| R 109 |
| 2019 -- S 0387 Enacted 02/26/2019 |
| 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, CELEBRATING THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TAIWAN RELATIONS ACT (TRA), AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY |
| Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Nesselbush, and Picard |
| Date Introduced: February 13, 2019 |
| 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 23.5 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 and the United States, and especially Rhode Island, share a |
| historically close relationship, marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural |
| exchange, scientific and technological interests, and tourism; and |
| WHEREAS, In 2019, The United States and Taiwan celebrate the 40th Anniversary of |
| the Taiwan Relations Act – TRA (Pub. L. 96-8, 22 U.S.C. 3301) enacted on April 10, 1979 "to |
| help maintain peace, security, and stability in the Western Pacific and to promote the foreign |
| policy of the United States by authorizing the continuation of commercial, cultural, and other |
| relations between the people of the United States and the people of Taiwan, and for other |
| purposes"; and |
| WHEREAS, Since 1979, The Taiwan Relations Act has provided a strong foundation for |
| sustaining substantive relations between the United States and Taiwan, including Taiwan and |
| Rhode Island, through continued exchanges, engagement, and cooperation rooted in the shared |
| interests of freedom and democracy, thereby assuring a bright future in our bilateral relationship; |
| and |
| WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's 2nd largest trading partner, and Taiwan |
| is the 11th largest trading partner of the U.S. in 2017, with bilateral trade in goods and services |
| between the United States and Taiwan amounting to approximately $62 billion in 2018 (Jan.- |
| October), and said trade has created or supported approximately 322,728 U.S. jobs according to |
| the U.S. Department of Commerce; and |
| WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods to Taiwan of which |
| Rhode Island exported $38 million in goods, mostly in primary metal manufacturing, fabricated |
| metal products, chemicals, and machinery. Taiwan was Rhode Island's 6th largest export market |
| in Asia (2017); and |
| WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States seek to increase trade and investment through |
| bilateral agreements, and discussions of possibly opening a joint trade office in Taipei, to include |
| Rhode Island, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont that will further enhance |
| bilateral trade opportunities and Rhode Island exports to Taiwan; and |
| WHEREAS, Taiwan has established reciprocal driver's license agreements with 31 states |
| across the United States, including Rhode Island which was signed on September 6, 2018. In fact, |
| Taiwan was the first foreign government to enter into a reciprocal driver's license agreement with |
| Rhode Island, thereby granting mutual driving privileges in Taiwan and Rhode Island; and |
| WHEREAS, Taiwan is the 18th 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 interests 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 celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act and supports Taiwan's |
| participation in international organizations and agreements, including the WHO, INTERPOL, |
| UNFCCC and ICAO, and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby seeks to further strengthen United States-Taiwan |
| and Taiwan-Rhode Island trade and investment relations, and encourages the Rhode Island state |
| government to further explore the possibility of opening a New England joint trade office in |
| Taipei to strengthen and promote bilateral trade between Taiwan and Rhode Island; 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 to the United States Congress, Governor Gina |
| Raimondo, State of Rhode Island, President Tsai Ing-wen, Republic of China (Taiwan), and |
| Douglas Y.T. Hsu, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston. |
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| LC001514 |
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