[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 41 (Wednesday, April 5, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E493]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRATULATIONS TO TAIWAN PRESIDENT-ELECT CHEN SHUI-BIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GEORGE RADANOVICH

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, April 5, 2000

  Mr. RADANOVICH. Mr. Speaker, on March 18, in their second direct 
presidential election, voters in Taiwan elected Democratic Progressive 
Party candidate Chen Shui-bian as their president. They did so despite 
China's repeated warnings to the voters not to elect Chen, whose party 
platform calls for independence from China. Chen's victory meant that 
the voters in Taiwan were brave enough to make their own decisions, 
clearly in defiance of Bejing's demands. It also meant that the voters 
were seeking change, as they believed that Chen, a grass-roots 
politician could better reflect their wishes--particularly regarding 
relations between Taiwan and the Chinese mainland. Chen is attractive 
because he carries no baggage from the past, and may be the only one 
who can negotiate a future for Taiwan that will be acceptable to both 
Taiwan and China. This is a tremendous challenge that will require all 
of the leadership skills that President-elect Chen and Vice President-
elect Annette Lu can muster.
  I am hopeful that both President-elect Chen and Vice President-elect 
Lu will be able to ameliorate relations with the People's Republic of 
China. Chen has already called for a ``peace-summit'' with Beijing and 
proposed to revise a provocative provision in the Democratic 
Progressive Party's platform asserting independence. Chen's efforts to 
extend himself to China must be commended. He will seek to decrease 
tension in the Taiwan Strait without sacrificing Taiwan's dignity and 
sovereignty.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to offer my best wishes to outgoing 
President Lee Teng-hui, who made the smooth and peaceful transfer from 
his party to the Democratic Progressive Party possible. Taiwan has 
always been a friend of the United States, and I encourage my 
colleagues in the United States Congress to give every support to 
Taiwan's new administration. Taiwan's stability and prosperity are 
always in the best interest of the United States.

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