[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 144 (Thursday, September 22, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1345-E1346]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          TAIWAN NATIONAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BRUCE WESTERMAN

                              of arkansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 22, 2016

  Mr. WESTERMAN. Mr. Speaker, Monday, October 10 is Taiwan's National 
Day--also known as Double Ten Day. I would like to take this 
opportunity to offer my early best wishes to the people of Taiwan.
  The United States and Taiwan enjoy a longstanding friendship based on 
shared values. I visited Taiwan earlier this year to witness the 
democratic process and the peaceful transfer of power. I applaud 
Taiwan's embrace of individual political freedom.
  Taiwan is also a strong economic partner. In 2015, Taiwan became the 
United States' 9th largest trading partner, and is my home state of 
Arkansas' 6th largest export market in Asia. Our economic ties help us 
to foster our relationship with Taiwan, and ensure an atmosphere of 
cooperation.
  Additionally, the 39th Triennial Assembly of the International Civil 
Aviation Organization (ICAO) will take place in Montreal, Canada, 
beginning on September 27, 2016. Three years ago, the U.S. Congress 
passed a bill, later signed into law, supporting Taiwan's inclusion in 
the ICAO as an observer state. Taiwan was first invited to the assembly 
in 2013, and I am happy to see that Taiwan will be invited again this 
year. The Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR), administered by 
Taiwan, provided over 1.53 million instances of air traffic control 
services. FIR also handled 58 million incoming and outgoing passengers 
in 2015, serving as an indispensable part of the global air transport 
network.

[[Page E1346]]

  Again, I wish the people of Taiwan a happy Double Ten Day. I would 
like to congratulate Taiwan on the occasion of Double Ten Day, and I 
hope the friendship between our two nations continues to grow in the 
years ahead.

                          ____________________