[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 139 (Tuesday, October 1, 1996)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 A TRIBUTE TO PRESIDENT LEE AND TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DAVID FUNDERBURK

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 1, 1996

  Mr. FUNDERBURK. Mr. Speaker, President Lee Teng-hui of the Republic 
of China is a modern day giant. He is the first popularly elected 
President in the history of the Republic of China and has introduced 
and implemented a number of political reforms in Taiwan.
  In the area of his country's foreign relations, President Lee has 
developed official ties whenever possible, upgraded existing 
nonofficial relations, and sought to participate in major 
organizations. In the early 1990's, President Lee deputized his former 
Foreign Minister Fredrick Chien to devise a strategy known as pragmatic 
diplomacy, the exercise of which was so successful that it culminated 
in President Lee's visit to Cornell University in June 1995.
  The People's Republic of China was so alarmed by President Lee's 
visit that it staged a series of missile tests around the island, the 
most serious being conducted right before Taiwan's Presidential 
elections in March 1996.
  Pragmatic diplomacy paid off for President Lee Teng-hui. In a paper 
presented at the 14th International Conference on Asian Studies at St. 
John's University, NY, Professor Nathan Mao gave a detailed analysis of 
President Lee Teng-hui's visit to the United States and his 
Presidential diplomacy. I hereby submit the conclusion of Professor 
Mao's article in the Congressional Record for the future reference of 
students of Chinese history and politics.
       In the ever changing post Cold War period, Taipei has been 
     changing with the world. It has banished its old rigid 
     inflexibility. Mainland China too must learn to bend, to 
     change its old mindset about Taiwan being a province. Taiwan 
     has never been under People's Republic of China's 
     jurisdiction.
       Lee Teng-hui's presidential diplomacy has proven successful 
     beyond anyone's imagination. It has earned him a strong 
     mandate from his people and firmed up his image as a strong 
     leader, undaunted by China's threats. he enjoys firm United 
     States support and even grudging respect from a few mainland 
     Chinese leaders. His pragmatic diplomacy has brought Taiwan 
     many visible and concrete rewards. But events are also 
     rapidly changing in China. No one can give an accurate 
     assessment about the power struggle in the Mainland. China 
     shows evidence of instability. It has numerous corruption 
     problems and there is a power struggle among the leadership. 
     There are conflicts between the central and provincial 
     governments and conflicts between rich and poor provinces. 
     China has its own daunting problems.
       Since pragmatic diplomacy has worked for Taiwan so far, 
     there is no real reason to abandon or radically modify it. 
     Using Foreign Minister John H. Chang's counsel, President Lee 
     has gained sufficient wisdom to deal with Taiwan's 
     untractable adversary: Jiang Zemin and company in Beijing.

                          ____________________