In Recognitions of the 36th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. SESSIONS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, known as the TRA, and to express the gratitude of the American people for the contributions of the Republic of China (ROC) in World War II.

The Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) was signed into law on April 10, 1979. For 36 years, it has served as the backbone of the extraordinary friendship between the ROC and the United States of America. The TRA was Congress' way of codifying a pledge from the American people to the people of Taiwan that ``we will stand with you, always.''

The TRA has provided stability to Taiwan, permitting it to thrive and become the economic powerhouse it is today, and to deepen its transition to democracy.

Furthermore, as we near the 70th anniversary of the end of World War II it is just and appropriate that we should remember the great contributions of the ROC to the allied victory. In closing, I would like to point out one of the many heroic contributions of the ROC to the allied victory in World War II:

In April 1942, General Sun Li-jen led a mission to successfully rescue 7000 British soldiers and many other civilians, including Americans, who were encircled by the Japanese Army, in the Burma campaign at Yenangyaung.

We should never forget the contributions of the Republic of China to the allied victory in World War II.

Likewise, we should never forget the importance of the Taiwan Relations Act for the peace and stability, not only of Taiwan, but also for the entire East Asia region.

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