<a id="pl.1.2"></a><var>1.2</var>supporting the Republic of China on Taiwan as a part of the global community.<br/>
<a id="pl.1.3"></a><var>1.3</var>WHEREAS, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has achieved economic and social stability <br/>
<a id="pl.1.4"></a><var>1.4</var>and in the last two decades has been lauded as a beacon of democracy for Asia, has dramatically <br/>
<a id="pl.1.5"></a><var>1.5</var>improved its record on human rights, and has taken great steps forward to enter the world arena as <br/>
<a id="pl.1.6"></a><var>1.6</var>a trusted partner; and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.7"></a><var>1.7</var>WHEREAS, Taiwan's absence from international organizations dealing with climate change <br/>
<a id="pl.1.8"></a><var>1.8</var>has impeded Taiwan's ability to respond to natural disasters like Typhoon Morakot, which struck <br/>
<a id="pl.1.9"></a><var>1.9</var>Taiwan in the summer of 2009, an unusually destructive typhoon season in the Pacific that was <br/>
<a id="pl.1.10"></a><var>1.10</var>possibly exacerbated by climate change, and in turn, the global initiative to tackle climate change <br/>
<a id="pl.1.11"></a><var>1.11</var>has been impaired by the lack of participation of Taiwan, the world's 17th-largest economy; and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.12"></a><var>1.12</var>WHEREAS, the Taiwan government is grateful for the assistance and condolences of the <br/>
<a id="pl.1.13"></a><var>1.13</var>international community in the wake of Typhoon Morakot in 2009, as dozens of international <br/>
<a id="pl.1.14"></a><var>1.14</var>organizations and nations stepped up to help, including the United States, which supplied military <br/>
<a id="pl.1.15"></a><var>1.15</var>equipment for rescue and recovery operations, the European Union, Japan, and the Chinese <br/>
<a id="pl.1.16"></a><var>1.16</var>mainland; and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.17"></a><var>1.17</var>WHEREAS, aviation safety has become a major global concern since 2001, and Taiwan is <br/>
<a id="pl.1.18"></a><var>1.18</var>a key air transport hub in the Asia/Pacific region, with over 1.35 million flights passing through <br/>
<a id="pl.1.19"></a><var>1.19</var>the Taipei Flight Information Region, and with the world's 15th-largest airport by cargo volume, <br/>
<a id="pl.1.20"></a><var>1.20</var>Taoyuan International Airport; and <br/>
<a id="pl.1.21"></a><var>1.21</var>WHEREAS, the Taiwan government has undertaken a policy of "flexible diplomacy" <br/>
<a id="pl.1.22"></a><var>1.22</var>in its international relations and a pragmatic approach to China, having completed a number <br/>
<a id="pl.2.1"></a><var>2.1</var>of cross-strait liberalization measures, including regular, direct passenger flights between <br/>
<a id="pl.2.2"></a><var>2.2</var>mainland China and Taiwan and other goodwill measures, resulting in reciprocal gestures and <br/>
<a id="pl.2.3"></a><var>2.3</var>rapprochement between Taipei and Beijing; NOW, THEREFORE, <br/>
<a id="pl.2.4"></a><var>2.4</var>BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it affirms its support <br/>
<a id="pl.2.5"></a><var>2.5</var>for the participation of Taiwan in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change <br/>
<a id="pl.2.6"></a><var>2.6</var>(UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to increase Taiwan's <br/>
<a id="pl.2.7"></a><var>2.7</var>international space and contribution to the global community. <br/>
<a id="pl.2.8"></a><var>2.8</var>BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is <br/>
<a id="pl.2.9"></a><var>2.9</var>hereby directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the <br/>
<a id="pl.2.10"></a><var>2.10</var>United States; Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer of the UNFCCC; Secretary General Raymond <br/>
<a id="pl.2.11"></a><var>2.11</var>Benjamin of the ICAO; and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, Illinois.<br/>