Senate Resolution No. 5583

BY: Senator STAVISKY

CELEBRATING Taiwan Heritage Day to strengthen the
friendship and bilateral relationship between the
State of New York and Taiwan

WHEREAS, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share
common ideals and a clear vision for the 21st century, where freedom and
democracy are the foundation for peace, prosperity, and progress; and

WHEREAS, The U.S. Congress passed the landmark Taiwan Relations Act
(TRA) in 1979 to sustain a close bilateral relationship and to advance
mutual security and commercial interests between the U.S. and Taiwan,
and the TRA along with Six Assurances have served as cornerstones of
U.S.-Taiwan relations and helped to preserve peace and stability in the
Taiwan Strait; and

WHEREAS, The United States and Taiwan share a long-term and close
economic relationship, with $68.2 billion in bilateral trade in 2017,
making Taiwan the 11th largest trading partner of the United States; and
Taiwan has expressed its wish to sign a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA)
with the United States; and

WHEREAS, The United States has assisted Taiwan in participating in
the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO) and the International Criminal Police Organization
(INTERPOL), and will continue to support Taiwan's meaningful
participation in these and other international organizations; and

WHEREAS, The State of New York exported $737 million worth of
products to Taiwan in 2017, making Taiwan the 16th largest foreign
market for the State of New York; and the bilateral trade and investment
have created about 10,000 jobs in the State of New York; and

WHEREAS, Many of the United States' top 500 companies headquartered
in New York have invested in Taiwan, while more than 300 Taiwanese
companies have invested in New York, contributing to mutually beneficial
relationship for decades; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has signed mutual driver's license recognition pacts
with 25 U.S. states since 2013, and more than 10,000 Taiwanese and
American citizens have taken advantage of the above-mentioned pacts, and
were Taiwan and New York State to enter into a driver's license
reciprocity agreement with each other, this would help increase the
mobility of international students, businessmen, and academics from both
sides; and

WHEREAS, The State of New York is home to a thriving overseas ethnic
Chinese communities that support the Republic of China (Taiwan),
including the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA), the
Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of New York, Inc., the Chinese Chamber of
Commerce of New York, Inc., Buddha's Light International Association in
New York, the Taiwan Center Senior Center, Taiwanese American
Association of New York, that devote themselves to the harmony and

development of the community of the State of New York; now, therefore,
be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate Taiwan Heritage Day to strengthen the friendship and bilateral
relationship between the State of New York and Taiwan; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to President Tsai Ing-wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
and to Ambassador Lily Hsu, of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office
in New York.