[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


CELEBRATING PRESIDENT LEE'S FIRST YEAR AS PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF 
                                 CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. THOMAS J. MANTON

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 20, 1997

  Mr. MANTON. Mr. Speaker, 1 year ago this week the 2 million people of 
Taiwan went to the polls to participate in the first direct election of 
a President for the Republic of China. Voter turnout was high despite 
the attempts by the People's Republic of China to intimidate the 
electorate by conducting military exercises in the Taiwan Straits.
  The voters of Taiwan overwhelmingly elected Lee Teng-Hui as President 
of the ROC. President Lee defeated three other candidates in a free and 
fair election. In doing so, President Lee became the first popular 
elected head of state in Chinese history. His election was the 
culmination of a 10-year period of democratization for the Republic of 
China. Today, the ROC is a full-fledged democracy with a strong, 
multiparty system. Government officials from the President to members 
of the local legislatures are all selected by the people of Taiwan.
  Mr. Speaker, this week also marks the 1-year anniversary of the 
selection by President Lee of John Chang as the Republic of China's 
Foreign Minister. Under Mr. Chang's leadership, the already excellent 
relationship between the United States and Republic of China has grown 
even stronger. During the past year, many members of this body have 
traveled to Taiwan to see firsthand Taiwan's impressive economic 
growth. Furthermore, many senior ROC Government officials have visited 
the United States and have met with Members of Congress and other 
United States officials. All of this activity is a tribute to Foreign 
Minister Chang.
  Finally, Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to note that 
nearly 1 year has passed since Jason Hu assumed the post of Taipei's 
Economic and Cultural Representative in Washington. The Taipei Economic 
and Cultural Representative's office serves as the unofficial embassy 
in the United States, and Ambassador Hu, who previously served as 
President Lee's spokesman and a member of the Legislative Yuan, has 
done a very good job promoting a dialog between Congress and the people 
of Taiwan. He has worked tirelessly to visit with Members of this body 
and to inform Members of the current activities in Taiwan. 
Representative Hu, like Foreign Minister Chang, is proof that President 
Lee has made many fine choices in filling the senior appointed 
positions of his government. I am certain with President Lee's 
leadership, our relationship with the ROC will continue to be on a 
steady and even keel in the years ahead.

                          ____________________