House Resolution 124

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' eighth-largest trading partner with bilateral trade reaching $166 billion, the 13th-largest goods export market of the United States, and the sixth largest export market for United States agricultural products; 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 Taiwan's 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 as well as 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, given the important role Taiwan plays in global aviation security, Taiwan's participation in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) would help develop a global aviation safety network and address vital issues such as the unilateral adjustment of flight routes in the Taiwan Strait like the M503; 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 ninth largest export partner in Asia with over $89 million in goods and services to Taiwan in 2023; 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 Taiwan, and the wider world is sure to reap tremendous rewards as 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 Taiwan, the expansion of Taiwan's role on the global stage, and for its efforts to preserve peace, stability and the status quo in the Taiwan Strait through meaningful dialogue; support a tax agreement between the United States and Taiwan; support Taiwan's participation in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF); support Taiwan's meaningful participation in the World Health Organization and other international organizations such as the United Nations, International Civil Aviation Organization, International Criminal Police Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; support a Mississippi Trade and Investment Office in Taiwan; celebrate the 45th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act and the 41st anniversary of the sister-state relationship between the State of Mississippi and 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.