House Resolution 115

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING FURTHER ECONOMIC TIES AND FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI AND THE REPUBLIC OF CHINA (TAIWAN).

WHEREAS, the longstanding bonds of friendship between the United States and the Republic Of China (Taiwan), embodied in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979, continue to yield important economic, social, strategic, and cultural benefits; and

WHEREAS, the Republic Of China (Taiwan) ranks as the United States' 9th largest trading partner with bilateral trade reaching $114 billion and the 6th largest export market for United States agricultural products in 2021; and

WHEREAS, the robust trade and investment partnership between the United States and the Republic Of China (Taiwan) provides a solid foundation for a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement (BTA) to spur job creation, further expand the global market, and secure international supply chains; and

WHEREAS, the Republic Of China (Taiwan) is committed to helping address global challenges, from humanitarian crises to nontraditional security threats, and it has emerged as an important partner in pandemic prevention, bolstering unprecedented international support for its bid to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA); and

WHEREAS, Taiwanese officials and civil society groups partner with the United States on a range of issues to promote our common values of freedom, democracy and human rights, building on the cooperative tradition of prior joint partnerships such as the Global Cooperation and Training Framework (GCTF), which advances Taiwanese leadership in such arenas as democratization, human rights, women's empowerment, and public health; and

WHEREAS, the promotion of freedom and democracy is the strong glue that provides the unshakable bond between the Republic Of China (Taiwan) and the United States of America; and

WHEREAS, since 1983, Mississippi and the Republic Of China (Taiwan) have maintained a sister-state relationship and enjoy particularly close economic ties, as it is the Magnolia State's 5th largest export partner in Asia, with over $32 million in goods and services to the Republic Of China (Taiwan) in 2021; and

WHEREAS, the establishment of a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in the Republic Of China (Taiwan) could enhance the participation of small and medium-sized enterprises in trade and investment, and advance sister-state ties between Mississippi and the Republic Of China (Taiwan); and

WHEREAS, Mississippi and the United States have benefited immeasurably through decades of unwavering friendship with the Republic Of China (Taiwan), and the wider world is sure to reap tremendous rewards as the Republic Of China (Taiwan) works to enhance its presence in the international community:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby express our support for the strengthening of our partnership with the Republic Of China (Taiwan) and for the expansion of its role on the global stage; support a bilateral trade agreement between the United States and the Republic Of China (Taiwan); support the Republic Of China's (Taiwan) participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEFP); support the Republic Of China's (Taiwan) meaningful participation in the World Health Assembly and other international organizations such as ICAO and the UNFCCC; support a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in the Republic Of China (Taiwan); celebrate the 44th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, and the 40th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the State of Mississippi and the Republic Of China (Taiwan).

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, Texas, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.