[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 99 (Wednesday, May 27, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E487]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATIONS PRESIDENT TSAI ING-WEN

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                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 27, 2020

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, congratulations to 
President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan for beginning a second term with a 
positive message of confidence for the future. It is with the 
affirmation of democracy by President Donald Trump who has provided 
advanced weapons to Taiwan to maintain Peace Through Strength.
  Taiwan along with Hong Kong are models of how people of Chinese 
heritage can best achieve economic prosperity through democratic free 
market capitalism.
  The Wall Street Journal published on May 21st an article by Chun Han 
Wong entitled Taiwan President Holds Firm on China.

       ``Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen kicked off her second term 
     by doubling down on her strategy for boosting the island 
     democracy's ability to resist coercion from China, pledging 
     to further revamp the economy, strengthen the military and 
     deepen ties with friendly countries.
       In her inaugural address on Wednesday, Ms. Tsai reiterated 
     Taiwan's rejection of China's efforts to assimilate the 
     island, which Beijing claims as its territory. But she 
     offered to work with Chinese leader Xi Jinping to stabilize 
     relations in ways that respect Taiwan's democracy and 
     sovereignty--conditions that China has previously rejected.
       ``Both sides have a duty to find a way to coexist over the 
     long term and prevent the intensification of antagonism and 
     differences,'' Ms. Tsai said.
       Ms. Tsai won the re-election by a landslide in January on a 
     pitch to defend Taiwan's democracy by enlarging the island's 
     international presence and reducing its economic dependence 
     on mainland China, its biggest trading partner.
       Taiwan's standout success in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic 
     has bolstered the profile of the island of nearly 24 million 
     people, a boon for Ms. Tsai's agenda. Taiwanese authorities 
     had reported 440 coronavirus infections and seven deaths as 
     of Wednesday.''

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