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JOINT RESOLUTION TO REAFFIRM FRIENDSHIP BETWEEN MAINE AND TAIWAN, TO ENHANCE BILATERAL RELATIONS AND TO SUPPORT TAIWAN IN THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY
WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan, the Republic of China, share a most important relationship, marked by a mutually beneficial partnership and supported by our common values of freedom, democracy, rule of law and a free market economy; and
WHEREAS,  Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen has worked tirelessly to uphold democratic principles in Taiwan, ensure the prosperity of Taiwan's 23,000,000 people, promote Taiwan's international standing, further improve relations between the United States and Taiwan and maintain peace in the Asia-Pacific region; and
WHEREAS,  the United States, and in particular the State of Maine, and Taiwan share a historically close relationship marked by strong bilateral trade, educational and cultural exchange, scientific and technological interests and tourism; and
WHEREAS,  the United States ranks as Taiwan's 2nd-largest trading partner and Taiwan ranked as the 10th-largest trading partner of the United States in 2017, with bilateral trade in goods and services from January to November 2017 between the United States and Taiwan amounting to approximately $62,400,000,000, and that trade has created or supported at least 322,728 United States jobs, according to the United States Department of Commerce; and
WHEREAS,  New England exported more than $1,000,000,000 in goods to Taiwan, of which Maine exported $95,800,000 in goods, mostly computer and electronic products, machinery, fish and marine products and paper, making Taiwan Maine's 5th-largest export market in Asia in 2016, and Taiwan and the United States seek to increase trade and investment through bilateral agreements, which will result in greater exports from Maine to Taiwan; and
WHEREAS,  Taiwan has established reciprocal driver's license agreements with 25 states across the United States, including Massachusetts, thereby facilitating and streamlining the license conversion process and providing citizens of Taiwan and the various states with the ease and convenience of being able to drive within Taiwan and the respective jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS,  Taiwan is the 18th-largest global market and its inclusion in international organizations such as the World Health Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization and the International Civil Aviation Organization is in the best interest and important to the safety of the international community, as Taiwan is a key transport hub for international air travel and a large flight path in the Asia-Pacific region remains under Taiwan's jurisdiction, and Taiwan's inclusion in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is necessary in the global effort to combat climate change; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED: That We, the Members of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Legislature now assembled in the Second Regular Session, on behalf of the people we represent, reaffirm the friendship between Maine and Taiwan, the Republic of China, and we continue to support efforts to further strengthen United States-Taiwan and Maine-Taiwan trade and investment relations and support Taiwan's participation in international organizations and agreements, including the World Health Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; and be it further
RESOLVED: That suitable copies of this resolution, duly authenticated by the Secretary of State, be transmitted to the Honorable Donald J. Trump, President of the United States, the members of the Maine Congressional Delegation, Governor Paul LePage, President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan and Scott Lai, Director-General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Boston.