[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 134 (Tuesday, October 9, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1689]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       RECOGNIZING AND CONGRATULATING TAIWAN'S 101ST ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ANDY HARRIS

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 9, 2012

  Mr. HARRIS. Mr. Speaker, on October 10, 2012, America's very good 
friends, The Republic of China commonly known as Taiwan), will 
celebrate their 101st anniversary.
  Both the United States and Taiwan share the fact that they are 
relatively new countries when compared to the rest of the world. Taiwan 
is 101 years old and the United States just celebrated its 236th 
birthday; both are much younger than those countries with roots dating 
back to some of the ancient civilizations.
  But in the past 100 years, America has changed so much and, arguably, 
Taiwan has changed even more. In the last 16 years alone, Taiwan has 
become a full blown democracy with a President and Legislature being 
directly elected by its citizens. In 1996, Taiwan had their first 
Presidential election and during that time they have had three peaceful 
transfers of power from one party to another.
  The people of Southeast Asia are fortunate to have a beacon of 
democracy like Taiwan to look up to, and we Americans are fortunate to 
call them friends and allies. Under President Ma's leadership, I am 
confident that Taiwan will continue to thrive and our relationship will 
prosper.

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