1.1A resolution1.2supporting the Republic of China on Taiwan as a part of the global community.1.3WHEREAS, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has achieved economic and social stability 1.4and in the last two decades has been lauded as a beacon of democracy for Asia, has dramatically 1.5improved its record on human rights, and has taken great steps forward to enter the world arena as 1.6a trusted partner; and 1.7WHEREAS, Taiwan's absence from international organizations dealing with climate change 1.8has impeded Taiwan's ability to respond to natural disasters like Typhoon Morakot, which struck 1.9Taiwan in the summer of 2009, an unusually destructive typhoon season in the Pacific that was 1.10possibly exacerbated by climate change, and in turn, the global initiative to tackle climate change 1.11has been impaired by the lack of participation of Taiwan, the world's 17th-largest economy; and 1.12WHEREAS, the Taiwan government is grateful for the assistance and condolences of the 1.13international community in the wake of Typhoon Morakot in 2009, as dozens of international 1.14organizations and nations stepped up to help, including the United States, which supplied military 1.15equipment for rescue and recovery operations, the European Union, Japan, and the Chinese 1.16mainland; and 1.17WHEREAS, aviation safety has become a major global concern since 2001, and Taiwan is 1.18a key air transport hub in the Asia/Pacific region, with over 1.35 million flights passing through 1.19the Taipei Flight Information Region, and with the world's 15th-largest airport by cargo volume, 1.20Taoyuan International Airport; and 1.21WHEREAS, the Taiwan government has undertaken a policy of "flexible diplomacy" 1.22in its international relations and a pragmatic approach to China, having completed a number 2.1of cross-strait liberalization measures, including regular, direct passenger flights between 2.2mainland China and Taiwan and other goodwill measures, resulting in reciprocal gestures and 2.3rapprochement between Taipei and Beijing; NOW, THEREFORE, 2.4BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it affirms its support 2.5for the participation of Taiwan in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 2.6(UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to increase Taiwan's 2.7international space and contribution to the global community. 2.8BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is 2.9hereby directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the 2.10United States; Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer of the UNFCCC; Secretary General Raymond 2.11Benjamin of the ICAO; and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, Illinois.