[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 51 (Thursday, March 26, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E425-E426]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   IN RECOGNITION OF THE 36TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. PETE SESSIONS

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 26, 2015

  Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 36th 
anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, known as the TRA, and to 
express the gratitude of the American people for the contributions of 
the Republic of China (ROC) in World War II.
   The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was signed into law on April 10, 
1979. For 36 years, it has served as the backbone of the extraordinary 
friendship between the ROC and the United States of America. The TRA 
was Congress' way of codifying a pledge from the American people to the 
people of Taiwan that ``we will stand with you, always.''
   The TRA has provided stability to Taiwan, permitting it to thrive 
and become the economic powerhouse it is today, and to deepen its 
transition to democracy.
   Furthermore, as we near the 70th anniversary of the end of World War 
II it is just and appropriate that we should remember the great 
contributions of the ROC to the allied victory. In closing, I would 
like to point out one of the many heroic contributions of the ROC to 
the allied victory in World War II:

[[Page E426]]

   In April 1942, General Sun Li-jen led a mission to successfully 
rescue 7000 British soldiers and many other civilians, including 
Americans, who were encircled by the Japanese Army, in the Burma 
campaign at Yenangyaung.
   We should never forget the contributions of the Republic of China to 
the allied victory in World War II.
   Likewise, we should never forget the importance of the Taiwan 
Relations Act for the peace and stability, not only of Taiwan, but also 
for the entire East Asia region.

                          ____________________