| R 118 |
| 2017 -- S 0243 Enacted 03/15/2017 |
| 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, and Cote |
| Date Introduced: February 15, 2017 |
| 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 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 has 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, |
| and 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, The United States ranks as Taiwan's 2nd largest trading partner, and Taiwan |
| was the 10th largest trading partner of the United States in 2016, with bilateral trade in goods and |
| services from January to November of 2016 between the United States and Taiwan amounting to |
| approximately $56.7 billion, and said trade has created or supported at least 324,569 U.S. jobs |
| according to the United States Department of Commerce; and |
| WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods to Taiwan, of which |
| Rhode Island exported $39.5 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 20th largest global market 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 2016 Presidential Election, 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 Scott Lai, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and |
| Cultural Office in Boston. |
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| LC001211 |
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