Florida Senate - 2021 SR By Senator Rodriguez 39-00865-21 2021502__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. Senate Resolution A resolution recognizing the relationship and shared interests between the United States and Taiwan and expressing support for future opportunities of international trade developments with Taiwan. 5

WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan have maintained a close friendship over the decades that encompasses commercial, 8 cultural, and other interactions based on the Taiwan Relations Act, enacted by the 96th United States Congress, and

WHEREAS, since November 1, 2012, Taiwan has been a member of the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which makes two-12 way travel for business and tourism more convenient, reflecting the cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, and

WHEREAS, the launch of FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 on June 25, 15 2019, a joint United States-Taiwan collaborative space mission of a constellation of six satellites designed to enhance the accuracy of atmospheric weather prediction, has demonstrated the mutual benefit born of the relations between this country and Taiwan, and

WHEREAS, the first female president of Taiwan, elected in 21 and reelected for a second term on January 11, 2020, Dr. 22 Tsai Ing-wen was welcomed to the State of Florida in June of 23 2016, as were Speaker of Tainan City Council Kuo Hsin-liang and his delegation in February of 2020, further enhancing the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and this state, as well as strengthening the common values Taiwan shares with this country, 27 and

WHEREAS, the United States has provided Taiwan with Florida Senate - 2021 SR 502 39-00865-21 2021502__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. advanced defensive weaponry through the sale of military aircraft, communications and defense systems, and munitions, as Taiwan promotes regional stability in the Western Pacific, and

WHEREAS, the United States Congress has encouraged and supported Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations such as the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), along with its recent bid for observer status in the World Health Assembly (WHA), and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has further demonstrated its pragmatic and professional engagement with the international community by participating in, observing, or cooperating with over fifty international organizations and holding membership status in both the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), and

WHEREAS, bilateral dialogue between the United States and Taiwan has resulted in the recent expansion of American pork and beef imports to Taiwan, and the United States-Taiwan continued efforts toward exploring the possibilities for a future bilateral trade agreement will help Taiwan globalize its economy and eliminate trade barriers, thereby solidifying Taiwan as a robust and trustworthy partner of the United States for trade and security in East Asia, and

WHEREAS, Taiwan is the United States’ ninth largest trading partner as of October and the State of Florida’s sixth largest export market in Asia, garnering the Sunshine State over 56 $1,147 million in bilateral trade and investment in 2019, an increase of 15.6 percent from 2018, and Florida Senate - 2021 SR 502 39-00865-21 2021502__ CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

WHEREAS, several sisterhood relations exist between the State of Florida and Taiwan, including the sister relationships between Miami-Dade County and New Taipei City, formerly Taipei County; the Port of Miami and the Port of Kaohsiung; the City of Orlando and Tainan City; the City of Sunny Isles Beach and Hengchun Township; and the City of Fort Lauderdale, the City of Miami, and the City of Pensacola and Kaohsiung City, and

WHEREAS, to assist the State of Florida in its fight against the virus causing COVID-19, Taiwan has donated to the state and its local governments over 420,000 medical masks, 68 demonstrating the Taiwan’s commitment to helping its international partners in need,

NOW, THEREFORE, 70

Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 72 That the relationship and shared interests between the people of Taiwan and the United States are recognized. 75 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Senate expresses its support for future opportunities of international trade developments with Taiwan to further strengthen the substantive relationship between the State of Florida and Taiwan. 79 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to President Tsai Ing-wen through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami and to the Executive Office of the Governor as a tangible token of the sentiments expressed herein. 84