[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 124 (Friday, October 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1714]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TAIWAN OBSERVES ITS NATIONAL HOLIDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. PHILIP M. CRANE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 6, 2000

  Mr. CRANE. Mr. Speaker, on Tuesday, October 10th, the Republic of 
China on Taiwan will celebrate its national holiday that commemorates 
the founding of the Republic of China by Dr. Sun Yat-sen in 1911.
  Throughout my 31 years in Congress I have continually drawn attention 
to what has been achieved in Taiwan. It is one of the most dramatic 
examples in modern history of the power of freedom--that a small 
island, only slightly larger than the state of Maryland and with 
relatively few resources of its own, could rise to such a position of 
prominence in the global marketplace.
  But a free market economy--the free exchange of goods and services--
is not the only key to Taiwan's great success. The free exchange of 
ideas has also had a profound impact. And I know I speak for the entire 
House of Representatives when I say that the evolution of Taiwan's 
political system into a full-fledged democracy has been a source of 
great satisfaction to the American people and their representatives in 
Congress.
  On the occasion of this year's R.O.C. National Day we are also 
pleased to welcome back to Washington a man many of us have known and 
admired through the years. Chien-jen-Chen--known to his many friends 
simply as ``C.J.''--is back in town as Taiwan's official representative 
and director of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office.
  C.J. Chen served in Washington from 1971 to 1980 as a political 
secretary in what for most of those years was the R.O.C. Embassy. He 
was back between 1982 and 1989 as Taiwan's deputy representative in the 
United States. For us old hands here in Congress, C.J. Chen is a well-
known figure and a great friend. It's good to have him back.
  And I might add that during his years back in Taipei in the 1990s, 
C.J. Chen served in several high-level posts, including that of 
Minister of Foreign Affairs over the past year.
  Mr. Speaker, it is a pleasure to welcome C.J. Chen back to 
Washington. And may I also extend the congratulations of Congress and 
the American people to the Republic of China on Taiwan on the occasion 
of this year's National Day celebration. May the close ties of 
friendship and solidarity between our two peoples continue to flourish 
in the years ahead.

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