Title: State of Florida and Taiwan

Summary: Expressing appreciation for the sister state relationship and bilateral economic and cultural ties between the State of Florida and Taiwan, etc.

Full Text:
WHEREAS, since November 1, 2012, Taiwan has been a member of the United States Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which makes two way travel for business and tourism more convenient, reflecting the cooperation between the United States and Taiwan, and WHEREAS, the launch of FORMOSAT-7/COSMIC-2 on June 25, 2019, a joint United States-Taiwan collaborative space mission of a constellation of six satellites designed to enhance the accuracy of atmospheric weather prediction, has demonstrated the mutual benefit born of the relations between this country and Taiwan, and WHEREAS, the first female president of Taiwan, elected in 2016 and reelected for a second term on January 11, 2020, Dr. Tsai Ing-wen, was welcomed to the State of Florida in June 2016, as were the Speaker of Tainan City Council, Kuo Hsin-liang, and his delegation in February 2020, further enhancing the bilateral relationship between Taiwan and this state, as well as strengthening the common values Taiwan shares with this country, and WHEREAS, Taiwan participates in international organizations, including its bid for observer status in the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL); its involvement with the World Health Assembly (WHA), the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); and its membership status in both the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), and participates, observes, and cooperates with more than international organizations, and WHEREAS, Taiwan was the United States  ninth-largest trading partner as of November 2020 and the State of Florida s sixth-largest trading partner in Asia, and WHEREAS, several sisterhood relations exist between the State of Florida and Taiwan, including the sister relationships between Miami-Dade County and New Taipei City, formerly Taipei County; the Port of Miami and the Port of Kaohsiung; the City of Orlando and Tainan City; the City of Fort Lauderdale, the City of Miami, and the City of Pensacola and Kaohsiung City; and the City of Sunny Isles Beach and Hengchun Township, and WHEREAS, to assist the State of Florida in its fight against the virus causing COVID-19, Taiwan has donated to the state and its local governments more than 420,000 medical masks, demonstrating Taiwan s commitment to helping its international partners in need, NOW, THEREFORE, Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: That the Senate expresses its appreciation for the sister state relationship between the State of Florida and Taiwan. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be transmitted to President Tsai Ing-wen through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami and to the Executive Office of the Governor as a tangible token of the sentiments expressed herein.