[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 4863]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                 TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT 36TH ANNIVERSARY

                                  _____
                                 

                           HON. LOIS FRANKEL

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 13, 2015

  Ms. FRANKEL of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on April 11, we marked the 36 
year anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, which serves as the legal 
foundation of our nation's important and enduring relationship with 
Taiwan.
  The United States and Taiwan are united in common interests and a 
shared commitment to freedom and democracy. The Taiwanese people share 
our same cultural values of respect for individual liberties, freedom 
of speech, adherence to the rule of law, and support for human rights. 
Taiwan also shares a similar political system and works with our nation 
on issues of global security and counter-terrorism.
  In addition to this close cultural, political, and security 
relationship, the United States and Taiwan also share a thriving 
economic partnership. Bilateral trade between the United States and 
Taiwan surpassed $67 billion last year, making Taiwan now our 10th 
largest trading partner--an impressive feat considering Taiwan's 
relatively small size of only 23 million people. In fact, my home state 
of Florida exported nearly $300 million worth of goods to Taiwan in 
2013 alone, supporting jobs and livelihood for American workers.
  Over the last few decades, Taiwan's economic and political ascension, 
with close American cooperation, has proven to be one of the great 
success stories in Asia, and we look forward to many more decades of 
friendship and mutual support.

                          ____________________