 2025, reported April 2025) signal of U.S. unity on Taiwan amid rising PRC assertiveness; counters "revisionist history" by PRC (e.g., altering UN documents); may escalate rhetorical tensions with China but builds international coalition against its Taiwan strategy, as seen in similar resolutions from allies in 2024.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (15)
Sen. Shaheen, Jeanne [D-NH], Sen. Ricketts, Pete [R-NE], Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE], Sen. Scott, Rick [R-FL], Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL], Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ], Sen. Kaine, Tim [D-VA], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Young, Todd [R-IN], Sen. Bennet, Michael F. [D-CO], Sen. Rosen, Jacky [D-NV], Sen. Merkley, Jeff [D-OR], Sen. Cortez Masto, Catherine [D-NV], Sen. Van Hollen, Chris [D-MD], Sen. Sullivan, Dan [R-AK]
Recent Actions
- 2025-04-28: Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 56.
- 2025-04-28: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
- 2025-04-28: Committee on Foreign Relations. Reported by Senator Risch without amendment and with a preamble. Without written report.
- 2025-03-27: Committee on Foreign Relations. Ordered to be reported without amendment favorably.
- 2025-02-20: Referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations. (text: CR S1135-1136)
- 2025-02-20: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) and the harmful conflation of China’s One China Principle and the United States' One China Policy. — issued 2025-02-20 — PDF (8 pages)
- Expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2758 (XXVI) and the harmful conflation of China’s One China Principle and the United States' One China Policy. — issued 2025-04-28 — PDF (10 pages)