SR-129, As Adopted by Senate, June 12, 2024
SENATE RESOLUTION NO.129
Senators Chang, Bayer, Shink, Irwin, Cherry, Cavanagh, Webber,
Runestad, Singh and Wojno offered the following resolution:
1 A resolution to reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the
2 ties between the state of Michigan and Taiwan, and to continue our
3 support for Taiwan’s participation in international organizations.
4 Whereas, The United States and Taiwan possess shared ideals
5 and values of freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law, and
6 prosperity. Furthermore, the United States has been one of Taiwan’s
7 largest trading partners. Taiwan imports billions of dollars’ worth
8 of agricultural products from the United States; and
9 Whereas, In May 2023, the Michigan Economic Development
10 Corporation signed a historic memorandum of understanding with the
11 Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago. Within this
12 memorandum, the two entities recognized their economic and academic
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1 connections and their shared objective of deepening their economic
2 development cooperation and trade relationship, to create jobs in
3 both Michigan and Taiwan; and
4 Whereas, Cooperation between Michigan and Taiwan is important
5 for resilient, diverse, and secure supply chains that benefit
6 people in both places. Moreover, collaboration between Michiganders
7 and Taiwanese citizens and a greater exchange of information,
8 alongside academic partnerships to develop talent and research
9 capabilities, could accelerate the pace of technological innovation
10 and help our people thrive; and
11 Whereas, In September 2023, Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited
12 Taiwan for the first time, and she returned there in March 2024 to
13 announce the opening of the Michigan Taiwan Office. This new office
14 is vital to strengthening the relationship between Michigan and
15 Taiwan, and has already spurred investment by Taiwanese automotive
16 suppliers in the state of Michigan; and
17 Whereas, These most recent connections build upon a well-
18 established foundation of collaboration between Taiwan and the
19 state of Michigan. The Michigan Department of Education and the
20 Taiwanese Ministry of Education have had an English and Chinese
21 language teacher exchange program since 2006, and the Taiwan
22 Friendship Caucus in the Michigan Legislature seeks to further
23 strengthen ties between our people, governments, and economies; and
24 Whereas, The United States government has taken steps to
25 foster a closer relationship with Taiwan. Congress has appropriated
26 funds for aid to Taiwan on multiple occasions. In March 2024,
27 Congress provided over 300 million dollars in aid to Taiwan, and in
28 April 2024, Congress appropriated almost two billion dollars for
29 Taiwan to replenish defense equipment and reimburse the U.S.
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1 Department of Defense for its services. Under the U.S.-Taiwan
2 Initiative on 21st Century Trade, the American Institute in Taiwan
3 and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the
4 United States are negotiating a series of bilateral trade
5 agreements, the first of which was signed in June 2023 and
6 implemented by legislation passed by Congress and signed by the
7 President in August 2023. Negotiations for a second agreement are
8 ongoing; and
9 Whereas, Notwithstanding this progress, the United States
10 could go further to enhance its connections with Taiwan. The
11 bilateral trade agreements with Taiwan could be more expansive, and
12 the United States should encourage Taiwan’s inclusion in
13 international organizations; and
14 Whereas, Taiwan has a policy of “steadfast diplomacy,” under
15 which the government aims for mutual benefit and peace, and builds
16 sustainable partnerships with Taiwan’s diplomatic allies and
17 countries that share Taiwan’s values; now, therefore, be it
18 Resolved by the Senate, That we reaffirm our commitment to
19 strengthening and deepening the ties between the state of Michigan
20 and Taiwan; and be it further
21 Resolved, That we endorse the ongoing work of the Taipei
22 Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago to increase awareness about
23 Taiwan across the Midwest; and be it further
24 Resolved, That we continue to support Taiwan’s meaningful
25 participation in international organizations that impact the
26 health, safety, and well-being of the people of Taiwan.
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