[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 17, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E649-E650]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN OF TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 17, 2017

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, Saturday, May 20 marks the one-
year anniversary of the inauguration of President Tsai Ing-wen of 
Taiwan. President Tsai's election was not only historic, in that she is 
the first woman to be elected to that high office, but as the third 
peaceful election transferring power from one political party to 
another. It also demonstrates the maturity of Taiwan's democracy--a 
system where the will of the people is respected and followed.
  The relationship between Taiwan and the United States is one of 
shared values, and is cemented by the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, a 
creation of the Congress, and the Six Assurances of 1982 by President 
Ronald Reagan. It is supported by countless freedom-loving Americans, 
many of whom are members of Taiwanese-American communities all over the 
United States.
  While our two countries have much to celebrate on this occasion, old 
challenges are resurfacing where Taiwan's participation as a 
constructive member of the global community is concerned. This is most 
recently manifest in the withholding of the invitation to the World 
Health Assembly that begins on May 22. Taiwan's 23 million people have 
much to offer the other peoples of the globe, and in a time of unique 
challenges, the best minds and talents

[[Page E650]]

everywhere in the world should have a part in creating our solutions. 
We in the Congress, who have been supportive of Taiwan's participation 
countless times in the past, must make ourselves heard again on this 
matter.
  On this occasion, I wish President Tsai every success as her 
administration continues to unfold, and I want her--as well as her 
fellow citizens--to know that we stand with them.

                          ____________________