[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 37 (Tuesday, April 9, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E460-E461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL N. CASTLE

                              of delaware

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 9, 2002

  Mr. CASTLE. Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to recognize 
the 23rd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) of 1979 and to 
reiterate the United States' strong friendship with Taiwan. This 
important legislation was signed into law by President Jimmy Carter on 
April 10, 1979 and gives Congress a statutory role in defining United 
States foreign policy toward Taiwan. We have the duty and the 
responsibility to see that peace, security and stability prevail in the 
Western Pacific region. Despite tensions with the Peoples Republic of 
China, Taiwan has prospered economically and politically. A member of 
the World Trade Organization, Taiwan is one of the richest countries in 
Asia. Politically, Taiwan is an evolving democracy, and at this moment 
every major public office on the island is democratically elected.
  On the 23rd anniversary of the TRA, we must affirm that the United 
States will continue to support Taiwan according to the wording and 
spirit of the Taiwan Relations Act, which

[[Page E461]]

requires the United States to ``make available to Taiwan such defense 
articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to 
enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability.'' It is 
essential that the United States continues to move forward and engage 
China, and it will be equally important that the Bush Administration 
continues to make a commitment to our ally in Taiwan.

                          ____________________