 
Assembly Resolution No. 393
 
BY: M. of A. Sepulveda
 
        CELEBRATING Taiwan Heritage Day
 
  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, Taiwan has become  a  multiparty  democracy  in  which  all
citizens  have the right to participate freely in the political process,
as evidenced by Taiwan's six democratic  presidential  elections,  which
took place in 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016; and
 
  WHEREAS,  In 1979, the United States passed the Taiwan Relations Act
to define the relations of the United States and Taiwan, which  strongly
strengthened their friendship; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  United  States and Taiwan share a long-term and close
economic relationship, including $65.4 billion  in  bilateral  trade  in
2016,  making  Taiwan  the  10th  largest  trading partner of the United
States; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The   United   States   assisted   Taiwan   in   attaining
participation  in  the  assembly  of the World Health Organization (WHO)
since 2009 and of the International Civil Aviation  Organization  (ICAO)
in  2013  and will continue supporting Taiwan's meaningful participation
in other organizations such as the United Nations  Framework  Convention
on  Climate  Change  (UNFCCC)  and  the  International  Criminal  Police
Organization (INTERPOL); and
 
  WHEREAS, In order to strengthen bilateral trade relations  with  the
United  States,  the  government  of  the Republic of China (Taiwan) has
expressed its wish to sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the  United
States in the near future; and
 
  WHEREAS,  The  State  of  New  York  exported  $637 million worth of
products to Taiwan in 2016,  making  Taiwan  the  16th  largest  foreign
market for the State of New York; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Many of the United States' top 500 companies headquartered
in New York, including IBM, Pfizer, Corning,  Citigroup,  AIG,  MetLife,
JPMorgan  Chase,  and  New York Life, have invested in Taiwan supporting
the mutually beneficial relationship for decades; and
 
  WHEREAS, There are more  than  300  Taiwanese  companies  that  have
invested in the State of New York in sectors such as computers, finance,
jewelry, sporting goods, and garments; and
 
  WHEREAS,  Taiwan  supports  New York State's economic initiatives by
encouraging young entrepreneurs to join the "START-UP  NY"  program,  as
well  as  partner with New York research institutes as Taiwan's TSMC did
when it participated in the "NY Global 450 Consortium" program  for  the
next generation semiconductor technology; and
 
  WHEREAS,  There  were  a  total  of 12,760 jobs in 2016 supported by
Taiwan in New York State, including 1,008 jobs supported  by  investment
from  Taiwan affiliated companies, 5,533 jobs supported by the export of
goods to Taiwan and 6,219 jobs supported by the export  of  services  to
Taiwan; 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, the Union of Taiwan Universities  and  Colleges
Alumni  Association  and  the National Women's League of the Republic of
China (Taiwan), that devote themselves to the harmony and development of
the community of the State of New York; and
 
  WHEREAS, The New York State Legislature held the 4th Taiwan Heritage
Day Celebration at the Legislative Office  Building  in  Albany  in  May
2016,  to  promote  bilateral relations between New York and Taiwan, and
will hold  the  5th  Taiwan  Heritage  Day  Celebration  in  2017;  now,
therefore, be it
 
  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
celebrate Taiwan Heritage Day; and be it further
 
  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to President Tsai, Ing-wen of the Republic of China (Taiwan)
through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York.
Celebrating Taiwan Heritage Day

What's Happening

Why It Matters
