[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 124 (Friday, October 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1720]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TAIWAN NATIONAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 6, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, as President Chen Shui-bian, who was elected 
in the first peaceful transfer of power in Chinese history, Vice 
President Annette Lu, and the people of the Republic of China on Taiwan 
prepare to celebrate their National Day on October 10, 2000, I wish to 
extend them my sincere congratulations. The ``Double Ten'' holiday also 
commemorates China's evolution toward democracy which was first sparked 
by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, the father of modern China, and his nationalist 
revolution against the foreign Manchu dynasty.
  The Republic of China on Taiwan has a lot in which to be proud. 
Taiwan's economy is a powerhouse. For instance, export orders reached 
U.S. $74 billion from January to June, up 21 percent from the same 
period last year. In June of this year, exports and imports enjoyed 
almost 25 percent growth from the year-earlier period. Due to the 
soundness of its economic foundation, Taiwan was unique in being 
largely immune to the economic crisis which engulfed East Asia a few 
short years ago. It is the government of Tawian's policy to continue to 
develop a new economy based on information and high technologies.
  Furthermore, Taiwan's citizens enjoy one of the highest living 
standards in the world and live in a society where, unlike some of 
their near neighbors, basic human rights are respected and no one has 
to fear the peril of a sudden knock on the door in the middle of the 
night. Politically, Taiwan is a true democracy with free island-wide 
elections, press independence and political pluralism.
  Mr. Speaker, Taiwan is a model of success for many countries in the 
world, and we need to give Taiwan our approbation and support. Let us 
salute this beacon of democracy in the East China Sea on its National 
Day!

                          ____________________