[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 2]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 1591-1592]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        CONGRATULATING PRESIDENT MA YING-JEOU ON HIS RE-ELECTION

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA

                           of american samoa

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 14, 2012

  Mr. FALEOMAVAEGA. Mr. Speaker, President Ma Ying-jeou was inaugurated 
President of the Republic of China, ROC, on May 20, 2008. He was 
elected on a platform which included a promise to revive Taiwan's 
economy and improve cross-Strait relations.
  President Ma was re-elected on January 14, 2012. Upon President Ma's 
re-election, The White House issued a statement. ``Cross-Strait peace, 
stability, and improved relations in an environment free from 
intimidation are of profound importance to the United States. We hope 
the impressive efforts that both sides have undertaken in recent years 
to build cross-Strait ties continue.'' The U.S. State Department also 
congratulated President Ma and, added, ``Taiwan has once again held a 
free and fair election.''
  President Ma's victory shows that the people of Taiwan agree with his 
efforts, and so do I. As the former Chairman and current Ranking Member 
of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, I offer my 
congratulations to President Ma. I have known President Ma before he 
was first elected, back when he was one of many candidates. I knew then 
what I know now. President Ma is the right man for the right times.

[[Page 1592]]

  Since his election in 2008, U.S.-Taiwan relations have been far 
better than any period in recent memory, and the Obama administration 
has shown clear support for the Ma administration by more than doubling 
the Bush administration's arms sales to Taiwan. The Obama 
administration has also sent high-level officials from the U.S. to 
Taiwan and, most recently, the Obama administration nominated Taiwan 
for inclusion in the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, VWP.
  The people of Taiwan have also shown strong support for President Ma 
and his policies. As a result of President Ma's policy to reduce 
tensions in cross-Strait relations, there are now 558 direct flights 
from cities in Taiwan to cities in China every week. China-bound 
investments have been relaxed, and business is good for both the 
Taiwanese and Chinese people.
  President Ma's policy of rapprochement, which upholds our shared 
values of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law, has advanced 
regional peace and stability, and the U.S. is appreciative and 
supportive of President Ma's initiatives because improved cross-Strait 
relations are in the best interest of the U.S.-Taiwan relationship.
  President Ma Ying-jeou graduated from National Taiwan University. 
After earning a Master of Laws degree from New York University, he 
received a Doctor of Juridical Sciences from Harvard Law School, 
specializing in the law of the sea and international economic law.
  President Ma's father, Ma Ho-ling, and his mother, Chin Hou-hsiu, 
dedicated themselves to government and country. Following in his 
parents' footsteps, President Ma devoted his life to creating a 
government that upholds those ideals that embody Taiwan's core 
traditional values--benevolence, righteousness, diligence, honesty, 
generosity, and industriousness.
  For historical purposes, I submit this statement to be made part of 
the Congressional Record in tribute to the service President Ma Ying-
jeou has rendered for and on behalf of the people of Taiwan. President 
Ma is married to Chow Mei-ching and they have two daughters--Ma Wei-
chung and Ma Yuan-chung--and a stray dog affectionately known as Ma 
Hsiao-jeou (Little Ma).

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