[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 125 (Wednesday, October 6, 2004)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1809]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TAIWAN AND THE UNITED NATIONS

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. BOBBY L. RUSH

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 5, 2004

  Mr. RUSH. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan has been excluded from the United 
Nations since 1971 and since then, Taiwan's 23 million people have had 
no representation in the United Nations. Exclusion of Taiwan is a 
violation of the United Nations principle of universality.
  I, therefore urge my colleagues and friends of Taiwan to support 
Taiwan's return to the United Nations because Taiwan's political 
reforms should be recognized by the international community. Taiwan's 
return to the United Nations will not hinder the eventual reunification 
of Taiwan with the Chinese mainland as long as such reunification has 
the approval of the 23 million people of Taiwan.
  Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome 
Taiwan's ambassador, Dr. David Lee, to Washington. Prior to his 
Washington assignment, he was Taiwan's premier diplomat in Europe and 
Taiwan's Political Vice Foreign Minister. I had the pleasure of having 
Ambassador Lee and his wife at my table during the Congressional Black 
Caucus' dinner during the Annual Legislative Conference. Ambassador Lee 
struck me as highly intelligent, poised and well-mannered. My 
colleagues and I look forward to working with him and his deputies.
  Finally Mr. Speaker, my best wishes to Taiwan President Chen Shui-
bian for his well-received Inaugural speech on May 20. His conciliatory 
attitude toward mainland China is most laudatory. President Chen should 
be recognized for his work towards permanent peace and stability in the 
Taiwan Strait.

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