[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 40 (Thursday, March 21, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                AMBASSADOR BENJAMIN LU ON A FREE TAIWAN

                                 ______


                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 20, 1996

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, a few days before the first free and 
democratic elections in Taiwan, Ambassador Benjamin Lu, the official 
representative of the Government of Taiwan here in the United States, 
made the following remarks to Members of Congress and others interested 
in a secure, free and prosperous Taiwan. I commend my colleagues' 
attention to his excellent remarks.

                   Address by Ambassador Benjamin Lu

       Distinguished guests, and Ladies and Gentlemen:
       Thank you all for joining us today. I am delighted that so 
     many good friends and associates could be here to share in 
     this exciting event.
       The ROC has embarked on a path of political reform which is 
     transforming Taiwan into a full democracy. Adding to the many 
     institutions of personal freedom, human rights, popular 
     elections, and a full-scale market economy which my country 
     already enjoys, this week, on the 23rd of March, the people 
     of Taiwan will conduct their first direct popular election 
     for president of the Republic of China, an historic milestone 
     in our democratization movement. At this very moment, there 
     is a spirited campaign underway among four presidential 
     candidates, including the incumbent President Lee Teng-Hui; a 
     DPP candidate; and two others running as independents.
       By any standard, the Republic of China is functioning today 
     as a genuine pluralistic democracy, with ample political 
     choices and fully representational government. This is an 
     amazing transformation in just one decade. The stark contrast 
     with deteriorating political and human rights conditions on 
     China's mainland today could not be more obvious.
       The Republic of China and the United States today share the 
     same political ideology, principles and objectives. As fellow 
     democracies with a closely intertwined history of friendship, 
     cooperation and trade in this century, we have much in 
     common. Moreover, there is much we can accomplish together 
     for the sake of regional and international peace, freedom, 
     and prosperity in the 21st century.
       The 21 million people on Taiwan are grateful that the 
     United States has responded to mainland China's military 
     exercises and missile tests in the Taiwan Strait, and 
     reassured that Americans share our concern for the region's 
     stability. A continued American presence in the area will 
     discourage unnecessary escalation of tension and will help 
     advance those principles and goals which are championed by 
     your country and mine, as prospering democracies. The success 
     of Taiwan's democratic reforms hopefully can influence 
     mainland attitudes toward political reform in a positive way 
     by encouraging the establishment of democratic process and 
     institutions. Only within the framework of democracy can 
     reunification be eventually achieved.
       Mainland China's coercive and hostile actions should cease 
     immediately, allowing the process of democratic elections and 
     free market commerce in the region to continue unimpeded. Let 
     us work together to support the causes of peace and democracy 
     throughout the Asia-Pacific region, and indeed throughout the 
     world.

                          ____________________