SF 483

as introduced - 87th Legislature (2011 - 2012) Posted on 03/14/2012 09:25am

A resolution
supporting the Republic of China on Taiwan as a part of the global community.

WHEREAS, the Republic of China (Taiwan) has achieved economic and social stability
and in the last two decades has been lauded as a beacon of democracy for Asia, has dramatically
improved its record on human rights, and has taken great steps forward to enter the world arena as
a trusted partner; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan's absence from international organizations dealing with climate change
has impeded Taiwan's ability to respond to natural disasters like Typhoon Morakot, which struck
Taiwan in the summer of 2009, an unusually destructive typhoon season in the Pacific that was
possibly exacerbated by climate change, and in turn, the global initiative to tackle climate change
has been impaired by the lack of participation of Taiwan, the world's 17th-largest economy; and

WHEREAS, the Taiwan government is grateful for the assistance and condolences of the
international community in the wake of Typhoon Morakot in 2009, as dozens of international
organizations and nations stepped up to help, including the United States, which supplied military
equipment for rescue and recovery operations, the European Union, Japan, and the Chinese
mainland; and

WHEREAS, aviation safety has become a major global concern since 2001, and Taiwan is
a key air transport hub in the Asia/Pacific region, with over 1.35 million flights passing through
the Taipei Flight Information Region, and with the world's 15th-largest airport by cargo volume,
Taoyuan International Airport; and

WHEREAS, the Taiwan government has undertaken a policy of "flexible diplomacy"
in its international relations and a pragmatic approach to China, having completed a number
of cross-strait liberalization measures, including regular, direct passenger flights between
mainland China and Taiwan and other goodwill measures, resulting in reciprocal gestures and
rapprochement between Taipei and Beijing; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota that it affirms its support
for the participation of Taiwan in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to increase Taiwan's
international space and contribution to the global community.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of State of the State of Minnesota is
hereby directed to send a copy of this Resolution to Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State of the
United States; Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer of the UNFCCC; Secretary General Raymond
Benjamin of the ICAO; and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago, Illinois.