[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4276]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       COMMEMORATING THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES R. LANGEVIN

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, April 10, 2002

  Mr. LANGEVIN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 23rd 
anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which was signed into law on 
April 10, 1979, by President Jimmy Carter. For more than two decades, 
the Taiwan Relations Act has served to provide the Republic of China on 
Taiwan the necessary security to grow ever stronger. Economically, 
Taiwan is now a member of the World Trade Organization and one of the 
strongest economic entities in the world. Politically, it is a strong 
and growing democracy whose people enjoy all the liberties and freedoms 
inherent in such a system.
  It is my hope that the Taiwan Relations Act will continue to serve as 
the basis of our relations with democratic Taiwan. That means we must 
continue to assist Taiwan in meeting its legitimate security needs and 
continue our contact with representatives of the Taiwan government. 
They are democratically elected leaders of one of our largest trading 
partners and our continuing dialogue with them is fundamental to a 
mutually beneficial relationship.
  In closing I would like to commend the good work that Ambassador C. 
J. Chen and his able staff have been performing here in Washington. 
Through their efforts, I am certain that the relationship between the 
United States and Taiwan, anchored in the Taiwan Relations Act, will 
enjoy continued strength in the years ahead.

                          ____________________