[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 42 (Monday, March 25, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E444-E445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 CONGRATULATIONS TO PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI AND THE PEOPLE OF TAIWAN ON 
                     THE FIRST DEMOCRATIC ELECTIONS

                                 ______


                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 25, 1996

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I wish to extend my heartiest 
congratulations to President Lee Teng-hui who was chosen the first 
popularly elected President of Taiwan in direct, democratic elections, 
which were held over the past weekend. President Lee received 54 
percent of the vote in a field of four candidates. The results of this 
election are a tribute to President Lee, who has played the leading 
role in completing the democratic transformation of Taiwan, a 
transformation which led to these first-ever democratic elections. I 
also wish to extend congratulations to Lien Chan, the democratically 
elected Vice President.
  Mr. Speaker, President Lee has served as the President of the 
Republic of China on Taiwan since 1988. He has long and close ties with 
the United States and with the American people. It is highly 
significant, Mr. Speaker, that President Lee was born on Taiwan in 
1923. He attended Kyoto Imperial University, and received a bachelors 
degree from National Taiwan University in 1949. His studies in the 
United States include an M.A. from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. 
from Cornell University. Between 1949 and 1965 he was a member of the 
faculty of National Taiwan University, and he served many years as a 
professor there. His political experience includes service as the mayor 
of Taipei City, Governor of Taiwan Province, and Vice President of the 
Republic of China on Taiwan.
  Mr. Speaker, just 1 year ago, President Lee was invited by his alma 
mater, Cornell University, to visit the campus as a distinguished 
alumnus. The administration opposed granting him a visa for that visit. 
As my colleagues know, legislation that I introduced and which passed 
the House unanimously, put the Congress on record favoring granting him 
a visa. I am delighted that he was able to visit Cornell as President 
of Taiwan, and it is my sincere hope that he will have the opportunity 
to visit the United States as its democratically elected President.
  The real winners in Saturday's Taiwanese elections, Mr. Speaker, are 
not the candidates who won reelection--though I do not want to diminish 
the great victory which this election is for President Lee and Vice 
President Lien. The real winners in the elections are the people of 
Taiwan. They have made a democratic choice, they have conducted an 
exemplary campaign, and they have participated in the

[[Page E445]]

elections in numbers that are a tribute to the people of Taiwan. 
Despite appalling efforts at intimidation by the Government of the 
People's Republic of China, two-thirds of the eligible voters of Taiwan 
participated in the elections. That is a participation rate that 
exceeds ours here in the United States, Mr. Speaker. Their obvious 
desire for democracy and their responsible and thoughtful exercise of 
the franchise merit our most profound respect an praise. They are the 
real winners in the election.
  The second big winner in this election has been the friendship 
between the people of the United States and people of Taiwan. Mr. 
Speaker, I welcome the action of this House last week in strongly 
affirming the commitment of the American People of Taiwan in the face 
of the threats and intimidation they faced from the bullies of Beijing. 
We have made clear our commitment to the democratic process in Taiwan, 
and it is extremely important that this be known both by the People of 
Taiwan and by the Government of the mainland.
  The big losers in this election, Mr. Speaker, are the bullies of 
Beijing--the leaders of the People's Republic of China who attempted 
with military maneuvers, missile firings, amphibious landings, and 
other similarly ruthless efforts at intimidation to affect the outcome 
of this election and to undermine the evolution of democracy in Taiwan. 
The bullies of Beijing miscalculated. They were proven wrong, and the 
people of Taiwan have demonstrated just how wrong they are. Democracy 
is stronger and more stable and more acceptable than the totalitarian 
and authoritarian rule of despots.
  The success of democratic elections in Taiwan will have a profound 
impact upon the mainland. As the generational change in the leadership 
of the Chinese Communist Party continues in Beijing, it is clear that 
the free and open and democratic elections in Taiwan have dealt the 
party dictatorship a great blow. The example of Taiwan will continue to 
affect what happens on the mainland.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues in this house to join me in 
paying tribute to President Lee Teng-hui and Vice President Lien Chan, 
and, in particular, in paying tribute to the people of Taiwan.

                          ____________________