LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the people of the Republic of
China (Taiwan) for the successful conduct of the fifth direct and demo-
cratic presidential election in January, 2012

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 foundations for peace, prosperity, and progress; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan has become a multiparty democracy in which all citi-
zens have the right to participate freely in the political process, as
evidenced by four democratic presidential elections of Taiwan which took
place in 1996, 2000, 2004 and 2008; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan successfully conducted a presidential election on
January 14, 2012, and re-elected Dr. Ma Ying-jeou and Mr. Wu Den-yih as
the next President and Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan);
and
WHEREAS, Through cross-Strait dialogues, the establishment of the
Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with Mainland China and
viable diplomacy, President Ma has transformed the Taiwan Strait from a
major international flashpoint into a cornerstone for peace and prosper-
ity for East Asia; and
WHEREAS, Taiwan is one of the strongest democratic allies of the
United States in the Asia-Pacific region and it is United States' policy
to support and strengthen democracy around the world; and
WHEREAS, The United States and Taiwan share a long-term and close
economic relationship, including $67 billion of bilateral trade in 2011,
making Taiwan the 9th largest trading partner and the 10th largest
foreign market for the United States; and
WHEREAS, The United States assisted Taiwan in participating in the
World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer in 2009, and will continue
supporting Taiwan's meaningful participation in other United Nations-af-
filiated organizations such as the International Civil Aviation Organ-
ization (ICAO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change (UNFCCC); and
WHEREAS, The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has
expressed its hope that the United States will include Taiwanese pass-
port holders into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), resume negotiation on a
Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) and sign a Free Trade
Agreement (FTA) with Taiwan in the near future; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York exported $1.3 billion worth of products
to Taiwan in 2011, making Taiwan the fifteenth largest foreign market
for New York State in 2011, strengthening bilateral economic ties; and
WHEREAS, Many of the United States' top 500 companies, which have
their headquarters located in New York, have invested in Taiwan, includ-
ing IBM, Pfizer, Corning, Citigroup, AIG, MetLife, J.P. Morgan, Morgan
Chase, Merrill Lynch, and New York Life; and
WHEREAS, There are 300 Taiwanese companies that have invested in the
State of New York in sectors such as computers, finance, jewelry, and
sporting goods, as well as the garment industry; and
WHEREAS, The State of New York is home to a thriving overseas Taiwa-
nese community; both the government of Taiwan and Taiwanese Americans
devote themselves to the local community service in the State of New
York; the State of New York has maintained a friendly and fruitful
relationship with Taiwan for many years; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the people of Taiwan and President Ma Ying-jeou for the
successful conduct of the fifth democratic presidential election in
January 2012, and to reiterate its support of a closer economic and

trade partnership between the United States and Taiwan; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to President Ma Ying-jeou of the Republic of China through the
Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York.