A senate RESOLUTION

TO commend taiwan for its relations with the united states and the state of south carolina.

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate are pleased to recognize Taiwan for its relationship with the United States and the State of South Carolina; and

Whereas, Taiwan completed another successful presidential and legislative election on January 13, 2024, and has continued to contribute to international society as a responsible stakeholder, even under constant threat from China's efforts to encroach on Taiwan's security and to employ non-peaceful means to undermine Taiwan; and

Whereas, this year marks the landmark forty-fifth anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which has facilitated an even closer partnership between the United States and Taiwan on matters of security, business, education, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. Therefore, in 2023, Taiwan has welcomed the largest number of United States official delegations ever; and

Whereas, China repeatedly excludes Taiwan from the United Nations system by constant distortion of UN Resolution 2758 (XXVI), as the resolution did not address the issue of representation of Taiwan and its people in the United Nations or any related organizations, nor did the resolution take a position on the relations between China and Taiwan; and

Whereas, Taiwan is the United States' ninth-largest trading partner, and the United States is Taiwan's second-largest trading partner, with an estimated one hundred sixty-billion-dollar trade amount in 2022. In 2023, the United States and Taiwan signed the first agreement under "US-Taiwan Initiative on Twenty-First Century Trade," covering customs and border procedures, regulatory practices, and small business; and

Whereas, South Carolina became the first southeast state to establish a trade office in Taiwan in 2022. The Taiwanese Electric Vehicle Delegation for SelectUSA visited South Carolina to facilitate collaboration opportunities in May of 2023. South Carolina signed a higher education MOU with Taiwan in 2022. Also, a successful Taiwan seminar was held in September of 2023, by the Walker Institute and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate supports the "US-Taiwan Initiative on Twenty-First Century Trade" and a US-Taiwan Avoid Double Taxation Agreement as Taiwanese companies are looking for a diverse and free market in the United States instead of China; and

Whereas, the South Carolina Senate encourages an official trade delegation from South Carolina to Taiwan to explore more trade exchanges, facilitating more Mandarin-English and academic exchanges according to the education MOU signed by Taiwan in South Carolina; and

Whereas, on the occasion of the forty-fifth anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act, the South Carolina Senate reaffirms its commitment to supporting Taiwan's meaningful participation in international organizations such as the WHO, UNFCCC, ICAO, INTERPOL, CPTPP, and IPEF; and

Whereas, the members of the South Carolina Senate welcome this body to join the Taiwan Caucus in exploring more collaboration opportunities with Taiwan and encourage South Carolinians to take part in activities that enable them to experience and promote Taiwan's cultures, cuisine, and tourism.  Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate:

That the members of the South Carolina Senate, by this resolution, commend Taiwan for its relations with the United States and the State of South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Governor Henry McMaster, Secretary of State Mark Hammond, the South Carolina Congressional Delegation, and Mr. Elliot Wang, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta.

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