[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Senate]
[Page 6742]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   TAIWAN'S PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATION

  Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, today I wish to recognize Inauguration Day 
in Taiwan on May 20, 2012. On January 14, Mr. Ma Ying-jeou was elected 
to his second term as President of the Republic of China. I offer 
congratulations to Mr. Ma not only for winning the election but for 
what his election symbolizes: the continued growth and maturation of 
democracy in the Republic of China. Taiwan is the first place in the 
ethnic Chinese world where democracy has taken root, and its democratic 
transformation has laid the foundation for reduced tensions across the 
Taiwan Strait and strengthened its ties with the United States as well.
  Taiwan's democracy brightens the future of East Asia. Taipei poses no 
threat to Beijing, and its democratic government has fostered the 
development of strong cross-strait economic and cultural ties. I hope 
that, instead of building up its military forces in fear of a 
democratic Taiwan, Beijing will learn from Taiwan's example and reform 
its own political system. Democratization on both sides of the Taiwan 
Strait will lead to further expansion of the economic and cultural ties 
that have begun to flourish in recent years as well as improve security 
for the entire region.
  The United States understands that our interests are well served by a 
free and democratic Taiwan. We want to see Taiwan grow and thrive as an 
important economic and trade partner, and we recognize that the safety 
and security of Taiwan is very important to the security of the entire 
Asia-Pacific region. The partnership between the United States and 
Taiwan, especially under the terms of the Taiwan Relations Act, has 
deterred aggressive action in the Taiwan Strait and opened the door for 
Taiwan to reach its full potential as a strong democracy and an 
important economic hub. I look forward to strengthening the links 
between Taiwan and the United States in the future, particularly 
through the removal of remaining trade barriers and a renewed 
commitment to addressing the security challenges facing Taiwan.
  I hope that the United States and the Republic of China, as two 
fellow democracies, will continue to support each other and commit 
themselves to even closer ties in the future. And in that spirit, on 
the occasion of Taiwan's Inauguration Day, I congratulate the people of 
Taiwan and join them in celebrating the power and potential of 
democracy.

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