House Resolution 84

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING THE GOVERNMENT OF TAIWAN FOR DONATING 100,000 MEDICAL FACE MASKS TO THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND ENCOURAGING FURTHER ECONOMIC TIES AND FRIENDSHIP.

WHEREAS, for decades the State of Mississippi and Taiwan have fostered a close and longstanding partnership built on a shared dedication to freedom, democracy, and a market economy, and because of this extraordinary friendship, Taiwan, its unwavering commitment of relationship building by donating 100,000 medical face masks to the State of Mississippi to help first responders during the Coronavirus pandemic; and

WHEREAS, the United States - Taiwan Partnership against the Coronavirus was announced on March 18, 2020, and under the United States - Taiwan epidemic prevention cooperation framework, Taiwan has committed to provide the United States with 100,000 urgently needed face masks per week, on top of which, Taiwan has made three rounds of extra donations to the United States since April 1, 2020, totaling 5.28 million medical face masks, while 100,000 medical face masks are to be donated to the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s expertise and experiences in public health and swift and transparent response have effectively kept infection and deaths low amid the outbreak of COVID-19, and Taiwan's access to data and operations of the World Health Organization will not only help protect people of Taiwan, but also allow Taiwan to play its full part in the pandemic fight; and

WHEREAS, nontraditional security threats are increasing in the 21st century, so the meaningful participation and inclusion of Taiwan, the 21st largest economy in the world, to the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) would be beneficial to all nations and their people; and

WHEREAS, the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 has continued to provide a sturdy foundation for robust United States - Taiwan relations to flourish for 41 years, and both countries have further affirmed their partnership in such areas as international humanitarian assistance, public health and technology under the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF) established in June 2015; and

WHEREAS, outstandingly, bilateral trade between the United States and Taiwan reached $85.5 billion in 2019, making Taiwan the 10th largest trading partner of the United States, and both nations could realize further economic gains through establishing a Free Trade Agreement as well as by enhancing platforms such as Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and Digital Economy Forum (DEF); and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has been routinely dispatching a substantial delegation to participate in the SelectUSA Investment Summit since 2013, and United States exports to Taiwan, combined with Taiwan's investment in the United States, support over 370,000 well paid United States jobs, and Taiwan sent a business delegation to visit Mississippi companies in November 2017, followed by a trade delegation led by former Governor Phil Bryant to Taiwan in August 2019, aiming to promote bilateral exchange in the industries of agriculture, biomedicine, machinery manufacturing, and cybersecurity; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan imported nearly $3.6 billion worth of United States farm products in 2019, making it the 7th largest market for United States agricultural products, and Taiwan is Mississippi's 4th largest trading partner in Asia in 2019, with Mississippi exporting nearly $45 million in goods to Taiwan, and the Taiwan Agricultural Trade Goodwill Mission to the United States in 2019 signed letters of intent on soybeans, corn, wheat and meat, for the purchase of United States grains worth $2.7 billion and beef worth $960 million in 2020-2021, and the trade mission's soybean and corn subgroups visited and signed letters of intent with the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce, which reflects Taiwan's commitment to deepening economic ties with Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, 2020 marks the 37th anniversary of Mississippi Taiwan relations, which have nurtured and maintained a friendship built upon unwavering bonds beneficial and rewarding for both governments and their citizens, and by working together through the Coronavirus pandemic, the extraordinary friendship between these exceptional governments will hopefully continue for years to come; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend outstanding government friends and allies, especially those such as Taiwan, whose splendid friendship brings great honor to Taiwan and to the Magnolia State:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Taiwan's success in containing the COVID-19 outbreak and donations of medical face masks to Mississippi and the United States; encourage closer economic relationships between the United States and Taiwan by negotiating an FTA between the two countries; support Taiwan's participation in the WHO, INTERPOL, ICAO, and UNFCCC; celebrate the 37th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the State of Mississippi and Taiwan; commend Mr. Peter C.Y. Chen, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, for efforts and contributions toward enhancing cooperation between Mississippi and Taiwan, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of Taiwan's future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Peter C.Y. Chen and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.