| R 153 |
| 2020 -- S 2719 Enacted 03/03/2020 |
| S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N |
| REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND TAIWAN, SUPPORTING THE ENHANCEMENT OF BILATERAL TRADE RELATIONS AND EXPRESSING SUPPORT FOR TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY |
| Introduced By: Senators Crowley, Picard, Nesselbush, and Lombardo |
| Date Introduced: February 27, 2020 |
| WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share a most |
| important bilateral relationship marked by a mutually beneficial partnership, supported by our |
| common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law, and a free market economy. Our two |
| countries now enjoy the strongest relations they have ever had; and |
| WHEREAS, President Tsai Ing-wen, re-elected on January 11, 2020, for a second- term |
| in a direct, open, and democratic election, has worked tirelessly to uphold constitutional |
| principles and a civil society in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan’s 23.5 million people, |
| promote international standing, and expressed commitment to peace and understanding in the |
| Indo-Pacific region; and |
| WHEREAS, United States Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo congratulated President |
| Tsai Ing-wen on winning re-election and further stated that Taiwan and the United states are |
| “members of the same community of democracies” and that Taiwan is a “model for the Indo- |
| Pacific region and a force for good in the world” in a press statement on January 11, 2020; and |
| WHEREAS, The United States Departments of Commerce, Agriculture and State |
| clarified United States policy regarding Taiwan in a formal letter sent to the Governors of all fifty |
| states dated September 30, 2019, which stated that “expanding relations with Taiwan in areas |
| such as trade, education, investment, and tourism is fully compatible with and supports United |
| States policy and can be beneficial to your state and municipality”; and |
| WHEREAS, The Departments of Commerce, Agriculture, and State further stated that |
| “Our Departments encourage cooperation with Taiwan” and also noted that “Taiwan is a vital |
| United States partner and democratic success story”; and |
| WHEREAS, President Tsai has expressed Taiwan’s desire to reach a Bilateral Trade |
| Agreement (BTA) with the United States, and the United States Senate passed the “Taiwan Allies |
| International Protection and Enhancement Initiative Act (TAIPEI) of 2019” (S.1678) on October |
| 28, 2019, affirming that the “United States should engage in bilateral trade negotiations with |
| Taiwan,” and a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Rhode Island and Taiwan |
| regarding economic and trade exchange and cooperation that will promote bilateral trade; and |
| WHEREAS, The SARS pandemic in 2003 and now, since multiple cases of the novel |
| coronavirus-nCoV have been diagnosed in the United States since January, 2020, make it |
| imperative that Taiwan be included in the crucial network of the World Health Organization |
| (WHO), and the World Health Assembly (WHA) in the global effort to contain, prevent, and |
| combat the spread of such viruses; and |
| WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan’s 2nd largest trade partner, and Taiwan |
| is the 10th largest trading partner of the United States, with bilateral trade in goods and services |
| between the United States and Taiwan amounting to approximately $85.5 billion in 2019, and |
| said trade has created or supported approximately 373,288 United States jobs according to the |
| United States Department of Commerce; and |
| WHEREAS, New England exported more than $1 billion in goods to Taiwan in which |
| Rhode Island exported $31.1 million in goods, mostly in primary metal manufacturing, |
| chemicals, computer and electronic products, making Taiwan Rhode Island’s 17th largest export |
| market in the world and the 6th largest export market in Asia (2018). Taiwan and the United |
| States seek to increase trade and investment through bilateral trade agreements, resulting in even |
| greater Rhode Island exports to Taiwan, educational and culture exchange, scientific and |
| technological interests, and tourism; 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) is 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 the Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
| hereby seeks to further strengthen United States-Taiwan and Taiwan-Rhode Island trade and |
| investment relations, including a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on trade, and |
| encourages the Rhode Island State Government to further explore ways in which to strengthen |
| and promote bilateral trade between Taiwan and Rhode Island; and be it further |
| RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby supports Taiwan’s participation in international |
| organizations and agreements, including the WHO, WHA, 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 Congressional delegation, President Tsai Ing-wen, Republic |
| of China (Taiwan), and Douglas Y.T. Hsu, Director-General of the Tapei Economic Cultural |
| Office of Boston. |
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| LC004849 |
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