[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 129 (Thursday, October 6, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2026]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             CELEBRATE TAIWAN'S NATIONAL DAY ON OCTOBER 10

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                        HON. PATRICK T. McHENRY

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, October 6, 2005

  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, the Republic of China (Taiwan) will 
celebrate its National Day October 10, 2005. I wish to congratulate the 
President and the People of Taiwan on this festive occasion.
  Taiwan is a small island with few natural resources, yet it has 
prospered because of the opportunity provided by freedom and democracy. 
With one of the world's largest foreign exchange reserves, its 23 
million people enjoy one of the highest standards of living in the 
world. Politically, Taiwan is a full democracy, with free elections and 
a free press. Taiwan fully embraces the values of economic 
liberalization, democracy, rule of law, and respect for human rights.
  Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian recently stopped in Miami, Florida en 
route to Central America. Through a teleconference, President Chen was 
honored by the Congressional Human Rights Caucus in recognition of 
Chen's life-long campaign to promote and safeguard human rights not 
only in Taiwan but also in other parts of the world. In his 
teleconference, President Chen told Congressional members that Taiwan's 
democratic development is irreversible, that China could and should 
learn from Taiwan's history of democratization and that he would like 
to have direct talks with China's President without any prior 
conditions. I hope President Hu will take up President Chen's offer and 
move toward permanent peace in the Taiwan Strait based on personal 
freedom and individual liberty.
  Mr. Speaker, President Chen is a man of peace. For the good of his 
country and his people, he has been pleading with Chinese leaders to 
resume talks over cross-strait disputes. In the meantime, President 
Chen has been asking the international community, to set up a mechanism 
to ensure that there would not be unnecessary military conflicts over 
the Taiwan Strait. I believe that the United States should, at the very 
least, continue to impress upon the Chinese that we will uphold our 
commitment and defend Taiwan if it is attacked without provocation.
  On Taiwan's National Day, I join my colleagues in congratulating the 
Taiwanese people. We deeply appreciate our common bonds and friendship 
with them and look forward to strengthening our relationship in the 
future.

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