[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 1, 2016)]
[Senate]
[Page S1133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
INTERNATIONAL ELECTION OBSERVATION MISSION, 2016--TAIWAN
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, on January 16, 2016, the people of
Taiwan went to the polls and elected Dr. Tsai Ing-wen as the next
President of Taiwan, with 56.2 percent of the vote. The 2016
Presidential election marked the sixth direct election of the President
and Vice President of Taiwan, and the first time a woman has been
elected as head of Taiwan's Government. Dr. Tsai's party, the
Democratic Progressive Party, also won 68 seats of the 113-member
Legislative Yuan for an outright majority in that body. I congratulate
Dr. Tsai and her party for their victories and new responsibilities.
This election represents a significant change in Taiwan's political
landscape, with important implications for the U.S.-Taiwan
relationship. I urge the administration to express its clear support
for Taiwan and its vibrant democracy.
As part of the 2016 Taiwan Presidential and legislative elections, an
international election observation mission made up of 18 observers from
10 countries visited Taiwan at the invitation of the Taiwan Nation
Alliance and the International Committee for a Democratic Taiwan. After
the elections, the mission submitted its final report on the elections,
concluding that they were free and fair. I ask unanimous consent that
the summary of that report be printed in the Record.
There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in
the Record, as follows:
Observations by the International Election Observation Mission, 2016
1. Introduction
From January 12-17, 2016, a group of eighteen observers
from 10 countries (see the attached list of members) visited
Taiwan at the invitation of the Taiwan Nation Alliance (TNA)
and the International Committee for a Democratic Taiwan
(ICDT). They formed an International Election Observation
Mission (IEOM) to observe the election campaign for the
January 16th 2016 Presidential and Legislative elections in
Taiwan.
At the completion of their mission on the day after the
elections, the members of the IEOM expressed appreciation to
the organizers of the visit, and encouraged them to continue
in their efforts to strengthen Taiwan's democracy, so that it
can be shared with other countries in the region and around
the world. In addition, as the IEOM conducted their mission,
it greatly appreciated the willingness of candidates, party
representatives, and government representatives to meet with
them.
During the IEOM, the group visited locations in Taipei,
Kaohsiung, and Taichung, meeting with various representatives
of the two main political parties: Democratic Progressive
Party (DPP) and Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT), as well as
of two smaller parties--the People's First Party (PFP) and
New Power Party (NPP). They also observed political rallies,
street campaigns, and activities at several polling stations
and the Central Election Commission counting center on
Election Day.
2. The conclusions of the IEOM were as follows:
It congratulated the people of Taiwan and its newly-elected
president Dr. Tsai Ing-wen on the achievement of this major
milestone in Taiwan's history, the consolidation of many
decades of hard work and dedication by the Taiwanese people.
And it stated that:
a. The vibrancy of the sixth direct presidential election
further confirms that Taiwan has left its authoritarian past
behind it, and has grown into a fully democratic society
featuring the institutionalization of fundamental freedoms,
comprehensive electoral procedures, and sound democratic
practices.
b. In our view, these elections were free and fair, though
there were media reports of irregularities such as vote
buying in locations such as Hsinchu, Chiayi and Taitung.
However, these have not affected the overall outcome of the
elections.
c. After such elections it is key that all sides of the
political spectrum in the country respect the democratic
choice of the people, and work together to make Taiwan a
better place for all.
d. It is also essential that other nations respect the
results of the elections as the free choice of the people of
Taiwan, and work with the newly-elected leadership to
establish a sustainable, long-term peace and stability in the
region.
e. The impending third transfer of executive power, as well
as the first parliamentary majority for the opposition, are
opportunities for further deepening and consolidation of
Taiwan's democracy.
Members of the International Election Observation Mission
Head of Mission: Frank Murkowski, former Senator and
Governor of Alaska
United States and Canada
Julian Baum, former correspondent for the Far Eastern
Economic Review and the Christian Science Monitor
Stephen Bryen, former Deputy Undersecretary of Defense
June Teufel Dreyer, Professor of Political Science,
University of Miami
William A. Stanton, former Director of the American
Institute in Taiwan, Taipei
Stephen M. Young, former Director of the American Institute
in Taiwan, Taipei
Charles Burton, Professor at Brock University, Canada
Michael Stainton, President, Taiwanese Human Rights
Association of Canada
Europe
Stephane Corcuff, Professor of Political Science,
University of Lyon, France
Jens Damm, Professor of Political Science, University of
Tubingen, Germany
Michael Danielsen, Chairman, Taiwan Corner, Denmark
Bruno Kauffman, President, Initiative and Referendum
Institute, Europe
Vincent Rollet, French Centre for Research on Contemporary
China, Taiwan
Gerrit van der Wees, editor, Taiwan Communique, the
Netherlands
Asia & Australia
Bruce Jacobs, Retired Professor of Political Science,
Monash University, Australia
Akihisa Nagashima, Member House of Representatives (Diet),
Japan
Tadae Takubo, Vice President, Japan Institute for National
Fundamentals, Japan
Sim Tze Tzin, Member of Parliament, Malaysia
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