[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 63 (Monday, May 7, 2012)]
[Senate]
[Page S2914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             FOOD EMERGENCY

  Mr. INHOFE. Madam President, today I wish to submit for the Record my 
remarks and a speech by Taiwan's top diplomat in Washington, Jason C. 
Yuan, of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office, who 
announced on April 25, 2012, the donation by his government of 1,150 
metric tons of rice to Kenya through Feed the Children, a well-known 
and respected charity based in my home State of Oklahoma.
  The food emergency in the Horn of Africa is a stark humanitarian 
crisis and Kenya simply has not received enough rain to feed its 
people. Record-high food prices, internal conflicts, and insecurity in 
the region have exacerbated the situation. With malnutrition and 
disease on the rise, dane Kenyan families are required to travel long 
distances in search of food. It is evident that outside help must be 
provided.
  The people of Taiwan are providing that help. Its generous gift will 
have an immediate impact on relieving the hardships brought on by this 
first drought of the 21st century.
  Ronald Reagan once said that ``a hungry child knows no politics,'' 
meaning that the American people are always willing to open up their 
hearts and the blessings of their bounty to the less fortunate around 
the world. The people of Taiwan are doing the same thing today through 
this generous donation.
  Some may say that this gracious donation of rice is a mere drop in 
the bucket compared to the overall need in Africa. Yet one must 
remember that every mighty wave starts with a tiny ripple.
  I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record remarks from 
Ambassador Jason C. Yuan.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Ambassador Jason C. Yuan's Remarks at the Twin Oaks Estate


                             Apri1 25, 2012

       Mr. Steve Whetstone, Congressman Dan Burton, Ms. Barbara 
     Schrage of AIT/W, Mr. Mark Powers and Ms. Kiersten Powers of 
     Senator James Inhofe's Office, ladies and gentlemen, good 
     morning!
       On behalf of my government, I am pleased to announce that 
     the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) of the Republic of 
     China (Taiwan), in cooperation with the Red Cross of the 
     Republic of China and Feed the Children have decided to form 
     an alliance to donate 1,150 metric tons of rice to Kenya, a 
     country currently suffering a famine. This partnership will 
     allow the rice donation from Taiwan to be distributed with 
     the help of FTC in refugee camps, to ongoing relief efforts 
     in Turkana and to primary schools in Mombasa, Kenya.
       Feed the Children is one of the largest international 
     charities, with its headquarters in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 
     and based on Christian values. It has been dedicated to 
     providing hope and resources for those without life's 
     essentials throughout the United States and the world for 
     decades.
       Taiwan and FTC have associated in the past and successfully 
     cooperated in 2005 to deliver 10,000 metric tons of rice to 
     the tsunami ravaged areas in Indonesia. In 2006 Taiwan 
     donated 52 containers of new clothing to FTC worth 
     approximately US $17.6 million, which were later distributed 
     to more than 16,000 children, orphans, elderly, abandoned and 
     others in need in 11 countries (Honduras, Nicaragua, 
     Guatemala, El Salvador, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, 
     Azerbaijan, Russia, Armenia, and Ukraine). In 2007, Taiwan 
     donated 5,000 metric tons of rice to Kenya and 5,000 metric 
     tons of rice to Malawi through FTC, to help people in those 
     two countries suffering from famine. In 2011, Taiwan donated 
     100 metric tons of rice to restart the Mombasa Kenya School 
     Feeding Program, benefiting 27,000 children for 2 school 
     terms.
       Enhancing Taiwan's contributions to international 
     development is one of the three lines of defense that 
     President Ma Ying-jeou has outlined for the ROC's national 
     security. As a maturing democracy and thriving economy, 
     Taiwan has been shouldering our own responsibilities in the 
     world. Humanitarian work has become an especially important 
     platform for Taiwan's contributions to the international 
     community. Taiwan's democracy and economic prosperity have 
     combined to give rise to a vibrant society of numerous non-
     profit organizations. In almost every major disaster relief 
     program that has occurred in the world recently, Taiwan has 
     been an important contributor, whether this meant providing 
     financial aid to help rebuild homes in Sichuan, or giving 
     life-sustaining medical aid to Haitian children. Taiwan was 
     also one of the first to arrive with emergency relief 
     supplies and rescue teams when Japan was struck by the triple 
     disaster of an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear incident. In 
     fact, Taiwan ended up donating more than US $200 million to 
     the Japanese people.
       Last week, President Ma just wrapped up a 12-day official 
     visit to Burkina Faso, Gambia and Swaziland, our three allies 
     in Africa. Pursuing a policy of viable diplomacy that 
     requires that all foreign assistance must be justified, 
     legitimate and efficient, President Ma announced a donation 
     of US $2.1 million worth of support to Mali refugee 
     assistance efforts in Burkina Faso, and US $3 million to 
     emergency food programs in Gambia. The project ``A Lamp 
     Lighting up Africa'' also helps the students of our West 
     African allies study at night with LED lamps.
       The Republic of China used to be a country that received 
     economic assistance from other countries, particularly the 
     United States. Now that we are better off, the least we can 
     do is to help other people in need. So we look forward to 
     future cooperation with Feed the Children or other NGOs in 
     the United States for the good cause. Thank you!

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