[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 47 (Wednesday, April 10, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E411-E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            HONORING TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. LUKE MESSER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 10, 2013

  Mr. MESSER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the Taiwan 
Relations Act (TRA). On April 10th, the United States and the Republic 
of China, more commonly referred to as Taiwan, will celebrate the 34th 
anniversary of the TRA, which is the premier law that governs U.S.-
Taiwan bilateral relations. In 1979, President Jimmy Carter signed the 
TRA into law and since that time it has been the cornerstone to 
maintaining peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific. The 
TRA has held up well for over 34 years and is an important reminder of 
the strong alliance between our two sides.
  All facets of the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationship--cultural, 
economic, and strategic--have expanded and grown stronger since the 
signing into law of the TRA. Taiwan is the United States' 10th largest 
trading partner. Taiwan is the seventh largest export market for U.S. 
agriculture. Since 1998, Taiwan has purchased over $5.5 billion dollars 
in corn and $4 billion in soybeans from the United States. For my home 
state of Indiana, Taiwan is one of its top export markets in Asia. 
Recently, Taiwan signed a multi-million dollar agreement with the State 
of Indiana for the purchase of corn and soybeans for the years 2012 and 
2013. Without a doubt, Hoosier farmers and my state's economy have 
benefitted greatly from trade agreements with Taiwan.
  As a new member of the House Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific and 
the Congressional Taiwan Caucus, I have had the pleasure to meet with 
Ambassador Pu-tsung King, Taiwan's Representative serving in 
Washington, DC. We discussed the unique circumstances that define our 
two countries' relations. I look forward to working with Ambassador 
King on additional initiatives that could benefit the people of Indiana 
and Taiwan.
  I was pleased to learn from Ambassador King of the many steps Taiwan 
has taken to reduce tensions with China, their neighbors along the 
Taiwan Strait. Although Taiwan and

[[Page E412]]

China split amid civil war in 1949, bilateral relations between the two 
are at an all-time high. Today, China is Taiwan's largest trading 
partner. Starting in 2008, Taiwan and China signed an agreement to 
improve direct links between the two countries. This agreement has been 
a resounding success eliminating barriers to air and sea travel between 
the two sides. As a result, there are about 600 direct passenger 
flights that operate each week between Taiwan and China. Cargo ships 
now transit directly between the two sides. Building upon the successes 
of the 2008 agreement, in 2010, Taiwan and China signed a landmark 
trade agreement called the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, 
which reduced tariffs and commercial barriers between the two sides. 
The people of China and Taiwan are more connected today than ever 
before.
  Like many of my colleagues in the House, I believe that a strong 
Taiwan is vital for maintaining stability in the region. Like 
Congressman Royce, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I, 
too, support the sale of newer, diesel submarines and F-16s upgrades to 
Taiwan's government, which will serve to protect U.S. national 
interests in the region. I intend to work closely with my Congressional 
colleagues to encourage the Administration to expedite the U.S. sale of 
needed military hardware to Taiwan's government.
  Simply put, a strong, prosperous Taiwan serves both our nations' 
interests. I am certainly thankful to my predecessors who passed the 
Taiwan Relations Act, which remains the hallmark of the U.S.-Taiwan 
alliance.

                          ____________________