[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 40 (Friday, April 12, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

[[Page E507]]



                          TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 11, 2002

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) became U.S. 
law on April 10, 1979 and for the last twenty-three years, has served 
both the U.S. and the Republic of China on Taiwan well. By deterring 
aggression by the mainland, the United States has protected Taiwan from 
being forced into negotiations with China under the threat of armed 
attack or other forms of coercion. The TRA maintains the stable and 
secure environment within which Taiwan has become one of the world's 
leading free-market democracies. Today, Taiwan is prosperous and 
democratic, a nation well recognized for its achievements worldwide.
  Taiwan is the seventh largest trading partner of the United States 
and has imported more from the United States each year, over the past 
15 years, than the whole of mainland China. Furthermore, Taiwan and the 
United States share similar principles of freedom, democracy, human 
rights, peace and prosperity. Within the guidelines of the Taiwan 
Relations Act, Taiwan has completed various economic reforms and become 
a fully democratic country.
  The legal and policy framework created by the TRA has allowed the 
U.S. Government and the American people to enjoy substantive relations 
with the governments and people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. 
None of this would have been possible, as Ronald Reagan noted in 1980, 
had it not been for ``the timely action of the Congress, reflecting the 
strong support of the American people for Taiwan.''
  On the eve of the 23rd anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, I am 
confident that our relations with Taiwan will grow even stronger and 
that the TRA will continue to serve as the foundation for a strong 
partnership between our two nations.

                          ____________________