[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 134 (Thursday, September 17, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TAIWAN NATIONAL DAY

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. STEVE STIVERS

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 17, 2015

  Mr. STIVERS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Taiwan 
National Day, known as Double Tenth National Day and celebrated every 
year on October 10th.
  Taiwan is a critical country in the Asia-Pacific region, and the 
people of Taiwan and the current President Ma Ying-jeou have been 
instrumental in improving relations between neighboring countries. 
President Ma has been a leader in finding peaceful solutions to the 
challenges they face, including building a cross-strait relationship 
between Taipei and Beijing as well as promoting the East China Sea 
Peace Initiative and the South China Sea Peace Initiative, both of 
which call upon the countries making claims in contested waters to 
share the natural resources in those waters.
  Taiwan's role in trade has also grown significantly over the past 20 
years. Taiwan now ranks as the 10th largest trade partner of the United 
States. The economic expansion in Taiwan has raised the country to 
become the 10th ranked country in trade volume among the Asia-Pacific 
Economic Cooperation economies and a leading supplier of intermediary 
goods in the region.
  There is no doubt that Taiwan is leading by example in the Asia-
Pacific region, and I am grateful that the United States and Taiwan 
remain close allies. I wish the people of Taiwan all the best as they 
prepare to celebrate Double Tenth National Day.

                          ____________________