[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 4, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE LIFE OF FORMER TAIWAN PRESIDENT LEE TENG-HUI

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                           HON. PAUL A. GOSAR

                               of arizona

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 4, 2020

  Mr. GOSAR. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of former 
Taiwan President Lee Teng-hui, revered as Mr. Democracy. As the first 
democratically elected leader of Taiwan, Lee is an icon for democracy 
and pluralism to not just Taiwan, but freedom loving people around the 
world.
  Well known for the symbolism of his election and his strong 
maneuvering which kept Taiwan from the grasps of the People's Republic 
of China, we cannot forget his extensive service to Taiwan. Beginning 
as mayor of Taipei, he would go on to serve as the governor of the 
Taiwan province and vice president before assuming the presidency in 
1988.
  It was from this position he would oversee the 1996 election, 
becoming the first democratically elected president. Even in the face 
of Chinese aggression, Lee preserved this advancement and upheld the 
integrity of his election. Today, Taiwan is a strong, key member of the 
global community of nations and serves as a symbol of freedom, human 
rights, and democracy for all.
  Madam Speaker, I express my deepest condolences to the family of Lee 
Teng-hui and the people of Taiwan on his passing, and I encourage my 
colleagues to join me in celebrating his life and legacy as a beacon of 
democratic advancement

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