Celebrate Taiwan Heritage Day

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