[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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