[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 161 (Friday, September 28, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1336-E1337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  RECOGNIZING TAIWAN'S DOUBLE TEN DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVE BRAT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 28, 2018

  Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of Congress and the 
people of Virginia's 7th Congressional District, to recognize Double 
Ten Day. Double Ten Day, which takes place each year on October 10th, 
is celebrated by Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans as the national day of 
the Republic of China (ROC).
   Double Ten Day led to the collapse of the Qing Dynasty and the 
establishment of the Republic of China in 1912. In recognition of this 
historic event, the United States should build on the efforts of the 
Taiwan Travel Act and strengthen diplomatic relations with Taipei.
   Taiwan is a strong ally of the United States. In 2017, this island 
of 23 million people was our 11th largest trading partner. They are 
rated highly on the Heritage Foundation's 2018 Index of Economic 
Freedom. They share our values of freedom of speech, freedom of

[[Page E1337]]

the press, and freedom of religion. And they are a bulwark against 
Chinese aggression in East Asia.
   In December 2016, then President-elect Trump spoke on the telephone 
with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. This marked the first time a 
U.S. President or President-elect had spoken with an ROC President 
since 1979. It was the right thing to do then, and it's the right thing 
to do now. I urge both Congress and the Trump Administration to 
continue its efforts to advance ties between Taiwan and the United 
States. America must not give in to Chinese pressure to distance 
ourselves from Taiwan. We have much more work to do.
   I would like to thank the government and the people of Taiwan for 
their friendship, and I wish them a very Happy Double Ten Day.

                          ____________________