[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 146 (Monday, October 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            CONGRATULATIONS TO TAIWAN ON ITS 100TH BIRTHDAY

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 3, 2011

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I join with many others to congratulate our 
good friends, The Republic of China (commonly known as Taiwan), on 
their 100th anniversary, which will take place on October 10, 2011.
  Relatively speaking, America is not much older than Taiwan. The 
United States has only been around for 235 years, and like Taiwan, is 
young in comparison to many of the countries of the world. To the 
people of Taiwan, October 10th is revered as much as July 4th in the 
United States. As many remember, we had a huge celebration for our 
bicentennial in 1976.
  Just to put in perspective how long ago the United States celebrated 
our 100th anniversary in 1876, our president was Ulysses S. Grant, 
Alexander Graham Bell made his famous first phone call to Watson, and 
the United States only had 37 states at the beginning of that year.
  Just as we have progressed in our second 100 years, Taiwan has 
greatly changed in its first 100 years, as well. One of the most 
exciting changes is that Taiwan has become a full-blown democracy over 
the last 15 years having its first actual direct elections for 
president in 1996. Since then, Taiwan has had three successful 
transfers of power from one party to another, showing the fairness and 
legitimacy of its elections.
  Taiwan is a beacon of democracy in Southeast Asia, and we look 
forward to our continued friendship for many years to come. On behalf 
of the citizens of the Sixth District of North Carolina, we offer our 
congratulations to Taiwan on its centennial celebration.

                          ____________________