Reps. Walsh, LeBlanc, Barnett, Crawford, Heise, Hooker, Knollenberg, Liss, Price and Talabi offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 261. 

            A resolution to congratulate the Republic of China (Taiwan) on its 20th anniversary of participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. 

Whereas, The Republic of China (Taiwan) in 2012 is celebrating 20 years of Taiwan’s participation in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum and its active role in promoting economic cooperation in the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in the areas of broadening opportunities for digital computing, green technologies and renewable energy, improving crisis management for small-size and medium-size enterprises, and establishing a research center for typhoon and society; and

Whereas, The Republic of China (ROC) is a major trading nation with the world’s 18th-largest economy as of 2011, has dramatically improved its record on human rights in the last two decades, and has taken great steps forward to enter the world arena as a trusted partner; and

Whereas, Taiwan continues to be praised as a beacon of democracy for Asia, having successfully completed its parliamentary elections and its fifth direct, popular presidential election on January 14, 2012, with fairness, accountability, and high voter turnout, and Taiwan is preparing for the inauguration of Ma Ying-jeou to a second term as ROC president on May 20, 2012; and

Whereas, Taiwan has a strong economic and historical relationship with the United States and has a vibrant economy, ranking in 2011 as the United States’ 9th-largest trading partner, with U.S.-Taiwan trade worth a total of $62.12 billion, and as the United States’ 13th-largest export market worldwide. Moreover, this robust trade and our shared values of freedom and democracy greatly benefit both sides; and

Whereas, Taiwan’s economic, cultural and educational ties with Michigan run deep and there are greater opportunities for exports of Michigan-grown agricultural goods to Taiwan, the world’s 6th-largest market for U.S. agricultural products, and for further economic cooperation and technical exchanges in emerging sectors, such as high-speed rail transit, renewable energy, photovoltaics, nanotechnology, and healthcare. Hundreds of Taiwanese students enroll in Michigan colleges and universities every year; business, professional, legislative and other delegations exchange visits regularly; and cultural, educational and teacher exchanges continue to flourish, strengthening friendships and enhancing relations between Michigan and Taiwan; and

Whereas, Taiwan’s absence from international organizations has impeded Taiwan’s ability to participate in global climate initiatives and to respond to natural disasters like Typhoon Morakot, which struck Taiwan in the summer of 2009. This natural disaster was gratefully alleviated by the assistance of dozens of international organizations and nations that stepped up to help including the United States, which supplied military equipment for rescue and recovery operations; and

Whereas, Aviation safety has become a major global concern since 2001 and Taiwan is a key air transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region with more than one million flights passing through the Taipei Flight Information Region and with one of the world’s largest cargo volume airports in Taoyuan International Airport; and

Whereas, Taiwan seeks greater regional integration in the Asian-Pacific and welcomes the opportunity presented by the United States announcement at the 2011 APEC leaders’ meeting of its intent to not only join the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), but to expand TPP membership in the future to include other countries, such as Taiwan; and

Whereas, Taiwan has been added by the United States government as a candidate for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program, for which Taiwan is grateful to the United States and Taiwan’s many American supporters in this regard; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Representatives, That the members of this legislative body congratulate the Republic of China (Taiwan) on its 20th anniversary of participating in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. We commend Taiwan on their successful presidential and parliamentary elections in 2012, and express continued support of Michigan’s cordial relations with Taiwan and for increasing Taiwan’s international space as part of the global community. We affirm our support for Taiwan’s efforts to secure entry to the TPP, along with the United States and other friendly Asia-Pacific Rim countries. We reaffirm our backing of the cordial relations between Michigan and Taiwan and for the meaningful participation of Taiwan in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to increase Taiwan’s international space and contribution to the global community; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to Governor Rick Snyder, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres, ICAO Secretary General Raymond Benjamin, and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago.