Florida Senate - 2015                            (NP)    SR 1656
       
       
        
       By Senator Bullard
       
       
       
       
       
       39-04102-15                                           20151656__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution expressing appreciation for the sister
    3         state relationship and bilateral economic and cultural
    4         ties between Florida and Taiwan, officially known as
    5         the Republic of China, and reaffirming the commitment
    6         of this state to a strong and deepening relationship
    7         with Taiwan as it continues to embrace the fundamental
    8         values of freedom, democracy, and the protection of
    9         human rights.
   10  
   11         WHEREAS, April 10, 2015, marked the 36th anniversary of the
   12  enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, which maintains peace,
   13  security, and stability in the Western Pacific and promotes the
   14  foreign policy of the United States by authorizing the
   15  continuation of commercial, cultural, and other relations
   16  between the people of the United States and the people of
   17  Taiwan, and
   18         WHEREAS, Taiwan is an ally of the United States in East
   19  Asia and, as such, continues to receive defensive weaponry,
   20  including advanced fighter aircraft, from the United States,
   21  which creates job opportunities in this state and helps Taiwan
   22  maintain its defense capabilities in the region, and
   23         WHEREAS, President Ma Ying-jeou’s East China Sea Peace
   24  Initiative and the code of conduct adopted thereunder, which
   25  recognizes the conflicting territorial viewpoints of the
   26  interested parties, calls on all concerned to resolve their
   27  regional disputes peacefully and share resources in accordance
   28  with international law, which is consistent with the security
   29  and economic interests of the United States in East Asia, and
   30         WHEREAS, Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international
   31  organizations, including its bid for attendance in the United
   32  Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and its
   33  participation in, observation of, and cooperation with more than
   34  50 international organizations, specifically its recent active
   35  participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization’s
   36  Assembly, is commendable, as is its membership in both the Asia
   37  Pacific Economic Cooperation forum and the World Trade
   38  Organization, and
   39         WHEREAS, support for Taiwan’s continued economic growth and
   40  prosperity is important to the interests of the United States,
   41  especially with regard to Taiwan’s bid to join the Trans-Pacific
   42  Partnership and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership,
   43  which will further expand Taiwan’s participation in the global
   44  market, increase equal competition with member states, and
   45  prevent economic marginalization, and
   46         WHEREAS, in 2014, Taiwan was the 10th largest two-way trade
   47  partner of the United States and the 7th largest export market
   48  for food and agricultural products from the United States, and,
   49  in 2013, was the 6th largest source of international students
   50  traveling to the United States, and
   51         WHEREAS, with respect to Taiwan’s contributions in the
   52  global markets of both traditional and innovative industries,
   53  support for continued bilateral talks under the Trade and
   54  Investment Framework Agreement and accompanying efforts toward
   55  establishing a Bilateral Investment Agreement with the United
   56  States will globalize Taiwan’s economy and eliminate trade
   57  barriers, thus solidifying Taiwan as a robust and trustworthy
   58  trade and security partner to the United States in East Asia,
   59  NOW, THEREFORE,
   60  
   61  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   62  
   63         That we express appreciation for the sister state
   64  relationship and bilateral economic and cultural ties between
   65  Florida and Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China,
   66  and reaffirm the commitment of this state to a strong and
   67  deepening relationship with Taiwan as it continues to embrace
   68  the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, and the protection
   69  of human rights.
   70         BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
   71  the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to the Taipei
   72  Economic and Cultural Office in Miami as a tangible token of the
   73  sentiments of the Florida Senate.