[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 13177]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




        COMMEMORATING THE NATIONAL DAY OF THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. DAVE BRAT

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2016

  Mr. BRAT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the National Day 
of the Republic of China (Taiwan) this upcoming October 10th, 2016. 
This day commemorates the beginning of the end of China's Qing Dynasty 
and the subsequent establishment of the Republic of China.
  In 1979, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which was 
signed into law one month after being introduced. Today the TRA is the 
cornerstone of the robust relationship between the people of the United 
States and the people of Taiwan.
  Taiwan is a good friend to the United States. Our shared values 
include respect for market institutions, democracy, free elections, and 
human rights. Taiwan is also an important strategic partner, promoting 
peace and stability in the region. Our economic relationship continues 
to grow, with benefits for both countries. According to the U.S. 
Department of Commerce, U.S. trade in goods with Taiwan reached $66 
billion last year. Impressive for a population of only 23 million 
people, Taiwan has become America's ninth largest trading partner. 
Taiwan is also the ninth largest export market for the Commonwealth of 
Virginia, and its fourth largest export market in Asia.
  In addition, the 39th Assembly of the International Civil Aviation 
Organization (ICAO) will take place soon in Montreal, Canada, beginning 
on September 27, 2016. Congress passed a law in 2013 calling for 
Taiwan's participation in the triennial ICAO assembly as an observer. 
With wide international support, Taiwan was invited to attend the 38th 
ICAO Assembly in 2013. Considering the Taipei Flight Information Region 
(FIR), which is administered by Taiwan and provides over 1.53 million 
instances of air traffic control services, handles 58 million incoming 
and outgoing passengers in 2015, and serves as an indispensable part of 
the global air transport network, I hope to see that Taiwan will be 
invited to observe again this year.
  I wish the people of Taiwan a Happy Double Ten Day. I look forward to 
further strengthening this important relationship in the years to come.

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