[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 182 (Thursday, November 16, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       OPPORTUNITY AND CHALLENGE

                                 ______


                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 16, 1995

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, in celebration of the Republic of China on 
Taiwan's recent National Day, I wish to draw my colleagues' attention 
to a fine book authored by Taiwan's Foreign Minister, Fredrick Chien, 
and most recently published by the Arizona Historical Society, Arizona 
State University. Entitled ``Opportunity and Challenge,'' this 
publication of speeches, statements, and interviews by and about Dr. 
Fredrick Chien is a chronicle of Republic of China's diplomatic 
travails and successes from 1989 through 1994. During this period, 
Fredrick Chien confronted challenges and opportunities nearly every 
day. Shortly after assuming office as Foreign Minister in the summer of 
1990, Chien saw Saudi Arabia break off relations with Taiwan and later, 
South Korea also broke off its relations with Taiwan. Never despairing, 
Chien adopted a pragmatic approach to foreign relations, helping his 
country establish ties with new countries or re-establish ties with old 
friends. Since 1990, the Republic of China has seen its diplomatic 
fortunes improve, increasing its number of offices abroad and its 
participation in international organizations. Taipei's campaigns to win 
international friends are chronicled in the speeches, interviews given 
or essays written by Fredrick Chien from 1989 through 1994.
  Among the many chapters, Chien's ``A View from Taipei,'' first 
published in the 1991-92 winter issue of Foreign Affairs, is 
particularly noteworthy. In this article, Chien articulates Republic of 
China's pragmatic diplomacy which has allowed the Republic of China 
entry in several important organizations such as the Asian Pacific 
Economic Cooperations and membership in nearly 800 international 
organizations. Republic of China's growing international importance is 
a fact of global life, and exclusion of the Republic of China from 
official world forums is contrary to contemporary realities, Chien 
asserts.
  What makes this publication different from other similar collections 
of political speeches and statements is the inclusion of a large number 
of articles originally written in Chinese and published in Chinese 
magazines and journals. Here these articles have been expertly 
translated. Some of these articles discuss Republic of China's 
pragmatic diplomacy, some focus on Taipei's international aspirations, 
including Taipei's campign to return to the United Nations, while 
others offer insights into Taipei's views on its eventual reunification 
with mainland China. They shed a great deal of insight into Fredrick 
Chien, the man, versus Fredrick Chien, the policy maker and diplomat.
  One particularly noteworthy chapter contains interviews with Fredrick 
Chien's friends and colleagues. The interviewees provide interesting 
tidbits about Fredrick, the prodigy diplomat. While Chien's casual 
acquaintances may consider Chien too serious about his work, most 
people concur that Chien is a diplomat's diplomat who is always giving 
his utmost to his country. In fact, Chien's own autobiographical piece, 
``In the Universe There Is Absolutely No Easy Situation,'' summarizes 
Chien's own credo of life:

       I am a public servant and I try my best in everything I do. 
     If one day I discover that I can't contribute any more to my 
     country I will consider giving my post to someone else. 
     Otherwise, I will steadfastly keep to my post, any time and 
     any where.

  ``Opportunity and Challenge'' is a major publication. The materials 
by and about Foreign Minister Chien have a significance for practicing 
government officials and historians and other serious students of 
diplomacy everywhere. I recommend Dr. Chien's book to anyone seeking 
informed insights into the past, present, and future of the Republic of 
China on Taiwan.
  Congratulations to Dr. Chien personally and to the Republic of China 
on its 1995 National Day.

                          ____________________