Recognizing Double Ten Day

Floor Speech

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Mr. DesJARLAIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the upcoming Double Ten Day, the Republic of China's, also known as Taiwan, national day, which falls on October 10th. As the House will not be in session that day, I would like to take this opportunity to offer my early best wishes to the people of Taiwan. 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 with the election of the first woman to the Presidency, Dr. Tsai Ing-wen. There are important common values and principles that link the United States and Taiwan, including respect for human rights, freedom, and democracy and I commend President Tsai Ing-wen for reiterating Taiwan's commitment to these values. Taiwan has been and will continue to be a reliable and vital trading partner in East Asia. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. trade in goods with Taiwan reached U.S. $66 billion last year, making Taiwan our 9th largest trading partner in 2015. Taiwan is a prosperous society, a major contributor to the global economy, and plays an important role in the peace and security of the Asia-Pacific region. As such, it is troubling to know that Taiwan continues to be barred from a number of international organizations, many of which, like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), serve to promote safety and strengthen diplomacy among the global community. For the sake of passenger safety and international security, the country must be brought into the ICAO fold. Taiwan should be invited to attend the ICAO Assembly on a regular basis, enabling it to keep up-to-date with important matters and assist the Assembly in ensuring the safe, secure, and sustainable development of international civil aviation. In closing, I applaud the nation of Taiwan for its strong commitment to democratic values and I wish them all the best at their celebrations in Taiwan and at the Twin Oaks Estate.

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