[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





              RECOGNIZING THE 104TH NATIONAL DAY OF TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SCOTT DesJARLAIS

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 30, 2015

  Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 
upcoming Double Ten Day, the Republic of China's, also known as Taiwan, 
national day, which falls on October 10th and to extend my very best 
wishes to the people of Taiwan as they gather to celebrate the 104th 
National Day.
   As a vibrant democracy and contributor to the global economy, Taiwan 
plays an important role in the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific 
region. I am proud of the role our country and the United States' 
Congress have played, through the Taiwan Relations Act, in making it 
possible for the hard working and resilient people of Taiwan to build a 
strong, prosperous and democratic society. Our relationship is as 
strong as ever, as I believe it will continue to be in the years and 
decades ahead.
   As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on 
Asia and the Pacific, I would also like to commend the actions taken by 
President Ma Ying-jeou and his government to create an environment 
where peace and prosperity for all countries of the region can be 
pursued. President Ma has proposed both an East China Sea Peace 
Initiative and a South China Sea Peace Initiative, which lay out 
diplomatic approaches for all sides involved in maritime disputes to 
set aside their differences and jointly explore the natural resources 
of the disputed waters, while upholding international law.
   In global disputes, such as these, it is this exact vision that is 
needed to reduce tensions and open up a dialogue between claimants, and 
as such, it should be given all due consideration by the international 
community.
   In closing, I applaud the nation of Taiwan for its strong commitment 
to democratic values and more importantly, for the shining example it 
sets for aspiring countries, both in the Asia-Pacific region and around 
the world. As someone who is very appreciative of Taiwan's many 
contributions to the global community, I encourage my colleagues to 
join me in wishing the people of Taiwan a happy Double Ten Day.

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