A house RESOLUTION

 

To COMMEND TAIWAN FOR ITS RELATIONS WITH THE UNITED STATES AND THE STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA.

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives commends Taiwan for completing another successful presidential and legislative election on January 13, 2024, and for its continuous contribution to international society as a responsible stakeholder, even though Taiwan is under constant threat from China through encroaching on Taiwan's security, employing non-peaceful means to undermine Taiwan; and

 

Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives celebrates the United States' commitment to Taiwan as this year commemorates the landmark forty-fifth anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA), which has facilitated an even closer partnership on security, business, educational, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges between the United States and Taiwan; therefore, in 2023, Taiwan has welcomed the largest number of official delegations ever from the United States; and

 

Whereas, China repeatedly excludes Taiwan from the United Nations system by constant distortion of United Nations 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 amount of 160 billion dollars trade in 2022. In June 2023, the United States and Taiwan signed the first agreement under "US-Taiwan Initiative on 21st-Century Trade" to support covering customs and border procedures, regulatory practices, and small business; and

 

Whereas, as Taiwanese companies are looking for a diverse and free market in the United States instead of China, Taiwan is promoting a US-Taiwan Avoid Double Taxation Agreement and is encouraging an official trade delegation from South Carolina.  Taiwan engages in meaningful participation in international organizations and economic cooperation, such as WHO, UNFCCC, ICAO, INTERPOL, CPTPP, and IPEF. Taiwan is exploring more collaboration opportunities with South Carolina to encourage taking part in activities and experiencing and promoting Taiwan's cultures, cuisine, and tourism; and

 

Whereas, South Carolina became the first Southeastern 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 2023; South Carolina signed a higher education MOU with Taiwan in 2022 with the possibility of more Mandarin-English and academic exchanges; and a successful Taiwan seminar was held in September 2023, by the Walker Institute and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta.  Now, therefore,

 

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:

 

That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, 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; and Mr. Elliot Wang, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Atlanta.

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