[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 6502]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               TRIBUTE TO TAIWAN PRESIDENT CHEN SHUI-BIAN

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. LYNN A. WESTMORELAND

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 27, 2006

  Mr. WESTMORELAND. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to Taiwan 
President Chen Shui-bian. In early May, he will be making stops in the 
United States en route to Central and South America.
  I commend President Chen for his leadership and wisdom in having 
maintained peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait during the past six 
years. Despite the People's Republic of China's military buildup along 
the Taiwanese coast, despite China's passage of the anti-secession 
legislation last spring and despite China's continuous harsh rhetoric 
threatening Taiwan's future, President Chen continues to hope for a 
dialogue with his Chinese counterparts. President Chen wants permanent 
peace in the Taiwan Strait.
  President Chen firmly believes in his people's right to maintain a 
free and democratic way of life. Any solution of the Taiwan question 
must have the consent and approval of the 23 million people of Taiwan.
  We must help the 23 million people of Taiwan to determine their own 
future. First, we must reaffirm our commitment to the Taiwan Relations 
Act, which stipulates a peaceful solution to the Taiwan issue. In the 
meantime, let's give our support to Taiwan in its application to be an 
observer at the World Health Assembly meetings this May.
  It is my hope that President Chen will be warmly welcomed in the 
United States. Too often he has been misunderstood. I salute him as a 
leader who's always put his country and his people first. He is our 
``peacekeeper'' in the Taiwan Strait.

                          ____________________