2016 -- H 7739 AS AMENDED

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

REAFFIRMING THE FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN RHODE ISLAND AND TAIWAN,

COMMENDING TAIWAN'S ACHIEVEMENT ON ITS ELECTION OF THE FIRST FEMALE

PRESIDENT, ENHANCING BILATERAL RELATIONS, AND SUPPORTING TAIWAN IN

THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY

     

     Introduced By: Representatives McNamara, and Kennedy

     Date Introduced: February 24, 2016

     Referred To: House read and passed

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

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

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

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     WHEREAS, Former President Ma Ying-jeou worked tirelessly to uphold democratic

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principles in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan's 23 million people, promote Taiwan's

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

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     WHEREAS, Taiwan and the United States share the common goal of peace in the East

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China Sea, and Taiwan proposed an East China Sea Peace Initiative on August 5, 2012, urging all

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parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid actions that could escalate confrontation in the

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region, shelve disputes, not abandon dialogue, and observe international law to resolve disputes in

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a peaceful manner; and

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     WHEREAS, Taiwan proposed the South China Sea Peace Initiative on May 26, 2015 as a

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practical, viable solution to set aside territorial disputes and focus on joint exploration,

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cooperation, and development of economic resources. Taiwan urges all concerned parties to

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shelve sovereignty disputes, observe international law, exercise restraint, safeguard peace and

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stability, and refrain from unilateral action to ensure peace and stability; and

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

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elections, including the election of the nation's first female President in May of 2016, and thereby

 

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

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live under freedom and democracy; and

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     WHEREAS, The United States and Taiwan, and especially Rhode Island, share a

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

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exchange, scientific and technological interests, and tourism; and

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     WHEREAS, Taiwan has been a member of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program since

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November 1, 2012, reflecting the friendship, trust and cooperation shared between our two

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countries, and making travel between Taiwan and the United States for business and tourism even

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more convenient, and since 2012, the number of Taiwan visitors to the United States has

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increased by 40 percent annually, reaching almost half a million visitors in 2014; and

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     WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's 2nd largest trading partner, and Taiwan

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is the 10th largest trading partner of the United States, with bilateral trade in goods and services

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from January to November, 2015, between the United States and Taiwan amounting to $61.5

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billion, and said trade has created or supported at least 400,000 United States jobs according to

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the United States Department of Commerce. New England exported more than $1 billion in

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goods to Taiwan of which Rhode Island exported $90.8 million in goods, mostly in primary

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metal, chemicals, and machinery, making Taiwan Rhode Island's 2nd largest export market in

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Asia and 7th largest export market in the world (2014); and

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     WHEREAS, Talks on the Taiwan-US Trade and Investment Framework Agreement

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(TIFA), resumed on March 10, 2013, and negotiations for a Bilateral Investment Agreement

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(BIA) between Taiwan and the United States is an important step towards strengthening bilateral

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trade and paving the way for entering into a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between our countries,

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thereby increasing Rhode Island's exports to Taiwan and creating greater bilateral investment and

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technical collaboration; and

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     WHEREAS, United States President Barack Obama and the leaders of eight Trans-

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Pacific Partnership (TPP) countries announced the achievement of the broad outlines for a 21st

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century TPP agreement on November 12, 2011, and later reached by twelve Pacific Rim countries

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on October 5, 2015, and in which Taiwan, the 19th largest trading economy in the world, has

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expressed a keen interest to participate, so as to forge close linkages among economies, enhance

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competitiveness, and benefit consumers; and

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     WHEREAS, Taiwan has attended the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)

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assembly as a special guest since 2013, and it remains in the interest of the traveling public that

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Taiwan be included in the ICAO because Taiwan is a key transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region

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and the Taipei Flight Information Region (TAIPEI FIR) under Taiwan's jurisdiction covers an

 

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area of 176,000 square nautical miles with as many as 1.8 million controlled flights, most

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international, with over 40 million travelers passing through annually, and Taiwan reiterates its

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commitment to ICAO standards and seeks to expand its meaningful participation in the ICAO,

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including attending technical and regional meetings, and related activities in 2016; and

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     WHEREAS, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

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adopted in Paris on December 12, 2015, is the world's key instrument to deal with climate change

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and a concerted global effort to combat the challenges posed by climate change requires that

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Taiwan be included in the work of the UNFCCC and Taiwan has expressed a keen interest to

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participate in the global effort to address climate change; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

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Plantations hereby reaffirms Joint Resolution 2015-H 5198 passed on March 6, 2015,

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"Reaffirming the Friendship between the State of Rhode Island and Taiwan, Enhancing Bilateral

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Trade Relations, and Supporting Taiwan in the International Community," and furthermore

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commends Taiwan's 2016 Presidential election, Taiwan's role as peacemaker in the East and

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South China Seas, and urges the signing of the U.S.-Taiwan Bilateral Investment Agreement

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(BIA) and Free Trade Agreement, so as to further strengthen Rhode Island-Taiwan trade

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relations, and support Taiwan's participation in international organizations and agreements,

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including UNFCCC, ICAO, and regional economic integration, including the TPP; and be it

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further

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

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the

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United States, the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, Governor Gina Raimondo, President

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Tsai Ing-wen, on behalf of the 23 million citizens of Taiwan, and Scott Lai, Director-General of

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the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.

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