countries that do recognise taiwan as an independent state, and those who do are relatively small countries and dwindling in number. nonetheless the unitedlf—government and self determination is etched into taiwan's make up and should be maintained. today, our delegation, which i'm today, our delegation, which i'm very— today, our delegation, which i'm very proud of, came to taiwan— i'm very proud of, came to taiwan to _ i'm very proud of, came to taiwan to make it unequivocally clear— taiwan to make it unequivocally clear we — taiwan to make it unequivocally clear we will not abandon our commitment to taiwan, and we are proud — commitment to taiwan, and we are proud of our enduring friendship, and mayl are proud of our enduring friendship, and may i mention, they— friendship, and may i mention, they are — friendship, and may i mention, they are all co—chairs of this delegation, the chair of the foreign _ delegation, the chair of the foreign affairs committee from new york, the chair of the foreign _ new york, the chair of the foreign affairs committee, california, the vice chair of the — california, the vice chair of the ways _ californ