[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15481]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   CELEBRATING TAIWAN'S NATIONAL DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, October 3, 2017

  Ms. BORDALLO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to wish the people of Taiwan 
and Americans celebrating Taiwan's National Day this October 10th a 
Happy Double Ten Day.
  Over the past 40 years, this key partner in the Asia-Pacific has 
transformed itself into a high-tech, multiparty democracy which is a 
significant contributor to the global economy. This is chiefly due to 
the hard work of the 23.5 million people on Taiwan who value education, 
science, and progress, and whose young people are not only plugged into 
global cultural trends, but are also contributing to them. Taiwanese 
are also the third largest tourist group to Guam and a cornerstone of 
our island's economy.
  Americans share these values, which is why we have also contributed 
to Taiwan's success not only through our support and friendship, but 
through the Taiwan Relations Act and the Six Assurances, cornerstones 
of our relations with Taiwan. Our security relationship is an integral 
element of United States engagement in the Indo-Asia-Pacific and we 
must continue to work cooperatively together. The people of Guam, 
neighbors to Taiwan, understand and appreciate the need for 
strengthening alliances and partnerships in the region.
  Two recent events have served to remind me of the imagination and 
drive of our two peoples--the end of our spectacular Cassini mission to 
Saturn, and the successful launch this summer of Taiwan's Formosat-5--
the latter being the first Taiwan's first major indigenously-developed 
remote sensing satellite, which will be engaged in Earth observation 
for the next five years. We are expanding our knowledge of our small 
planet, our solar system, and the universe at large. Whatever the 
challenges this planet is presented with in future years, I am 
confident that our two, talented peoples, along with likeminded 
societies across the globe, will be able to meet them.
  This is a day to celebrate, and to be optimistic. I ask my colleagues 
to join me in recommitting ourselves to the U.S.-Taiwan relationship, 
and in wishing Taiwan a Happy Double Ten Day.

                          ____________________