Florida Senate - 2023 (NP) SR 944
By Senator Rodriguez
40-02053-23 2023944__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution expressing appreciation for the sister
3 state relationship and bilateral economic and cultural
4 ties between the State of Florida and Taiwan.
5
6 WHEREAS, April 10, 2023, marks the 44th anniversary of the
7 enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, which codified in law the
8 basis for continued commercial and cultural relations between
9 the people of the United States and Taiwan, and
10 WHEREAS, since November 1, 2012, Taiwan has been a member
11 of the United States Visa Waiver Program, which makes two-way
12 travel for business and tourism more convenient, reflecting the
13 cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, and
14 WHEREAS, the launch of FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 on June 25,
15 2019, a joint United States-Taiwan collaborative space mission
16 of a constellation of six satellites designed to enhance the
17 accuracy of atmospheric weather prediction, has demonstrated the
18 mutual benefit born of the relations between this country and
19 Taiwan, and
20 WHEREAS, the first female president of Taiwan, Dr. Tsai
21 Ing-wen, elected in 2016 and reelected for a second term on
22 January 11, 2020, was welcomed to this state in June 2016, as
23 were the Speaker of Tainan City Council, Kuo Hsin-liang, and his
24 delegation the following month, further enhancing the bilateral
25 relationship between Taiwan and this state, as well as
26 strengthening the common values that Taiwan shares with this
27 country, and
28 WHEREAS, Taiwan participates in international
29 organizations, including its bid for observer status in the
30 International Criminal Police Organization; its involvement with
31 the World Health Assembly, the International Civil Aviation
32 Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on
33 Climate Change; and its membership status in both the Asia
34 Pacific Economic Cooperation and the World Trade Organization,
35 and participates, observes, and cooperates with more than 50
36 international organizations, and
37 WHEREAS, as of October 2022, Taiwan was the United States’
38 10th-largest trading partner and, between 2019 and 2021, was the
39 State of Florida’s 8th-largest export destination and its 5th
40 largest import source market in Asia, and
41 WHEREAS, the economic bonds between the United States and
42 Taiwan continue to flourish, and Taiwan’s inclusion in the Indo
43 Pacific Economic Framework during 2023 and forging of a United
44 States-Taiwan Bilateral Trade Agreement would serve as the
45 foundation for deepening the already significant trade
46 relationship between reliable and like-minded partners, and
47 WHEREAS, this year marks the 31st anniversary of the
48 enactment of the sister state relationship shared between the
49 State of Florida and Taiwan, and
50 WHEREAS, several sister city relationships exist between
51 Florida and Taiwan, such as between Miami-Dade County and New
52 Taipei City, formerly Taipei County; the Port of Miami and the
53 Port of Kaohsiung; the City of Orlando and Tainan City; the City
54 of Fort Lauderdale, the City of Miami, and the City of Pensacola
55 and Kaohsiung City; the City of Sunny Isles Beach and Hengchun
56 Township; the City of Doral and the Xizhi District of New Taipei
57 City; the City of Kissimmee with Hualien City and Miaoli City;
58 the City of North Miami Beach and the Pingzhen District of
59 Taoyuan City; and the City of Tavares and the Xindian District
60 of New Taipei City, and
61 WHEREAS, to assist the State of Florida in its fight
62 against the virus causing COVID-19, Taiwan donated to the state
63 and its local governments more than 420,000 medical masks and
64 made a monetary donation of $300,000 for rescue, recovery, and
65 restoration efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian,
66 demonstrating Taiwan’s commitment to helping its international
67 partners in need, NOW, THEREFORE,
68
69 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
70
71 That the Senate expresses its appreciation for the sister
72 state relationship between the State of Florida and Taiwan.
73 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
74 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to President Tsai
75 Ing-wen through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami
76 and to the Executive Office of the Governor as a tangible token
77 of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.