BACKGROUND

In November, to my surprise, I was nominated by the Democratic National Committee (DNC) to join a goodwill delegation to Taiwan (officially known as the Republic of China – ROC).  I joined nine other DNC members from across the country on a six day excursion hosted and financed by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs  (to see the Ministry's press release click here).  The trip was initiated by the government of Taiwan as part of an on-going foreign relations effort to bolster informal ties with the U.S. government.  For approximately thirty years, Taiwan has been sponsoring goodwill delegations for U.S. elected officials and political party leaders (Democrats and Republicans) to learn about Taiwan’s young democracy and its policy issues.

 
From left to right: Anthony E. Graves (CO), Everett B. Ward (NC),
Patricia M. Hobbs (CA), Aleita Hueguenin (CA), Mitchell Ceasar (FL),
Frank D. LaMere (NE), Margaret E. Allen (ME), Matthew D. Nugen (DC),
Janet T. May (AL), State Senator Brenda Council (NE - not pictured).
Center: His Excellency the Honorable Vice President of Taiwan,
H.E. Vincent C. SIEW. Right: The Honorable Dr. Lyu-shun SHEN,
Deputy Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

A BRIEF HISTORY

In 1949, there was a struggle for power on mainland China between the standing government ruled by the Kuomintang (KMT) political party - led by Chiang Kai-shek, and the Communist Party under Mao Zedong (or Mao Tse Tung).  The Communist party took control of the nation through a show of force, and the entire KMT government and nearly two million supporters and military personnel fled to the island of Taiwan (formerly known as Formosa).  The KMT maintained in absentia that it was the official government of mainland China (hence its designation, The Republic of China – ROC), while the Communists asserted that they controlled the legitimate government of the mainland and that Taiwan was part of its territory (named collectively the People’s Republic of China – PRC).  This doctrine has come to be known as the “One-China Policy.”

In 1971, the PRC was recognized as a member of the U.N.  This action, taken by the largest body of sovereign nations, closed the door on Taiwan's protests, and Taiwan’s declaration that it was the seat of government for mainland China.  Dozens of countries ended their diplomatic relations with Taiwan and sided with Communist China.  Eight years later on January 1, 1979, Taiwan’s aspirations for global recognition as a nation-state were further diminished when the U.S. and the PRC signed an official agreement establishing diplomatic relations.  This act signed into law under President Jimmy Carter, recognized the PRC as a sovereign nation and Taiwan as a territory of the PRC – One-China.  While the U.S. shifted its foreign policy to recognize the PRC as a sovereign nation, it remained sympathetic to Taiwan’s political situation and its commitment to Democracy.  The U.S. was also interested in Taiwan’s economic progress as the Taiwanese government had begun the difficult work of building a national infrastructure and growing its economy.  Just three months after formalizing relations with the PRC, President Carter signed the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA) into law on April 10, 1979. The TRA established “unofficial relations” with Taiwan for the purpose of fostering trade, cultural and educational exchange.  This act opened the door for future U.S. delegations like the one I just joined with members of the DNC.

Today, thirty years after President Carter initiated diplomatic relations with the PRC, the US continues to recognize Taiwan as a territory of mainland China.  During our trip to Taiwan, President Obama was on his tour of Asia Pacific.  His presence in the region provided a remarkable backdrop for our visit.  During the week, President Obama made at least two public statements during his tour of Asia Pacific acknowledging the rise of China and affirming the sovereignty of the PRC.  He stated explicitly that the U.S. still supported the One-China Policy and that Taiwan was a territory of the mainland.  These messages from President Obama set the tone for our meetings with senior government officials in Taiwan.  I was ever-mindful of the President’s remarks during our trip, and I had no illusions about vacating the One-China Policy or the terms of our informal relationship with Taiwan given the ascension of China as a prominent world-power and as a creditor of the U.S.  When I was in the air somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, I opened the L.A. Times to read about the President’s visit to Japan.  During a press conference with Japan’s Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, President Obama was quoted as saying,

“The U.S. has no interest in containing China…nations need not fear the success of another. Cultivating spheres of cooperation – not competitive spheres of influence will lead to progress in Asia Pacific.  On the contrary, the rise of a strong China can be a source of strength for the community of nations.”

The U.S. is a friend of Taiwan, but our country will not "tip our hat" to Taiwan in a manner that would upset the delicate relationship we have with the PRC.  We can only operate within the confines of the TRA, which affords us some flexibility to support a country that is not fully autonomous – living under the auspices of an emerging super power. While the US enjoys informal relations with Taiwan, we do not have diplomatic relations with the country. This inserts the U.S. squarely into a foreign relations gray area with Taiwan.  Without formal diplomatic relations, Taiwan is unable to take advantage of all of the benefits that sovereign nations can.  Taiwan is unable to participate in many multi-lateral treaties between nations, like the World Trade Organization, and the U.S. is limited in how it can engage Taiwan without straining its relationship with mainland China.  For example, the U.S. cannot open an Embassy in Taiwan.  Embassies are reserved for sovereign nations that have diplomatic relations with the U.S.  Instead, the U.S. maintains a state presence in Taiwan through the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT).  According to the AIT website:

“The American Institute in Taiwan (AIT) is a non-profit, private corporation established shortly after the United States Government changed its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing on January 1, 1979. The Taiwan Relations Act (PL 96-8) of April 10, 1979, authorized the continuation of 'commercial, cultural and other relations between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan.' It also provided that 'any programs, transactions, or other relations conducted or carried out by the President or any Agency of the United States Government with respect to Taiwan shall, in the manner and to the extent directed by the President, be conducted and carried out by or through the American Institute in Taiwan.' The Department of State, through a contract with the Institute, provides a large part of AIT's funding and guidance in its operations. Congress, in passing the Taiwan Relations Act, also assumed an oversight role with respect to the Institute's operations.”

I hope this brief overview provides a helpful point of reference for my journal entries below.  I took great care to preserve the details of my trip for your review.  Please note that the views and observations expressed here are my own, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the DNC, the U.S., R.O.C., or P.R.C. governments.  I would like to thank the DNC for nominating me to participate in this incredible experience, and Colorado Democrats for the privilege of serving in this office.  I am humbled by your vote of confidence.  Special thanks to my gracious hosts at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Republic of China.  The people of Taiwan have a bright future and an important place on the world stage.

PERSONAL JOURNAL ENTRIES: Taiwan, November 16 – 21, 2009

DAY 1 – Monday: His Excellency, the Vice President of the R.O.C.

My first day in Taiwan was remarkable.  As a delegation, we have been privy to meetings with officials at the highest levels of government.  What makes this trip even more special and timely is President Obama's visit to Asia this week.  As I type this message, he is meeting with senior officials in the People's Republic of China, just across the Taiwan Straight.  Clearly, given the tense historic relationship and question of sovereignty debated between The Republic of China (Taiwan) and the People's Republic of China (Mainland or Communist China), this creates a remarkable context for my meetings.  While the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for Taiwan sponsors these trips for US elected officials and party members a few times a year, my delegation has the distinction of embarking on this journey during a historic visit by our president to the region that will impact US foreign policy in Asia for the next decade or longer.  It is truly a historic time.

Our first meeting was with Taiwan's Deputy Minister of the Mainland [China] Affairs Council, Dr. Chien-min CHAO.  Dr. CHAO spoke to the progress that has been made in strengthening Taiwan’s relationship with mainland China.  While there are still many unresolved issues and points of contention, great inroads have been made in recent years in easing tensions and creating new treaties between the two parties (click here for a brief history of cross-straight relations).  Some attribute the recent progress to the last national election in Taiwan that ushered in the KMT government which has used more conciliatory language with China.  The previous government under the DPP or Green Party, took a harder, more vocal line on Taiwan’s sovereignty which inflamed relations across the Taiwan Straight.  The KMT eased away from the direct language of the DPP party and has been focusing on maintaining the status quo.  That is, the current administration has not made any inflammatory remarks about their independence, instead they are trying to advance their economic agenda and play down their sovereign interests.  According to Dr. Chao, at least nine historic agreements had been reached “across the straight,” including a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that was signed this week to increase financial activity and accountability between the two parties.  We went on to have a substantive dialogue about US-China-Taiwan relations.

 
With his Excellency the
Vice President of Taiwan,
H.E. Vincent C. SIEW
 

In the afternoon, we met with his Excellency the Vice President of Taiwan, H.E. Vincent C. SIEW at the Presidential Palace.  Our meeting was held in a beautiful room reserved for state visits.  The room had a grand cherry wood table that traveled the length of the room.  There was a traditional Asian painting at the head of the room anchored by two large orchid plants with brilliant purple blooms.  As you might imagine, the meeting was very formal.  When we walked into the room, there were designated places for each member of the delegation, reserved by personal name cards.  We each stood behind our seats, waiting to receive Vice President Siew.  The national press was also waiting in the room with photographers and cameramen prepared to “go live.”  Vice President Siew walked in the room flanked by administrative staff and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.  He graciously walked around the long table and casually shook hands with each member of the delegation, presenting his business card as he went - a common practice of Taiwanese culture, regardless of status or rank.  Vice President Siew assumed his seat at the head of the table and began his opening remarks in Chinese.  After an interpreter translated the Vice President’s opening remarks for the press core, the cameramen packed up and vacated the room so we could have a private conversation.  When the cameras went dark, we began a frank discussion with Vice President Siew about Taiwan's challenges and opportunities.  At the conclusion of our meeting, our delegation observed local protocol and offered small gifts to Vice President Siew to express our appreciation for his time.  I presented the VP with an original photo of a Colorado landscape by Denver Photographer Mandle Rousseau that Mayor Hickenlooper (of Denver) was kind enough to sign for his Excellency.

In the afternoon, we had a formal lunch at Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Deputy Foreign Minister Dr. Lyen-shun SHEN.  Dr. Shen was very charismatic and regaled us with dozens of stories about US Senators and dignitaries.  He asked me to send his regards to former Mayor Wellington E. Webb.  He also sent personal greetings to a dozen other U.S. politicos through other members of the delegation.  He was clearly a savvy diplomat who had memorized the names and stations of countless officials over many years.  His good-humor and delightful conversation was peppered with facts about Taiwan and a direct call to action for on-going US support of his country.
                             
Standing in the gardens in front of Freedom Square.                    The shrine at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial with an armed guard on watch.

After lunch, we were given a whirlwind tour of several local attractions.  We stopped at Taipei’s “Freedom Square” and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial – a picturesque museum dedicated to the country’s founding father that was built in gleaming white stone, surrounded by a beautiful oriental garden.  Next we dashed to Taipei 101, one of the tallest buildings in the world for an aerial view of the densely built city. After our tour, we rode a tour bus to the political headquarters of the ruling party, the Kuomintang (KMT), for a conversation with one of their Congressmen from the Legislative Yuan - Mr. Cheng-yuan TSAI.  They have a unicameral (one house) legislature. One of their hot-topics in the legislature is the import of American beef.  A few years ago, Mad Cow disease created a public relations problem for US beef imports.  While the dangers have been resolved by the Food and Drug Administration and the US is now exporting safe products, the Taiwanese opposition party (the DPP -Democratic Progressive Party) is focusing on this issue and raising public concern in an effort to challenge the KMT who supported US beef imports.

            
The view from the top of Taipei 101, one of the world's tallest towers.

We ended the day with a walk through a "night market," a bustling string of alleys and streets with fish tanks, restaurants and plenty of chances to order "snake soup". 

           
Looking down one of the corridors of a local "Night Market."                  Many of the Night Market stalls had tanks of live fish, crab and eel.

 DAY 2 – Tuesday: The American Institute of Taiwan

Yesterday, we began our day at the American Institute of Taiwan (AIT).  The AIT constitutes the official US presence in Taiwan.  Since we do not have official diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan), we are not permitted to have an "embassy," however for all intents and purposes the AIT functions like an embassy.  During our meeting, our Taiwanese hosts from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stayed out of the meeting so the AIT could have a frank dialogue with us about the state of Taiwan and U.S. relations in the region.  It gave us an opportunity to get a western perspective on all of the information we have heard over the last 48 hours.  While the dialogue we have had with senior officials in the ROC government has represented straight forward and sincere diplomacy, the information has been presented to us in a manner that represents the best interests of Taiwan.  The AIT provided the other perspective.  The two perspectives were not necessarily contradictory; they just offered different interpretations of pertinent details.

We sat down with the Section Heads for the entire AIT; consular corps, military attaché, commerce, economics, political section, etc.  I felt strangely comfortable in the environment based on my brief stint under the U.S. Department of Commerce, however, I had never experienced such a detailed briefing – it was intense. In one hour’s time, we received a comprehensive review of the political-economic, military and foreign relations activities associated with the ROC.  It was eye opening.  This trip has given me a rare glimpse into the life of a U.S. diplomat or member of Congress.  They have access to personnel and briefings like this on a regular basis.

After our meeting with AIT, we met with the Mayor of Taipei, the Honorable Hau Lung-pin.  There are no Governors in Taiwan, so the Mayor of the capitol city is very powerful.  The current President of the Country was the last Mayor of Taipei.  We sat in a formal sitting room where we talked about the issues of their densely populated city.  The mayor has been cleaning up their river ways and focusing on beautification and recycling efforts.  I believe the city of Taipei recycles over 50% of its total waste!  I also learned that Taipei has a massive city council structure with 52 councilmen.  I think they have 2 million people in the city, 5 million in the metro area - and 23 million across the island of Taiwan.

Next, we met with the Vice Premier of the country, the Honorable Eric Li-luan CHU.  Taiwan's government structure reminds me of a constitutional monarchy.  They have a symbolic head of state - their President (and Vice President) that are elected by the Taiwanese people, however the country is actually governed by a Premier and Vice Premier appointed by the President (similar to Britain's Prime Minister - though in the UK the Prime Minister is elected).

 

A formal guard greets our delegation.

We closed our day with Taiwan's Vice Minister of Economic Affairs, the Honorable Mr. Francis Kuo-Hsin Liang.  We sat in another official "state" room with the American and ROC flags prominently displayed - it looked just like one of the press shots with President Obama having tea with a head of state.  The Minister was charismatic and like many of his counterparts a product of the US education system.  Nearly everyone we have met has an advanced degree from the US.  We talked about Taiwan's incredible growth story - they have 0 national debt - yes 0!  We also discussed the state of Taiwan's economy and their focus on renewable energy.

DAY 3 – Wednesday: Taipei First Girl’s School and the Legislative Yuan

Yesterday, we visited the Taipei First Girl's School (TFG).  It is the highest performing college prep high school for girls in the country - and is ranked as one of the best in the world.  We had a chance to talk with eight of the young ladies.  They were very impressive!  After a panel discussion with the young ladies, they presented each of us with pieces of red paper with our names written in black Chinese characters.

 

Holding my name penned in Chinese characters,
presented by students at the Taipei First Girl's School.

We adjourned our meeting and drove to the Legislative Yuan (their Congress) where we met with the Deputy Speaker of the House (they call the position the Vice President of the Legislative Yuan), the Honorable Mr. Tseng Yung-Chuan.  Their Speaker is called the President.  It was held in another diplomatic briefing room with Taiwanese and American flags.  They served hot tea in porcelain cups with chocolate cake.  We each introduced ourselves and I informed the VP that I was from Denver, Colorado where (then) Candidate Obama received the Presidential nomination from the Democratic Party.  After an interpreter translated my phrase, the Vice President lit-up with a smile repeating "Denver" and "Obama."  He was in Denver for the convention and enjoyed his time.

                           
Matthew Nugen and I on the floor of the Legislature.             Standing in front of the Legislative Yuan with a senior member of the Legislative Staff.


I asked the Vice President Yung-Chuan if the Legislative Yuan used the filibuster technique to delay or derail legislation.  His response surprised me, he believed that the American filibuster was a legitimate tool of the legislature and that they needed something more sophisticated/civil that might be closer to our model.  I found this thought provoking as most Americans have a negative opinion of the filibuster as a technique.  I was also surprised to learn that the Legislative Yuan has seats reserved in the legislature for representatives of their indigenous populations.  As a point of comparison, if we had a similar practice in the U.S. we would have seats in our Congress reserved for representatives of our Native American population.

After we finished our discussion, he presented us each with a gift, and we walked across the legislative compound to the Legislative Yuan.  Their legislature is an elegant white structure, with a gray cobblestone path leading to a grand doorway.  The building itself is not enormous, but it is well appointed and has ample room for its 113 member parliament.  It also has a balcony/gallery for the press and visitors.  A large portrait of Chiang Kai-shek hangs in the gallery against the ROC flag.  The chamber was empty so we had a chance to take a few photos.

We said our goodbyes and headed to a local restaurant for dumplings.  In the evening we boarded the high-speed train to southern Taiwan to spend the night at a stunning lake community that until five years ago, was nearly impossible to get to due to a lack of infrastructure. 

DAY 4 – Thursday: 923 Earthquake Memorial Museum

After a hearty Chinese breakfast and a walking tour of Sun Moon Lake, we boarded our bus and drove an hour to Taiwan’s National Earthquake Museum.  On September 21, 1999 (also known as “921”), Taiwan was struck by a devastating earthquake that measured 7.6 on the Richter Scale.  The epicenter of the earthquake erupted at the grounds of a local middle school. Over 2,400 people were killed and 10,000 were injured.  The 921 Earthquake Museum was erected to memorialize the national tragedy and provide a place to study the phenomenon of earthquakes.  In an effort to symbolize healing, the museum was built around the ruins of the epicenter, with large cables anchoring the old and the new buildings like stitches over an open wound.  As I walked through the 921 Museum, my mind was taken to our own national tragedy 9/11.  There was an eerie similarity between “921” and “9/11” and my mind could not deny the dark links to death and destruction.  I felt as if any number of the pictures in the 921 Museum of Taiwanese citizens emerging from rubble, painted with dust and blood could have been swapped seamlessly for our own images of Americans emerging from the aftermath of the World Trade Center.  I was very struck by the memorial museum. 


                

The beautiful peaks of Sun Moon Lake.                                                        A glimpse of the devastation from the 921 Earthquake.


DAY 5 – Friday: Elementary School Education, the Ministry of Health and the Green Party

Friday morning, we visited a public elementary school (K-5).  Our visit corresponded with the beginning of their school year.  When we arrived, all of the students were preparing for their inaugural opening day performance in a grand courtyard (their playground).  Each year, the teachers prepare the students for a festive display of dance, music and parade for the parents in celebration of the first day of school. The children were dressed in brightly colored cultural dress and costume.  They carried banners, traditional drums and bamboo poles.  The older kids moved with precision in an amazing display.  The youngest children (5-7 years old) ran to the field giggling and shouting to the traditional drums where they merrily drummed their slightly off-beat rhythms.  We had a chance to speak with several teachers, parents and administrators and one-thing was clear, Taiwan is dedicated to educating the “whole child.”  Education is not just limited to the “three R’s”, it is focused on physical fitness, nutrition, social skills and awareness of social issues.  While walking through the halls, we passed by art projects drawn by the fifth graders that highlighted the risks of credit card debt and fast-food consumption!

             
Girls and boys sit in brightly colored traditional costumes to                         The kindergarten class proudly presents us with sketches.
prepare for a performance to celebrate the first day of school.

After taking a million photos with the kids and being plied with their crayon-art projects, we boarded the bus and headed to a meeting with the Honorable Secretary General of Defense, Dr. Chi-SU.  Dr. Su was a genuine and charismatic host.  He serves as the President’s Chief National Security Adviser.  We met in a local hotel for lunch where we had a fascinating discussion about national security and multi-lateral relations between the U.S., China and Taiwan.  Dr. Su is a graduate of several US institutions including Johns Hopkins and Harvard. He had fond memories of the U.S. and shared a ready connection with us over lunch.  He took time to answer all of our questions despite his impossibly busy schedule.  When the eighth course had been served and our tea had cooled in our teacups, we thanked our gracious host and returned to our bus – next stop, The Bureau of National Health Insurance.


The delegation with Dr. Chi-SU, Secretary General of Defense for the R.O.C.

As the U.S. Congress labors to forge healthcare reform legislation, wrestling with vehement opposition to the public option, Taiwan enjoys a world class public healthcare system.  Granted, when Taiwan’s government began to address healthcare reform, it was greeted with vastly different circumstances than the U.S. is dealing with now.  In the early 1990’s, Taiwan had the benefit of being able to start their healthcare reform efforts from scratch.  They did not have the baggage of earlier reform efforts, nor did it appear to be politicized at the feverish level that we are experiencing in the U.S.  They formed a blue-ribbon commission that researched healthcare systems all over the world (including the U.S.) to identify best practices for providing healthcare for their citizens.  When the commission assessed the U.S.’s healthcare system, they quickly deduced that our system was ineffective and “market driven.”  As a result, they selected elements from other systems and created a version of the single payer system.  Contrary to the images of inefficiency that anti-reform agents spew about the public option here in the U.S., Taiwan’s single-payer system is incredibly efficient with high-quality care.  When Taiwan’s Ministry of Health painted a picture of a highly-efficient, patient-focused system I was frankly a little skeptical.  At first, I thought that the positive picture of their public health system may have been colored to look a little rosier than the reality for the sake of our delegation.  However, when I returned home I had a chance to speak at length with a friend of mine from Taiwan who spends her time split between the U.S. and Canada.  She informed me that the healthcare system in Taiwan is excellent, fast and inexpensive.  She said that there is rarely an occasion that you cannot walk in and be seen.  It does’t matter if it is a routine check-up, a call for a specialist or an emergency room visit – you walk right in.  My friend also told me that whenever she has a serious medical issue, she will fly back home to take advantage of their healthcare system – instead of being faced with the costs and wait time of the U.S. system!


The sign at the Bureau of National Health Insurance.

Each resident is given a medical ID card with a smart chip. Note, I wrote resident – not just citizens.  After a short period, foreigners and undocumented residents also qualify for the public health system.  When they walk in to see their doctor, the doc slides the ID card into their computer and the patient’s last five visits pop-up along with any prescribed medications that they are on.  The bill is then sent directly to the state-selected insurance provider.  The officials at the Ministry of Health disclosed that there is a small portion of the system that still needs to be funded.  I believe a small part of the expense is passed on to the consumers – but it appears to be a negligible cost compared to what we pay for private insurance.   

We ended our day with a visit to the headquarters for the Democratic Progressive Party.  The DPP headquarters was markedly different from the KMT headquarters we visited earlier this week.  The KMT is the oldest party in Taiwan and owns a large number of assets – including buildings.  Their HQ was in a large office building downtown with a full blown press area on the main floor.  The DPP’s office was tucked away on the floor of an inconspicuous office building in downtown Taipei.  It was still a well appointed space with green DPP flags lined-up in a stately manner and their party logo was nicely displayed on the wall at the head of the conference room.  

                      
Aleita Hueguenin, Chair of our delegation and Chair of the DNC         A press station at the KMT HQ.
Western Caucus waits to meet our host at the DPP HQ.  

We were received by the Honorable Ms. Bi-khim HSIAO, a dynamic former member of the Legislative Yuan. When Ms. Hsiao walked in, she was not what I expected.  She was 5’6” and in her mid thirties.  Despite her young age, she was clearly a seasoned veteran who had already served six years in their national legislature.  She was recently appointed as the Deputy Minister of International Affairs for the Democratic Progressive Party after losing her seat in a Democratic primary to a more ideological candidate.  She had the gravitas of life’s experience around her eyes and the demeanor of an old soul.  After short (but polite) introductions, she took swift control of our meeting.  She was instantly spell-binding.  It was clear that she was a vetted political figure.  She was incredibly well-informed and highly persuasive.  She had also been educated in U.S. schools, finishing an undergraduate degree at Oberlin College and going on to Columbia University for a Masters in International Relations. 

She gave us a whole new perspective on the ruling party (the KMT), vastly altering the perceptions of the current government that we have built up over the previous four days.  She drew sharp contrasts between the ideologies of the DPP and the KMT and raised concerns with some of the actions of the current government.  

                               

Campaign posters for a DPP Candidate.                                      A picture of the leaders of the KMT party; the President, Vice President, Premier 
                                                                                                      and Vice Premier on the wall of the KMT party.

While Ms. Hsiao was persuasive, I do not know which political party has the most reasonable point of view, the KMT or the DPP.  With only five days to gather information from partisan sources it is difficult to make a clear determination.  At present, I do not have the objective, non-partisan resources or information to corroborate either story line.  As a result, I emerge from this experience with a hearty respect for both parties and an interest in learning more about Taiwan’s political system and issues.  In the end, I am particularly impressed with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs efforts to give our delegation both political perspectives so we can draw our own conclusions.  This speaks to the strength and transparency of their government and their democracy.

Day 6 -   Saturday: The National Palace Museum and Our Goodbyes

On our closing day, we visited the National Palace Museum.  The museum houses a treasure trove of antiquities.  It is a large palatial structure, with ornate detail and Asian architectural elements.  It had a beautiful, grand entrance with a white stone staircase adorned with Taiwanese flags blowing in the wind – all against the backdrop of a small mountain peak, covered in local greenery.  Apparently the mountain houses a large vault that holds countless national treasures; jewels, jade, and historic artifacts from China’s prominent dynasties.  The museum was jam-packed with tourists from all over Asia Pacific; Chinese, Koreans, Japanese and local visitors crammed into see the fine artifacts; table ware,  priceless jade, coral and bronze artifacts that were symbols of the wealth and power of ancient dynasties. 

    
Photos of the National Palace Museum and its grand courtyard.

My colleagues and I closed the day with a “goodbye” lunch at the hotel.  We expressed our appreciation to our guide on the trip from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.  Afterward, we turned to each other for hugs and warm handshakes.  The experience was made more memorable and meaningful by the company of my nine colleagues.  They were all gracious and intelligent and brought depth to the conversations we had during our state visit.

LESSONS LEARNED:

This experience has been incredibly enriching and I have learned more than I can pen in this brief summary.  However, when I look back on my experience two themes emerge that I will always remember; 1) Healthcare and 2) Education. 

1)  Healthcare: In the midst of the U.S. struggle for healthcare reform and the contentious debate about “a public option,” Taiwan appears to be light years ahead of the U.S. in providing coverage for all of its residents through a version of the single-payer system.  While I am very pleased that the U.S. Senate and House have recently passed bills that (once reconciled) will dramatically improve our healthcare system and provide coverage for millions of Americans who are not covered, I believe that we have a long way to go as a “global leader” in the area of healthcare. I am not naïve to the difficulties of healthcare reform, nor is the historic nature of the healthcare bills that have passed lost on me.  I am thankful for the remarkable progress we have made in this area, but I believe that the historic legislation we have just passed should be the beginning of a movement for continued reform and refinement of our health insurance system. After my experience in Taiwan, I am more resolved that access to affordable healthcare is a basic human right for all people and that we should continue to labor to enhance our system.  While I have no illusions that our countries grapple with vastly different circumstances (Taiwan’s population of 23 million only represents 7% of the U.S. population of 308 million people), I believe that their system offers some best practices that we can learn from - despite the obvious differences between our two countries.

2) Education: Taiwan is a society committed to delivering a quality education for all of its citizens and it subscribes to a philosophy that it must educate the whole child.  Taiwan’s constitution mandates that a certain percentage of its national revenues are invested in education.  This fact is truly remarkable to me.  When I learned about Taiwan’s constitutional commitment to education, I imagined what the implications to our society would be if our Constitution’s First Amendment had been written to protect, “Freedom of Religion, Freedom of the Press, and the Right of Every American to Receive a Quality Education.”  I was also very impressed with Taiwan’s philosophy to educate the “whole child” through traditional academic pursuits along with fitness, art education and an on-going focus on social issues like financial literacy.  The philosophy to address all elements of a child’s development seems to fit into the Asian culture of balance and harmony.  Here in the U.S., we struggle to find sustainable funding for educational initiatives outside of the core academic subjects in our public schools.  Art, health and physical fitness are usually the first items to go in a financial crunch. At the end of the day, I believe that the U.S. could learn a little balance from Taiwan’s system of education.

Again, I am grateful to the DNC and to the Republic of China for selecting me to participate in this incredible learning experience. I am also proud to live in a country where it is possible to travel to foreign borders to exchange ideas and to question how we can improve our democracy.  I feel very fortunate to be an American.