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In Honor of Taiwan's 102nd National Birthday

Floor Speech

Date: Oct. 8, 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Foreign Affairs

Mr. BENTIVOLIO. Mr. Speaker, Taiwan, a dear friend and close ally in Southeast Asia, is celebrating their 102nd birthday on October 10, 2013.

Taiwan and the United States have a good relationship because we have so much in common. We both believe that human rights, democracy and the rule of law are critical to maintaining stability. Both nations do not just speak of these as theories but create environments in which they can be fulfilled. It is a shame that Taiwan is not given the recognition they deserve in the international community, as they have attempted to uphold the same values that the United States holds dear. This commitment to similar ideals should bring our two countries closer together.

There are a few areas that I would like to address that could further this friendship and enhance our cooperation and understanding.

I would like to see an expanded trade relationship with Taiwan. Taiwan is one of our largest trading partners, and my own state of Michigan exported nearly $200 million worth of goods to Taiwan in 2012. An expanded trade relationship with Taiwan would certainly be beneficial to the United States, and also to the state of Michigan. A bilateral trade agreement is something that should be explored.

It is also hard to understand just how much Taiwan has advanced over the previous decades. Their shift to democracy in the 1990s was truly an amazing event, especially given their location and external pressures, but this event is hard to understand without actually visiting the island. Many Members of Congress have visited Taiwan, but it can be hard to convey the importance of such travels to other parts of our government. I have encouraged high-level visits from the United States, and also have encouraged allowing high-level Taiwanese officials to visit with executive departments. In this way, we can more accurately assess our relationship with Taiwan, their importance to stability in the Asia-Pacific region, and the power of democracy in Asia.


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