Senate Resolution No. 3190

BY: Senator LIU

MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim
May 4, 2020, as Taiwan Heritage Day in the State of
New York

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 is a vibrant democracy in which all citizens have
the right to participate freely in the political process, as evidenced
by Taiwan's seven direct presidential elections, which took place in
1996, 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, and 2020; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is proud to congratulate President
Tsai Ing-wen and Vice President-elect Lai Ching-te on their victory in
Taiwan's presidential election on January 11, 2020; 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, including $85 billion in bilateral trade in 2019,
making Taiwan the 10th 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 supporting Taiwan's meaningful
participation in these and other organizations; and

WHEREAS, The State of New York exported $898 million worth of
products to Taiwan in 2019, making Taiwan the 18th largest foreign
market for the State of New York; and the bilateral trade and investment
have created over 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 the State of New York, contributing to the
mutually beneficial relationship for decades; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has signed mutual driver's license recognition pacts
with 33 U.S. states since 2013, and more than 15,000 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 community which supports 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., and the Taiwanese American Association of
New York, and devotes itself to the harmony and development of the State
of New York; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim May 4, 2020, as Taiwan
Heritage Day in the State of New York; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of
New York; Tsai Ing-wen, President of the Republic of China (Taiwan); Lai
Ching-te, Vice President-elect of the Republic of China (Taiwan); and
Lily Hsu, Ambassador of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New
York.