2019 -- S 0039

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LC000343

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND TAIWAN,

ENHANCING BILATERAL RELATIONS, AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN IN THE

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

     Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Picard, Cano, and Nesselbush

     Date Introduced: January 16, 2019

     Referred To: Senate Commerce

     WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share a most

important relationship, marked by a mutually beneficial partnership, supported by our common

values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and a free market economy; and

     WHEREAS, President Tsai Ing-wen has worked tirelessly to uphold democratic

principles in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan's 23.58 million people, promote Taiwan's

international standing, further improve relations between the United States and Taiwan, and

maintain peace in the Asia-Pacific region; and

     WHEREAS, Taiwan achieved a full democracy, replete with free and transparent

elections, including direct vote of the 14th term President and Vice President in January of 2016,

thereby providing a beacon of hope and a model for all peoples in the Asia-Pacific region who

desire to live under freedom and democracy; and

     WHEREAS, The United States and Taiwan, and especially the State of Rhode Island,

share a historically close relationship, marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural

exchanges, scientific and technological interests, and tourism; and

     WHEREAS, In 2017, the United States ranked as Taiwan's 3rd largest trading partner, and

Taiwan was the 11th largest trading partner of the United States in 2017, with bilateral trade in

goods during 2017 between the United States and Taiwan amounting to approximately $68.2

billion, and said trade has created or supported an estimated 208,000 U.S. jobs in 2015; and

     WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods to Taiwan in 2016, of

which Rhode Island exported $101 million in goods, mostly in primary metal, chemicals, and

machinery, making Taiwan Rhode Island's 2nd largest export market in Asia in 2015. Taiwan and

the United States seek to increase trade and investment through bilateral agreements, resulting in

greater Rhode Island exports to Taiwan; and

     WHEREAS, Taiwan is the 13th largest global market, as of 2018, and its inclusion in

international organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO), International Criminal

Police Organization (INTERPOL), and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) are

in the best interest and safety of the international community. Taiwan is a key transport hub for

international air travel and a large flight path in the Asia-Pacific remains under Taiwan's

jurisdiction. In addition, Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change (UNFCCC) is necessary in the global effort to combat climate change; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby commends Taiwan's role as peacemaker in the East and South China Seas, and seeks to

further strengthen United States-Taiwan and Rhode Island-Taiwan trade and investment relations,

and supports Taiwan's participation in international organizations and agreements, including the

WHO, INTERPOL, UNFCCC and ICAO; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of

the United States; the Rhode Island Delegation of the United States Congress; Governor Gina

Raimondo, President Tsai Ing-wen, and Douglas Yu-Tien Hsu, Director-General of the Taipei

Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.

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