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1
SENATE RESOLUTION

 
2    WHEREAS, The Republic of China (Taiwan) has achieved
3economic and social stability; in 2010, Taiwan was ranked as
4the United States' 9th-largest trading partner in the world;
5Taiwan is also the United States' 13th-largest export market
6and 9th largest source of imports, with U.S. exports to Taiwan
7in 2010 having increased by 43%; and
 
8    WHEREAS, In the last 2 decades, Taiwan has been praised as
9a beacon of democracy for Asia, having successfully completed
10its parliamentary elections and its 5th direct, popular
11presidential election on January 14, 2012; and
 
12    WHEREAS, Taiwan has taken great steps forward to enter the
13world arena as a trusted partner; for the last 3 years, Taiwan
14has participated as an observer in the World Health Assembly of
15the World Health Organization (WHO); in 2012, Taiwan will
16celebrate its 20th anniversary of participation in the
17Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, of which the United
18States is a longtime and respected member; and
 
19    WHEREAS, The State of Illinois has a strong economic and
20cultural relationship with Taiwan since establishing
21sister-state relations in 1992; in 2011, Illinois ranked 5th
22among U.S. states in the value of overall exports to Taiwan,

 

 

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1which increased 47% last year and were worth almost $1.2
2billion; these figures rose from $812 million in 2010, when
3Illinois exports to Taiwan ranked 6th among U.S. states; and
 
4    WHEREAS, Taiwan is the world's 6th-largest market for
5United States agricultural goods, with Taiwan having sent 26
6procurement missions to the United States between 1978 and
72011; these missions have enhanced the mutually beneficial
8trade relations and permanent friendship between the 2
9countries, while the Illinois economy has benefited from
10Taiwan's consistently large imports of Illinois agricultural
11products; in 2011, the State's agricultural exports to Taiwan,
12worth $739.24 million, comprised almost 62% of Illinois' total
13exports to Taiwan and increased 82% from the State's 2010
14agricultural exports to Taiwan ($406.78 million); and
 
15    WHEREAS, Taiwan's continuing absence from international
16organizations dealing with climate change has impeded Taiwan's
17ability to respond to natural disasters, such as Typhoon
18Morakot in 2009, while the global initiative to combat climate
19change has been impaired by the lack of participation of
20Taiwan; similarly, Taiwan's absence from international
21organizations dealing with airline safety and security, major
22global concerns since 2001, has left a gap in the international
23aviation security system, as Taiwan is a key transport hub in
24the Asia-Pacific region; Taiwan has more than 1,000,000 flights

 

 

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1passing through the Taipei Flight Information Region and one of
2the world's largest airports by cargo volume, Taoyuan
3International Airport; and
 
4    WHEREAS, The Taiwan government highly values its relations
5with the United States and continually seeks to demonstrate its
6willingness to contribute its resources and know-how to the
7international community, such as its swift delivery of
8humanitarian assistance to Haiti following the 2010 earthquake
9in that country; the aid was expedited by the United States,
10which generously aided Taiwan in rescue and recovery after
11Typhoon Morakot; Taiwan also seeks to contribute to peace,
12freedom, and security in the world as a responsible stakeholder
13and peaceable nation of 23 million citizens through the
14Republic of China's policies, such as "flexible diplomacy" in
15foreign affairs and its pragmatic approach to relations with
16the People's Republic of China, as demonstrated by the historic
17passage in 2010 and implementation in 2011 of the Economic
18Cooperation Framework Agreement between Taipei and Beijing;
19therefore, be it
 
20    RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SEVENTH GENERAL
21ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we designate the date
22of August 27, 2012 as Taiwan Relations Day in the State of
23Illinois in recognition of the 20th anniversary of Illinois
24sister statehood with the Republic of China (Taiwan); and be it

 

 

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1further
 
2    RESOLVED, That we recognize the Republic of China (Taiwan)
3on its successful presidential and parliamentary elections and
4on the re-election to a second term of President Ma Ying-jeou;
5and be it further
 
6    RESOLVED, That we further recognize Taiwan on the 20th
7anniversary of its participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic
8Cooperation (APEC) forum to increase Taiwan's international
9space and contribution to the global community; and be it
10further
 
11    RESOLVED, That we affirm our support for the meaningful
12participation of Taiwan in the United Nations Framework
13Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International
14Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with observer status; and be
15it further
 
16    RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
17delivered to United States Secretary of State Hillary Rodham
18Clinton, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, ICAO
19Secretary General Raymond Benjamin, and the Taipei Economic and
20Cultural Office in Chicago.