[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 75 (Wednesday, June 2, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1014]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page E1014]]
        TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR C.J. CHEN OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 2, 2004

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, soon Ambassador C.J. Chen of the 
Republic of China (ROC) will be returning to Taiwan after serving as 
his country's chief representative in the United States for the last 
four years. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate and 
salute Ambassador Chen for everything he has done to improve the 
political, economic, and cultural ties between the United States and 
Taiwan during his service here in Washington, D.C.
  The Republic of China has been one of our most important and loyal 
allies in the World; and Ambassador Chen has worked diligently to 
strengthen the ties that bind our two great Nations despite the lack of 
formal diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Taiwan. Today, U.S.-
Taiwan relations are the best they have been since the late 1970s. In 
fact, Taiwan and the United States are friends and partners, not merely 
allies, and I think that in large measure this is due to the tireless 
efforts of Ambassador Chen.
  An expert in international law and diplomacy, Ambassador Chen has 
spent 37 years in the diplomatic service of the Republic of China on 
Taiwan--with over half of his career spent here in the United States. 
In fact, he has been assigned to Washington, D.C., three different 
times, beginning as a third secretary in the ROC Embassy in 1971. In 
1983, he began a seven-year stint as Deputy Representative far Taiwan's 
Representative Office, and in 2000, he started his present job as 
Representative. Over the course of his long and distinguished career, 
C.J. has also held several prominent positions within Taiwan's 
government, serving as Foreign Minister, Government Spokesman, and 
Legislator.
  During the past four years, Ambassador Chen has forged many close 
personal relationships and made hundreds of friends--I am proud to 
count myself among that company--proving that he was one of the 
hardest-working diplomats and also one of the most gracious hosts, on 
Embassy Row. With respect, graciousness, and a keen sense of humor, 
whit, Ambassador Chen has helped many American audiences, large and 
small to more fully understand the sometimes difficult issues relating 
to Taiwan, such as Taiwan's recent Presidential elections and national 
referendum. He has also helped put into perspective Taiwan's military 
needs, Taiwan's efforts to join international organizations like the 
World Health Organization, and Taiwan's economic and political 
achievements, especially in the area of human rights and freedom of the 
press, where the actions of Taiwan stand in stark contrast to the 
brutal perpetrators of the Tiananmen Square massacre.
  Mr. Speaker, I am personally sad that Ambassador Chen and his 
beautiful wife, Yolanda Ho, are leaving Washington. It is a little-
known fact that Yolanda--a renowned designer in Taiwan's textile and 
apparel industry--actually designed the wedding gown for Linda Hall 
Daschle when she married the current Senate Minority leader, Tom 
Daschle of South Dakota. I hope that they will both look back fondly 
upon their years in Washington as a valuable and rewarding time. The 
diplomatic and cultural community of Washington will certainly be 
diminished by their absence. Nevertheless, we are grateful for the time 
they could spend here, and I know that they will both continue to make 
lasting contributions to the future enrichment of relations between 
Taipei and Washington. I wish them all the best for a successful and 
happy future, which they so deeply deserve.

                          ____________________