[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 57 (Thursday, April 14, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E473-E474]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           37TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT (TRA)

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE KING

                                of iowa

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 14, 2016

  Mr. KING of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize a very 
important day in U.S.-Taiwan relations. April 10th marked the 37th 
anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA). This important statute 
has been critical in defining the diplomatic, economic, and strategic 
relationship we have enjoyed with Taiwan over the last four decades. In 
2015, Taiwan became the United States' ninth largest trading partner. 
The TRA has strengthened our relationship and helped to encourage a 
particularly strong economic partnership.

[[Page E474]]

  On March 30, 2016, Taiwan President Ma gave a speech at the American 
Chamber of Commerce in Taipei (AmCham) Hsie Nian Fan celebration. In 
his speech, President Ma pointed out that, in the U.S.-based Global 
Finance magazine's ratings of the world's richest countries from 
November of last year, Taiwan ranked 19th out of 185 countries 
worldwide. That put Taiwan right behind Germany, and far ahead of 
countries like France, Great Britain, Japan, and South Korea. And in 
the 2015 global competitiveness ratings published by the Institute of 
Management Development (IMD), based in Lausanne, Switzerland, Taiwan 
ranked 11th in the world, and third in the Asia-Pacific Region. Taiwan 
has created a thriving and innovative economy that most countries envy.
  The growth of Taiwan is a living, breathing example that trade 
benefits humanity--and not just economically. President Ma highlighted 
the East China Sea Peace Initiative, which aimed to address sovereignty 
disputes in the region in 2012. Subsequently, in 2013, Taiwan signed a 
fisheries agreement with Japan. Both nations maintained their 
sovereignty while enhancing fishing rights, which resulted in a triple 
yield of catches. And that's good for a world in which the demand for 
fish keeps rising.
  Mr. Speaker, I look forward to a continuing successful cooperation 
between the United States and Taiwan. I am also confident that if we 
continue to enhance our economic relationship, this dynamic partnership 
that we've built together will not only last but also thrive in the 
future, working alongside one another to, as President Ma quipped, 
realize the day in which ``The only one party which is not happy is the 
fish.''

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