Thomas Daschle: “later this month, our country will bid farewell to a good friend. Chen Chien-jen--known to all of us as C.J. Chen--first…”

“later this month, our country will bid farewell to a good friend. Chen Chien-jen--known to all of us as C.J. Chen--first came to Washington 33 years ago and has spent over 20 years here working to promote a better relationship between the United States and Taiwan. As he retires and returns home, C.J. will leave the people of Taiwan a legacy of a strong relationship with the United States and deep support from the American people. C.J. has strived to represent the people of Taiwan in the foreign service for 37 years, 20 of which have been spent here in Washington. He began his exemplary service in the United States in 1971 as Third Secretary in the Embassy of the Republic of China, and remained in Washington after 1979, working with Congress to draft the critical Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. From 1983 to 1989, he served as deputy representative of the Coordination Council for North American Affairs, Taiwan's diplomatic mission to the United States. And for the last 4 years, he has admirably headed the current mission, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office. C.J.'s leadership as Taiwan's chief diplomat to the United States has been remarkable.”