[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 80 (Wednesday, June 9, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1079]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN HONOR OF AMBASSADOR C.J. CHEN

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 9, 2004

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure that I join my 
colleagues in honoring a unique man and a graceful diplomat.
  Ambassador Chen is returning to Taiwan after four years of exemplary 
service as the representative of the Taipei Economic and Cultural 
Representative office, the quasi embassy of the Republic of China. In 
fact, since joining his country's foreign service 37 years ago, 
Ambassador Chen has always been involved with the U.S.-Taiwan relations 
in his many job assignments both in Taiwan and in the United States. 
His diplomatic career mirrors very much the ups and downs of U.S.-
Taiwan relations.
  The nadir of U.S.-Taiwan relations came in 1979 when the Carter 
Administration severed diplomatic ties with Taipei and recognized 
Beijing. C.J. Chen was then working in Taiwan's embassy in Washington. 
He spent days and nights negotiating and communicating with U.S. 
government officials and lawmakers in drafting the Taiwan Relations Act 
which became U.S. law on April 10, 1979. The TRA has enabled Taiwan to 
grow economically and politically in the last quarter of century.
  In the subsequent years, in his many key roles in Taiwan's foreign 
ministry, C.J. made sure that the U.S. would play a role as balancer, 
stabilizer and facilitator in handling its relations with both Taiwan 
and the mainland. In addition, C.J. and other leaders in Taiwan have 
been successful in urging the U.S. to continue to provide Taiwan with 
the military sales necessary for Taiwan's self defense.
  In the last 4 years, C.J., in his capacity as Taiwan's top diplomat 
in Washington, has further strengthened U.S.-Taiwan relations. U.S. 
confidence in Taiwan continues to rise and U.S.-Taiwan relations are 
now at its best since 1979. While there have been no major changes in 
the U.S. policy towards the two sides of the Taiwan Straits, U.S. tone 
towards Taiwan has markedly improved, since Taiwan is a democracy and 
democracies count for something.
  In addition to the Bush administration's goodwill towards Taiwan, 
congressional support and friendship continues to grow, especially in 
the last 4 years. Since the inception of the 108th Congress, both the 
Senate and the House have introduced or passed a number of pro-Taiwan 
bills and resolutions such as Taiwan's participation in the WHO, a 
U.S.-Taiwan Free Trade Agreement, security in the Taiwan Strait, 
welcome for transits by Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian etc. All these 
achievements are directly attributable to the efforts of Ambassador 
C.J. Chen.
  Mr. Speaker, C.J. and his wife Yolanda will be missed in Washington. 
I wish C.J. and Yolanda all the best and hope they will keep in touch 
with their many friends in Washington.

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