[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 125 (Tuesday, October 10, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1735]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TAIWAN CELEBRATES THE 89TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA

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                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 10, 2000

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, today marks the 89th anniversary of the 
founding of the Republic of China on October 10, 1911, under the 
leadership of Dr. Sun Yat-sen. This is the day which the people of 
Taiwan celebrate as their national holiday. Mr. Speaker, I extend my 
sincerest congratulations and best wishes to the people of Taiwan on 
this special occasion.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a unique celebration of this anniversary, and 
one that reflects the great progress which the people of Taiwan have 
made in institutionalizing democratic principles and democratic 
practices. I want to congratulate President Chen Shui-bian, the 
recently elected President of Taiwan. Today is especially significant 
because it marks the first national day under a President elected from 
the Democratic Progressive Party. Taiwan has done something that very 
few nations have been able to do successfully--complete the peaceful 
transition of power based on a free and democratic election.
  Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, this transition did not come at an economic 
cost--quite the contrary, Taiwan is an economic powerhouse. In just the 
first six months of this year, Taiwan's exports exceeded $74 billion, 
an increase of 21 percent. I hope other countries facing political 
issues will look at Taiwan's success in both business and politics as a 
sign that democracy does work, that democracy does not have to come at 
an unacceptable economic price.
  Mr. Speaker, I also want to take a moment to extend my 
congratulations and best wishes to the new Representative from the 
Republic of China on Taiwan, Ambassador C.J. Chen. While Ambassador 
Chen is no stranger to Washington, this is the first time he has come 
here as the head of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative 
Office. As the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific of the House International Relations Committee, I look forward 
to the opportunity to continue working with Ambassador Chen in building 
an ever-stronger relationship between the United States and Taiwan.
  Mr. Speaker, on this very special holiday for the people of Taiwan, I 
invite my colleagues in the House to join me in extending our warmest 
congratulations and best wishes to the 22 million inhabitants of this 
remarkable island.

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