[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 42 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E371-E372]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              35TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. DONALD M. PAYNE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 13, 2014

  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the robust 
U.S.-Taiwan relationship and mark the 35th anniversary of the Taiwan 
Relations Act, TRA, of 1979.
   The TRA set in motion a bond between the people of the United States 
and Taiwan that continues today. It is more critical now than ever 
before that we understand the value of that bond and work to promote it 
at every opportunity. Members of Congress who have been here long 
enough to see the benefits of the TRA in action know that it is an 
integral part of sustaining the mutual security and commercial 
interests of our two governments.
   Our commitment to Taiwan has remained steady in times of amity and 
times of crisis. In July 1995, when Beijing conducted a series of 
missile tests in the Taiwan Strait in a brazen attempt to intimidate 
the Taiwanese people, the U.S. deployed the largest military fleet in 
Asia since the Vietnam War. Thankfully, disaster was averted. Today, an 
atmosphere of peaceful coexistence is maintained across the Taiwan 
Strait. But our nation's choices during that tense period were a potent 
symbol of our steadfast support of Taiwan.
   The United States recognizes Taiwan's unfailing determination to 
promote a free and fair democratic society. We, as a nation, have 
supported their efforts over the last three and a half decades by 
providing military assistance and fostering commercial exchange. Today, 
Taiwan is a close ally and collaborator in global efforts to combat 
terrorism. Recently, Taiwan was invited for the first time to attend 
the 38th assembly of the International Civil Aviation Organization, 
ICAO, as a special guest of Council President Roberto Kobeh Gonzalez. 
Through their active engagement with ICAO, Taiwan provides a multiplier 
effect to our own efforts to ensure safe and secure air travel and 
protect air passengers from the threat of hijackings and terrorist 
attacks. Such collaboration among partners would not have been possible 
without the TRA.
   Today, 35 years after the passage of the TRA and nearly two decades 
since the Taiwan Strait Crisis, I would like to reassert our nation's 
role in maintaining peace and stability abroad. Our ongoing engagement 
with Taiwan and preservation of the TRA demonstrates our

[[Page E372]]

commitment to all of our allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
   While we recognize the TRA, it is also important that we recognize 
the departure of Ambassador King Pu-tsung who has fostered the U.S.-
Taiwan relationship for the last 18 months as their chief envoy to the 
United States. Ambassador King will soon return to Taiwan to serve as 
Secretary-General. Under the guidance of Ambassador King, the U.S. and 
Taiwan have enjoyed a very successful era. I have enjoyed the 
opportunity to work with Ambassador King and look forward to working 
with his successor in the future as we continue to strengthen our 
unique relationship.

                          ____________________