A senate RESOLUTION

TO COMMEND Taiwan for its relations with the United States and South Carolina.

Whereas, Taiwan is the United States' eighth-largest trading partner, and the United States is Taiwan's second-largest trading partner, with bilateral trade of over one hundred billion dollars in 2021. Taiwan is the fourteenth export market and the twelfth import market for South Carolina, investing over seven hundred million dollars and supporting over six thousand jobs, including manufacturing F-16 fighter jets and Boeing 787 Dreamliners in the State of South Carolina; and

Whereas, South Carolina became the fourth state signing the higher education cooperation Memorandum of Understanding with Taiwan in 2022 since the launch of the 2020 U.S.-Taiwan Education Initiative, which facilitates the learning of Mandarin and English languages as well as student and teacher exchanges; and

Whereas, South Carolina welcomes all opportunities for developing an even closer partnership between citizens of the United States and Taiwan, and hopes to collaborate continually in post-pandemic economic recovery efforts; and

Whereas, Taiwan has been experiencing continuous threats from its authoritarian neighbor, China, which has encroached on Taiwan's security by launching missiles at the nation and dispatching aircraft and vessels to enter Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) and across the Taiwan Strait median line, disseminated disinformation and launched cyber-attacks, and repeatedly excluded Taiwan from the international system; and

Whereas, in 2022, the United States and Taiwan have strengthened their bilateral relations through multiple agreements and initiatives. The launch of the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade facilitates a roadmap for negotiations on an economic and trade agreement with high-standard commitments. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 facilitates a defense modernization program for Taiwan to deter China's aggression. The U.S.-Taiwan Cooperation on International Development and Humanitarian Assistance highlights Taiwan's global significance as a stakeholder; and

Whereas, a formal member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) since 1991, Taiwan continues to make great contributions to the international community and continues to act as an indispensable player to the welfare of the people in the Asia-Pacific region; and

Whereas, the Senate encourages the members of this body to join the Taiwan Caucus and conduct more frequent exchanges with their Taiwanese counterparts. 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 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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