[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 102 (Wednesday, July 21, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1437]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    TRIBUTE TO AMBASSADOR C.J. CHEN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. TOM LANTOS

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 20, 2004

  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor a good friend to 
Washington and to the U.S., Ambassador C.J. Chen of the Taipei Economic 
and Cultural Representative office. While I know many of my colleagues 
will agree that Ambassador Chen's return to Taiwan is quite a loss to 
Washington, I know that his legacy here will be the continued positive 
relations between our two countries.
  Ambassador Chen holds the unique diplomatic experience of not only 
having more than 30 years experience in Washington, but also gracefully 
guiding the relationship of his home country through its most pivotal 
years with the United States. After U.S.-Taiwan relations were severed 
in early 1979, a young C.J. Chen was part of the embassy team that 
worked closely with Congress to establish the Taiwan Relations Act 
(TRA). Since its passage, the TRA has been the strong and enduring 
statutory framework under which the U.S. and Taiwan have quickly 
expanded and improved cultural, commercial, and diplomatic relations.
  While the TRA has been the guiding force behind our improved 
relations, I must say that my friend C.J. Chen has been the human 
force. His depth of knowledge, incredible insight, and unrivaled 
experience has earned him the respect needed to carry the U.S.-Taiwan 
relationship forward. It has been a great honor and pleasure to work 
with Ambassador Chen on a wide array of important issues--including but 
certainly not limited to Taiwan's participation in the WHO, security in 
the Taiwan Strait, and improved human rights conditions.
  Mr. Speaker, I wish Ambassador C.J. Chen and his wife Yolanda all the 
best as they return to Taiwan. They leave behind many friends, a great 
deal of goodwill, and a legacy of service.

                          ____________________