| 1 | | - | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 39 Senators Bayer, Chang, Shink, Runestad and Webber offered the following resolution: A resolution to express our commitment to strengthening and deepening ties between the state of Michigan and Taiwan. Whereas, Taiwan shares values of freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law, peace, and prosperity with the United States and the state of Michigan; and Whereas, Taiwan and the United States are key partners in trade. The United States ranks as Taiwan?s second-largest trading partner, and in 2023, Taiwan was the United States? eighth-largest goods trading partner. Bilateral goods trade reached over 127.7 billion dollars in 2023 and over 158.6 billion dollars in 2024; and Whereas, Taiwan is a particularly important market for United States agricultural products. Taiwan imported 3.93 billion dollars? worth of agricultural products from the United States in 2023, and another 3.8 billion dollars? worth of agricultural and related products in 2024. In 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture noted that Taiwan was the fourth-largest export market for U.S. agricultural products on a per capita basis. Furthermore, in 2023, Taiwan was our nation?s eighth-largest export market for corn and our sixth-largest export market for soybeans. Due to our nation?s high-quality produce, the United States remains one of Taiwan?s largest sources of agricultural products, supplying nearly a quarter of Taiwan?s agricultural imports in 2023; and Whereas, Taiwan and the state of Michigan have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship. Michigan has a vibrant Taiwanese American community that has enriched the state?s culture, cuisine, and commerce for decades. Taiwan was Michigan?s tenth-largest export market in Asia in 2024, with over 257 million dollars? worth of Michigan goods exported to Taiwan that year. In early March 2024, the state of Michigan opened the Michigan Taiwan Office to promote further investment by Taiwanese firms in our state. Recent efforts to build additional connections with Taiwan have already borne fruit, as the Taiwanese business community is partnering with our communities in accordance with our economic strategy of ?Make it in Michigan.? These partnerships are helping to secure our domestic supply chains and strengthen our research and development in the automotive industry, ensuring our place as the automotive capital of the world. There is great potential for future growth if we continue to deepen our ties with Taiwan; and Whereas, In conducting business with Taiwan, Michigan businesses should refer to Taiwan as ?Taiwan.? In 1979, the United States enacted the Taiwan Relations Act to provide for the continuation of relations between the people of the United States and the people on the island of Taiwan. Section 4(b)(1) of the act provides: ?Whenever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan.? Thus, it is legitimate for Michigan businesses to refer to Taiwan as ?Taiwan? when conducting business and establishing ties with Taiwan; and Whereas, The United States is actively taking steps to strengthen bilateral trade between the United States and Taiwan. On June 1, 2023, representatives of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States signed a bilateral trade agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade, and Congress enacted legislation to approve and implement that agreement in August 2023. The first agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade officially came into effect on December 10, 2024, marking a significant milestone. Negotiations regarding a second agreement are ongoing. While this progress is encouraging, an avoidance of double taxation agreement for Taiwan has not yet been enacted, though legislation on this subject has been approved in the United States House of Representatives. Taiwan also remains excluded from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. The United States could take further action to encourage bilateral investment and technical collaboration through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation measures; and Whereas, Tensions between Taiwan and the People?s Republic of China seem to be escalating. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency stated in 2023 that the President of the People?s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, has instructed the People?s Liberation Army to be ready by 2027 to conduct a successful invasion of Taiwan. In 2025, the People?s Republic of China has been conducting unannounced military drills using live-fire ammunition near the island of Taiwan. Further, Taiwan reports that Chinese-affiliated ships have intentionally damaged undersea communication cables, which are vital to Taiwan?s connection to the world. In navigating relations with the People?s Republic of China and Taiwan, the United States is guided by President Reagan?s Six Assurances, including the assurance that the United States ?[w]ill not exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into negotiations? with the People?s Republic of China; and Whereas, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of ?integrated diplomacy,? highlighting values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic and trade diplomacy. This policy prioritizes mutual assistance and robust relationships with governments that share common values. Taiwan is capable of, and willing to, fulfill its responsibilities and collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges of humanitarian aid and disease control; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate, That we express our commitment to the strengthening and deepening of ties between the state of Michigan and Taiwan; and be it further Resolved, That we urge all enterprises in Michigan to refer to Taiwan as ?Taiwan,? consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act; and be it further Resolved, That we urge the United States and Taiwan to enter into additional bilateral trade agreements and an avoidance of double taxation agreement; and be it further Resolved, That we support the inclusion of Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity; and be it further Resolved, That we urge the United States to continue our relationship with Taiwan to ensure our shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law, peace, and prosperity are upheld by making available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability; and be it further Resolved, That we urge the United States to continue the policy established in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people of Taiwan; and be it further Resolved, That we support Taiwan?s meaningful participation in international organizations, such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the International Criminal Police Organization, which impact the health, safety, and well-being of not only the people of Taiwan, but the rest of the world; and be it further Resolved, That we support Taiwan?s aspiration to make more contributions in international societies; and be it further Resolved, That we support Taiwan in its efforts to increase its international profile. |
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| 1 | + | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 39 Senators Bayer, Chang, Shink and Runestad offered the following resolution: A resolution to express our commitment to strengthening and deepening ties between the state of Michigan and Taiwan. Whereas, Taiwan shares values of freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law, peace, and prosperity with the United States and the state of Michigan; and Whereas, Taiwan and the United States are key partners in trade. The United States ranks as Taiwan?s second-largest trading partner, and in 2023, Taiwan was the United States? eighth-largest goods trading partner. Bilateral goods trade reached over 127.7 billion dollars in 2023 and over 158.6 billion dollars in 2024; and Whereas, Taiwan is a particularly important market for United States agricultural products. Taiwan imported 3.93 billion dollars? worth of agricultural products from the United States in 2023, and another 3.8 billion dollars? worth of agricultural and related products in 2024. In 2022, the United States Department of Agriculture noted that Taiwan was the fourth-largest export market for U.S. agricultural products on a per capita basis. Furthermore, in 2023, Taiwan was our nation?s eighth-largest export market for corn and our sixth-largest export market for soybeans. Due to our nation?s high-quality produce, the United States remains one of Taiwan?s largest sources of agricultural products, supplying nearly a quarter of Taiwan?s agricultural imports in 2023; and Whereas, Taiwan and the state of Michigan have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship. Michigan has a vibrant Taiwanese American community that has enriched the state?s culture, cuisine, and commerce for decades. Taiwan was Michigan?s tenth-largest export market in Asia in 2024, with over 257 million dollars? worth of Michigan goods exported to Taiwan that year. In early March 2024, the state of Michigan opened the Michigan Taiwan Office to promote further investment by Taiwanese firms in our state. Recent efforts to build additional connections with Taiwan have already borne fruit, as the Taiwanese business community is partnering with our communities in accordance with our economic strategy of ?Make it in Michigan.? These partnerships are helping to secure our domestic supply chains and strengthen our research and development in the automotive industry, ensuring our place as the automotive capital of the world. There is great potential for future growth if we continue to deepen our ties with Taiwan; and Whereas, In conducting business with Taiwan, Michigan businesses should refer to Taiwan as ?Taiwan.? In 1979, the United States enacted the Taiwan Relations Act to provide for the continuation of relations between the people of the United States and the people on the island of Taiwan. Section 4(b)(1) of the act provides: ?Whenever the laws of the United States refer or relate to foreign countries, nations, states, governments, or similar entities, such terms shall include and such laws shall apply with respect to Taiwan.? Thus, it is legitimate for Michigan businesses to refer to Taiwan as ?Taiwan? when conducting business and establishing ties with Taiwan; and Whereas, The United States is actively taking steps to strengthen bilateral trade between the United States and Taiwan. On June 1, 2023, representatives of the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States signed a bilateral trade agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade, and Congress enacted legislation to approve and implement that agreement in August 2023. The first agreement under the U.S.-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade officially came into effect on December 10, 2024, marking a significant milestone. Negotiations regarding a second agreement are ongoing. While this progress is encouraging, an avoidance of double taxation agreement for Taiwan has not yet been enacted, though legislation on this subject has been approved in the United States House of Representatives. Taiwan also remains excluded from the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity. The United States could take further action to encourage bilateral investment and technical collaboration through tariff reduction and other trade facilitation measures; and Whereas, Tensions between Taiwan and the People?s Republic of China seem to be escalating. The Director of the Central Intelligence Agency stated in 2023 that the President of the People?s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, has instructed the People?s Liberation Army to be ready by 2027 to conduct a successful invasion of Taiwan. In 2025, the People?s Republic of China has been conducting unannounced military drills using live-fire ammunition near the island of Taiwan. Further, Taiwan reports that Chinese-affiliated ships have intentionally damaged undersea communication cables, which are vital to Taiwan?s connection to the world. In navigating relations with the People?s Republic of China and Taiwan, the United States is guided by President Reagan?s Six Assurances, including the assurance that the United States ?[w]ill not exert pressure on Taiwan to enter into negotiations? with the People?s Republic of China; and Whereas, Taiwan has undertaken a policy of ?integrated diplomacy,? highlighting values-based diplomacy, alliance diplomacy, and economic and trade diplomacy. This policy prioritizes mutual assistance and robust relationships with governments that share common values. Taiwan is capable of, and willing to, fulfill its responsibilities and collaborate with the world to deal with the challenges of humanitarian aid and disease control; now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate, That we express our commitment to the strengthening and deepening of ties between the state of Michigan and Taiwan; and be it further Resolved, That we urge all enterprises in Michigan to refer to Taiwan as ?Taiwan,? consistent with the Taiwan Relations Act; and be it further Resolved, That we urge the United States and Taiwan to enter into additional bilateral trade agreements and an avoidance of double taxation agreement; and be it further Resolved, That we support the inclusion of Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity; and be it further Resolved, That we urge the United States to continue our relationship with Taiwan to ensure our shared values of freedom, democracy, human rights, rule of law, peace, and prosperity are upheld by making available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capability; and be it further Resolved, That we urge the United States to continue the policy established in the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act to maintain the capacity of the United States to resist any resort to force or other forms of coercion that would jeopardize the security, or the social or economic system, of the people of Taiwan; and be it further Resolved, That we support Taiwan?s meaningful participation in international organizations, such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the International Criminal Police Organization, which impact the health, safety, and well-being of not only the people of Taiwan, but the rest of the world; and be it further Resolved, That we support Taiwan?s aspiration to make more contributions in international societies; and be it further Resolved, That we support Taiwan in its efforts to increase its international profile. |
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