[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 7008-7009]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          TAIWAN PRESIDENT MA YING-JEOU'S SECOND INAUGURATION

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2012

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, this coming Sunday, May 20, Taiwan will 
inaugurate President Ma Ying-jeou for a second term after his 
overwhelming election victory earlier this year. Congratulations to 
President Ma and to all the people of Taiwan. They embody the vision of 
a representative democracy that founding father Sun Yat-sen imagined.
  The value of the United States-Taiwan partnership cannot be 
overstated. Taiwan is the ninth largest trading partner of the United 
States and the sixth largest agricultural market for products grown and 
produced here in the United States. Additionally, Taiwan has long been 
an important contributor towards economic and political security across 
Asia, benefitting the entire region.
  Taiwan and the United States uphold a peaceful partnership through 
both trade agreements and meaningful personal relationships. I was 
lucky enough to take a trip to Taiwan when I was a state legislator, 
and it is a beautiful country with a vibrant culture. I hope someday to 
return.

[[Page 7009]]

  The strength of Taiwan comes from its people. The people continue to 
benefit from self-governance and free-elections, and the open society 
and democracy of Taiwan allows for innovation and growth that puts it 
on a competitive footing with the most powerful and largest countries 
in the world.
  Congratulations to the people of Taiwan and President Ma Ying-jeou on 
his second inauguration.

                          ____________________