[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 129 (Friday, September 21, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1595]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNITION OF TAIWAN'S NATIONAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ALBIO SIRES

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 20, 2012

  Mr. SIRES. Mr. Speaker, I would like to send my best wishes to 
President Ma Ying-jeou and the people of the Republic of China (Taiwan) 
on their National Day this October 10th.
  In the last four and a half years President Ma, along with other 
national leaders, has helped Taiwan's economy thrive. President Ma took 
a number of helpful steps to take Taiwan out of an economic slump, 
including guaranteeing bank deposits, lowering interest rates, 
distributing shopping vouchers and investing in domestic 
infrastructure. As a result, Taiwan's economy has been rapidly 
improving, alleviating the problems of unemployment and poverty.
  President Ma has also excelled on promoting foreign policy. Apart 
from the signing of the mutually beneficial Economic Cooperation 
Framework Agreement (ECFA) with mainland China in 2010, President Ma's 
government is currently negotiating economic cooperation agreements 
with the governments of Singapore and New Zealand and paving the way 
for Taiwan to become a member of the multilateral Trans-Pacific 
Partnership.
  President Ma has also significantly reduced tensions in the Taiwan 
Strait by pursuing a policy of diplomatic truce with the mainland and 
has ended the dangerous cycle of diplomatic warfare between the two 
sides.
  Taiwan is currently enjoying a robust relationship with the United 
States. U.S.-Taiwan ties have been the most amicable in 30 years. 
Communication between our two countries is smooth and friendly. Much of 
this is due to the capable stewardship of Taiwan's top diplomat in the 
United States: Representative Jason Yuan. Yuan is a seasoned diplomat 
and has been working very hard to promote an open discussion between 
Taiwan and Congress on Capitol Hill.
  Again, congratulations to the Republic of China on its National Day.

                          ____________________