Supporting Taiwan's Fourth Direct and Democratic Presidential Elections in March 2008

Floor Speech

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Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I would also like to thank Ranking Member Ros-Lehtinen for authoring this great piece of legislation, the resolution.

I would like to take this opportunity also to offer our varied Asian American communities, Taiwanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Singaporean, belated wishes for good fortune in the lunar new year which began last month. I wish all these communities health, long life, and prosperity as they welcome the Year of the Rat, a year which brings hard work, activity, and renewal. We also expect hard work and much activity in the months ahead in what promises to be a dynamic 2008.

Taiwan faces a very competitive campaign in the next 2 weeks before the March 22 presidential election. No one is able to predict the final outcome. That in itself is an indication of a thriving democracy.

Those skeptics who once said that democratic values would never thrive in a Chinese cultural context need to look no further than Taiwan. Free and fair elections in Taiwan bear a significance which reaches far beyond the shores of one island.

Taiwan, through its maturing democratic institutions, stands as a shining example for other Asian states struggling with the introduction of representative forms of government and the rule of law. Taiwan's free elections, however, have the greatest impact on those who are still yearning to breathe free in the vast Chinese mainland just across the narrow Taiwan Strait.

Taiwan's young democracy faces constant military threat and intimidation from neighboring China. Yet in spite of these belligerent threats and the constant saber-rattling by Beijing, Taipei has continued to stand tall for freedom. Taiwan's evolving and dynamic democracy serves as a beacon of hope for those still suffering under oppression in the Communist Chinese mainland.

Taiwan's democracy is a torch which shines ever brighter, far outshining the Olympic torch of the Chinese regime which hopes this year to use sports to achieve propaganda victory. Freedom shines brighter than any medal, Mr. Speaker.

Today, I ask my colleagues to join me in giving their strong, enthusiastic support to this resolution which welcomes Taiwan's fourth direct and democratic elections as part of our ongoing efforts to promote democracy around the world and in the Asian region in particular. I wish the people of Taiwan continued peace, prosperity, and liberty in this Year of the Rat, and in the years and decades ahead.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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