ALEC Resolution in Support of Strengthening and Deepening the Relationships between Taiwan and the States of the United States

Policy Summary

This resolution expresses support for deepening ties between U.S. states and the Taiwan. It supports organizing delegations led by Governors or other high-level state officials to visit Taiwan and encourages the deepening of commercial and cultural exchanges with Taiwan on the part of the states.

Model Policy

WHEREAS, Taiwan shares the common values of freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law with the United States; and in 2016, Taiwan held its sixth direct presidential election and inaugurated Dr. Tsai Ing-wen as its first woman president in its third peaceful transition of power, demonstrating the strength and vitality of its democratic system and showcasing Taiwan as a beacon of democracy for Asia and beyond; and

WHEREAS, the United States is Taiwan’s second largest trading partner and second largest destination of Taiwan outward investment; Taiwan is the tenth largest trading partner of the United States, with bilateral trade in goods and services reaching close to $90 billion in 2016, and the seventh largest export destination for U.S. agricultural products, and overall the fourteenth largest export market; through bilateral trade and investment, Taiwan has created more than 350,000 job opportunities in the U.S., demonstrating that Taiwan is not only a close ally but also an important economic partner; and

WHEREAS, by 2017, Taiwan and its municipalities have established sister-states/cities relationships with 42 states and 154 cities in the United States; in order to further enhance the already robust sister-states/cities ties, the government of Taiwan has set up 12 (TECRO/TECO) offices in major cities of the United States including Washington D.C., New York, Los Angeles, Houston, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Miami and Honolulu; and American states have established nine offices in Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, since 2013 Taiwan has concluded 22 reciprocal driver’s license agreements with States across the U.S., bringing convenience to residents on both sides as well as helping to deepen exchanges; and

WHEREAS, since President Tsai Ing-wen took office, over half of the 50 state legislatures have passed resolutions in support of Taiwan’s efforts to secure the signing of a bilateral trade agreement with the United States and Taiwan’s meaningful participation and positive contributions in international organizations, and ALEC has model policy supporting these efforts at bilateral trade; and

WHEREAS, in 2014 and 2016, high-ranking officials from the U.S. Departments of Commerce and State have sent letters to the Governors across the U.S. to encourage the deepening of commercial and cultural exchanges with Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, in the 2015/16 academic year, 21,127 Taiwanese students studied in the U.S., making Taiwan the seventh leading place of origin for students coming to the U.S.; 2017 marks the 60^th anniversary of Taiwan-U.S. cooperation in the Fulbright Program of Educational Exchange. Over the past 60 years, the program has financed over 1,600 Taiwan grantees to the U.S. and 1,400 U.S. grantees to Taiwan;

THEREFORE, NOW BE IT RESOLVED THAT the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) expresses its support for the State of [INSERT STATE] to deepen and strengthen its economic and cultural ties with Taiwan through measures including organizing or joining delegations led by the Governors or other high-level officials to visit Taiwan, signing reciprocal driver’s license agreements with Taiwan and, should the state budget permit, setting up offices in Taiwan, for these efforts will result in further cultural, educational, and business exchanges between both sides;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this resolution shall be sent to the Governors of the United States, the United States Secretaries of State and Commerce and TECRO.