[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1795]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         TAIWAN PRESIDENT CHEN 
                               SHUI-BIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. DAN BURTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2005

  Mr. BURTON of Indiana. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to 
Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian. In late September he will be making a 
brief stop in Miami en route to Central America and later staying 
overnight in San Francisco on his way back to Taiwan. During his 
stopovers in Miami and San Francisco, I am hopeful that a few of my 
colleagues will have a chance to visit with him, and--more 
importantly--exchange views on Taiwan's future, Taiwan's relations with 
China and the United States, and Taiwan's bid to re-enter the United 
Nations.
  In the last five years, President Chen has shown strong leadership in 
guiding his people through turbulent times. Despite worldwide financial 
challenges, Taiwan's economy has continued to grow and despite 
pressures from Taiwan's opposition leaders, Taiwan has been faithful to 
its route of constitutional reform and full democratization. Today, 
Taiwan continues to be a beacon of prosperity and freedom throughout 
Asia. Taiwan's 23 million people enjoy high standards of living and 
full rights of freedom and liberty.
  President Chen has been deft in handling cross-strait relations. 
Despite China's passage of the anti-secession law last spring, China's 
positioning of 700 missiles along Taiwan's coast and China's many other 
unfriendly acts toward Taiwan, President Chen has insisted on a 
peaceful solution to the Taiwan issue and an early resumption of talks 
between himself and other Chinese leaders. President Chen fully 
understands that peace and stability within the Taiwan Strait are in 
global community's best interest.
  As for Taiwan's relations with the United States, we have strong 
trade and cultural relations with Taiwan. Taiwan is one of our largest 
trading partners and cultural exchanges between our two countries are 
vibrant. Moreover, we are committed to defending Taiwan under the 
framework of the Taiwan Relations Act, and we are fully committed to a 
peaceful solution of the Taiwan issue--no military conflict should ever 
occur in the Taiwan Strait. Moreover, we appreciate Taiwan's full 
cooperation with us in combating terrorism, its monetary contributions 
to the Twin Towers Fund, Pentagon Memorial Fund and its offer of 
humanitarian assistance to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
  It is regrettable that Taiwan has been excluded from many world 
organizations such as the World Health Organization and the United 
Nations. It has been a gross injustice to deny Taiwan's 23 million 
people their proper voice in the world. The United States should take 
more active steps in helping Taiwan re-enter the World Health 
Organization and the United Nations.
  It is my hope that President Chen and the people of Taiwan will 
receive both proper and greater international attention as President 
Chen travels to Central America and hopefully to the Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Busan, Korea, this November. The 
story of Taiwan, in the person of President Chen, needs to be told and 
heard around the world.

                          ____________________