SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 8

BY  SODDERS and DOTZLER

A Resolution supporting the Republic of China on Taiwan as a part of the global community.

   WHEREAS, the Republic of China (Taiwan) as the world’s 19th largest economy has achieved economic and social stability and in the last two decades has been lauded as a beacon of democracy for Asia, has dramatically improved its record on human rights, and has taken great steps forward to enter the world arena as a trusted partner; and
   WHEREAS, Taiwan’s absence from international organizations has impeded Taiwan’s ability to participate in global climate initiatives and to respond to natural disasters like Typhoon Morakot, which struck Taiwan in the summer of 2009, an unusually destructive typhoon season in the Pacific; and
   WHEREAS, the Taiwan government is grateful for the assistance and condolences of the international community in the wake of Typhoon Morakot in 2009, as dozens of international organizations and nations stepped up to help, including the United States, which supplied military equipment for rescue and recovery operations, the European Union, Japan, and the Chinese mainland; and
   WHEREAS, aviation safety has become a major global concern since 2001, and Taiwan is a key air transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region, with over 1.35 million flights passing through the Taipei Flight Information Region, and with the world’s 15th-largest airport by cargo volume, Taoyuan International Airport; and
   WHEREAS, the Taiwan government has undertaken a policy of “flexible diplomacy” in its international relations and a pragmatic approach to China, having completed a number of cross-strait liberalization measures, including regular, direct passenger flights between mainland China and Taiwan and other goodwill measures, resulting in reciprocal gestures and rapprochement between Taipei and Beijing; NOW THEREFORE,

   BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate affirms its support for the participation of Taiwan in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to increase Taiwan’s international space and contribution to the global community; and

   BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Secretary of the Senate is hereby directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the United States; Executive Secretary Christiana Figueres of the UNFCCC; Secretary General Raymond Benjamin of the ICAO; and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, Illinois.