[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12663]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  105TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FOUNDING OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA ON TAIWAN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. DUNCAN of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, this Nation has many friends 
around the world, but almost no country has been a better friend to the 
United States than has been the Republic of China on Taiwan, or, as it 
is more commonly known, Taiwan.
  I would like to recognize Taiwan in advance of the 105th anniversary 
of the founding of that great country. On October 10, the people of 
Taiwan will commemorate the founding of a nation which has much to be 
proud of in this year.
  Over the past 50 years, Taiwan has undergone dramatic political, 
social, and economic changes, and is now the only democracy in the 
Chinese-speaking world. This year, the people of Taiwan witnessed the 
third peaceful transition of power. This election was especially 
meaningful with the election of the first woman President, Dr. Tsai 
Ing-wen.
  There are important common values and principles that fundamentally 
link the United States and Taiwan, including respect for human rights, 
freedom, and democracy. I commend President Tsai Ing-wen for refreshing 
Taiwan's commitment to renewing Taiwan's commitment to these values.
  The Republic of China on Taiwan has become a trailblazer in the 
industrialized world with a vibrant and growing economy and a 
flourishing free people. Taiwan has surpassed India and Saudi Arabia to 
become the 10th largest trading partner of the United States. I cannot 
overemphasize how important this economic powerhouse and democratic 
ally is to the United States and to our trade relations.
  While I have some very serious concerns regarding the Trans-Pacific 
Partnership, if the United States ends up finalizing this agreement, 
Taiwan should definitely be included.
  In the early 1960s, my father was the mayor of Knoxville, and he met 
at that time a man named Nelson Nee. Mr. Nee was then head of the 
University of Tennessee's international students program, but he later 
became a very successful businessman in California importing products 
from Taiwan. The result of Mr. Nee and my father's efforts to bring 
students from Taiwan to UT has resulted in a very large UT alumni group 
in Taipei--an alumni group of several hundred. Also, we have a very 
large and active Taiwan group in Knoxville and east Tennessee.
  I had the privilege of spending a week in Taiwan, along with 
Congressman Pete Sessions and former Congressman Sonny Callahan, about 
15 years ago. At the end of that trip, I asked one of the officials to 
tell me how you say in Chinese, ``Thank you for your friendship.'' I 
was told that you say, ``Shieh shieh ni de yo yi.''
  I simply will end by saying to Taiwan once again, thank you for your 
friendship.

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