[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 89 (Wednesday, May 22, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E550-E551]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT LAI CHING-TE

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 22, 2024

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, the American people extend 
congratulations to the Honorable Lai Ching-te on being sworn in as 
President of Taiwan on Monday, May 20, 2024. His successful 28-year 
career in politics as Vice President and Premier under President Tsai 
Ing-wen, Chairman of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), 1st Mayor 
of Tainan, and Member of the Legislative Yuan demonstrates his ability 
to be a strong leader for the people of Taiwan.
  Additionally, the vibrant democracy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) 
has elected Hsiao Bi-Khim as Vice President. During her four terms in 
the Legislative Yuan, she focused on agriculture and transportation in 
her district of Hualien, along with championing issues such as gender 
equality, foreign affairs, and human rights.
  My appreciation of the people of Chinese heritage is personal as I am 
the only member of Congress serving as the son of a Flying Tiger in 
World War II to liberate China. My father, First Lieutenant Hugh 
deVeaux Wilson with the U.S. Army Air Corps developed a great affection 
for the people of China.
  Lai Ching-te's presidency extends the rule of the DPP, which China 
views with skepticism, as the party promotes Taiwanese nationalism and 
identity, and supports the people of Taiwan's right to decide their own 
future.
  Taiwan continues to face rising threats from China, as almost daily, 
military warplanes and vessels are sent toward them, many of which 
crossing the median line in the Taiwan Strait. Sadly, incursions into 
Taiwan's air defense zone nearly doubled in 2022 and continued at a 
high pace in 2023 with 1,738 incursions. In December of 2022, 71 
Chinese aircraft flew

[[Page E551]]

into Taiwanese airspace, the largest breach in history. On May 15, 
2024, Taiwan's National Defense Ministry reported 45 Chinese military 
aircraft around the island, in just one day. With these growing 
tensions, the pressure on President Lai to balance security risks with 
promises of protecting the independence of Taiwan are high.
  Though the United States does not have official relations with 
Taiwan, the people of Taiwan have our unwavering support. We remain the 
island's most significant arms supplier and international backer, 
having approved over $8 billion in military aid last month in the 
National Security Supplemental Aid Package to support Taiwan and other 
key allies in the Indo-Pacific confronting Chinese aggression.
  President Lai's priorities for Taiwan align with his predecessor Tsai 
Ing-wen, with plans to boost defenses, including increasing military 
budgets, improving its military force structure, and concentrating on 
economical mobile weapons systems and more vigorous civil defense. 
Domestic reform is one of his top priorities, including social spending 
for the improvement of national health insurance and redirecting 
economic policy from motives for certain industries to developing more 
service sector jobs and encouraging domestic consumption.
  Lai has retained the majority of the Tsai team, including her foreign 
minister, Joseph Wu, who now leads his National Security Council, and 
former NSC head Wellington Koo, who now is the defense minister. He 
also recruited several private-sector executives for his cabinet, 
prominently JW Kuo, chair of Topco. Along with the Lai administration, 
I look forward to working with Taiwan's ambassador to the U.S., 
Ambassador Alexander Yui.
  The inauguration of President Lai Ching-te at the presidential office 
building in central Taipei featured an overwhelming amount of support 
for him, as crowds, including a show of marching bands and performers, 
gathered in a nearby plaza to show their support and listen to his 
inauguration speech. A bipartisan delegation of former senior U.S. 
officials, including former Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, 
also attended the inauguration.
  Sadly, we are in a war we did not choose, between dictators with Rule 
of Gun invading democracies with Rule of Law. We must stand firm to 
protect the borders of Taiwan, Ukraine, Israel, and the United States.
  I am confident in the leadership of President Lai Ching-te as Taiwan 
continues to face adversities to keep their allies who acknowledge them 
as a sovereign nation, amidst pressure from the Chinese Communist 
Party.
  I look forward to working with President Lai Ching-te on achieving 
Peace Through Strength, advancing our shared interests, strengthening 
our longstanding informal relationship, and maintaining stability 
across the Taiwan Strait.

                          ____________________