Florida Senate - 2022 (NP) SR 1970
By Senator Rodriguez
39-02424A-22 20221970__
1 Senate Resolution
2 A resolution expressing appreciation for the sister
3 state relationship and bilateral economic and cultural
4 ties between the State of Florida and Taiwan.
5
6 WHEREAS, April 10, 2022, marks the 43rd anniversary of the
7 enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act, which codified in law the
8 basis for continued commercial and cultural relations between
9 the people of the United States and Taiwan, and
10 WHEREAS, since November 1, 2012, Taiwan has been a member
11 of the United States Visa Waiver Program, which makes two-way
12 travel for business and tourism more convenient, reflecting the
13 cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, and
14 WHEREAS, the launch of FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 on June 25,
15 2019, a joint United States-Taiwan collaborative space mission
16 of a constellation of six satellites designed to enhance the
17 accuracy of atmospheric weather prediction, has demonstrated the
18 mutual benefit born of the relations between this country and
19 Taiwan, and
20 WHEREAS, the first female president of Taiwan, elected in
21 2016 and reelected for a second term on January 11, 2020, Dr.
22 Tsai Ing-wen, was welcomed to this state in June 2016, as were
23 the Speaker of Tainan City Council, Kuo Hsin-liang, and his
24 delegation the following month, further enhancing the bilateral
25 relationship between Taiwan and this state, as well as
26 strengthening the common values that Taiwan shares with this
27 country, and
28 WHEREAS, Taiwan participates in international
29 organizations, including its bid for observer status in the
30 International Criminal Police Organization; its involvement with
31 the World Health Assembly, the International Civil Aviation
32 Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on
33 Climate Change; and its membership status in both the Asia
34 Pacific Economic Cooperation and the World Trade Organization,
35 and participates, observes, and cooperates with more than 50
36 international organizations, and
37 WHEREAS, in November 2021, Taiwan became the United States’
38 eighth largest trading partner and the State of Florida’s sixth
39 largest trading partner in Asia, and
40 WHEREAS, this year marks the 30th anniversary of the
41 enactment of the sister state relationship shared between the
42 State of Florida and Taiwan, and
43 WHEREAS, several sister city relationships exist between
44 Florida and Taiwan, such as between Miami-Dade County and New
45 Taipei City, formerly Taipei County; the Port of Miami and the
46 Port of Kaohsiung; the City of Orlando and Tainan City; the City
47 of Fort Lauderdale, the City of Miami, and the City of Pensacola
48 and Kaohsiung City; the City of Sunny Isles Beach and Hengchun
49 Township; the City of Doral and the Xizhi District of New Taipei
50 City; the City of Kissimmee with Hualien City and Miaoli City;
51 the City of North Miami Beach and the Pingzhen District of
52 Taoyuan City; and the City of Tavares and the Xindian District
53 of New Taipei City, and
54 WHEREAS, to assist the State of Florida in its fight
55 against the virus causing COVID-19, Taiwan has donated to the
56 state and its local governments more than 420,000 medical masks,
57 demonstrating Taiwan’s commitment to helping its international
58 partners in need, NOW, THEREFORE,
59
60 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
61
62 That the Senate expresses its appreciation for the sister
63 state relationship between the State of Florida and Taiwan.
64 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution, with
65 the Seal of the Senate affixed, be presented to President Tsai
66 Ing-wen through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami
67 and to the Executive Office of the Governor as a tangible token
68 of the sentiments of the Florida Senate.