[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 15024-15025]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              RECOGNIZING THE 103RD NATIONAL DAY OF TAIWAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. SCOTT DesJARLAIS

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                     Wednesday, September 17, 2014

  Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the 103rd 
national day of the Republic of China (ROC), which is known by most 
Americans as Taiwan.
  Double Ten Day, which as the name implies falls on October 10, 
commemorates the Wuchang Uprising, an event that triggered a revolution 
leading to the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty and the establishment of 
the ROC on January 1, 1912.
  The United States has since stood by the ROC as we faced common 
enemies over the course of World War II and through the Cold War. With 
the creation and enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act in 1979, 
Congress guaranteed the continuing importance of the special U.S.-
Taiwan relationship. Through the hard work and determination of its 
people, Taiwan has built a democracy that has witnessed direct 
presidential elections every four years since 1966 and has twice seen 
the peaceful passage of power from one political party to another.
  Taiwan is a shining example to other countries who aspire to 
democracy both in the Asia-Pacific region and around the world. It is a 
regional and global economic and cultural force as a major innovator in 
high-technology and contributor to art and fashion. Through our shared 
security partnership, Taiwan also

[[Page 15025]]

contributes to the security of the Asia-Pacific region.
  With the rise of tensions over the Diaoyutai/Senkaku Islands and 
other areas of the East China Sea two years ago--tensions that remain 
prevalent today--Taiwan under the leadership of President Ma Ying-jeou 
proposed an East China Sea peace initiative. It calls for dialogue and 
diplomacy to reduce tensions among the claimants to promote mutual 
benefit from the natural-bounties of the disputed waters. This kind of 
vision is sorely needed in these types of global disputes, and it 
should be given due consideration by the international community.
  At a House Foreign Affairs hearing this past March, the State 
Department's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs responded 
positively to President Ma's proposal. I hope my colleagues will study 
it and consider its proposals. And in appreciation of Taiwan's many 
contributions to the global community, I hope that they will join me in 
wishing the people of Taiwan a Happy Double Ten Day.

                          ____________________