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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The expansion of Taiwan's role in the international |
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community will enhance the important relationship between Taiwan |
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and the United States, which is supported by the common values of |
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freedom, democracy, rule of law, and a commitment to a free market |
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economy; and |
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WHEREAS, The United States ranks as Taiwan's 2nd largest |
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trading partner, and Taiwan is the 10th largest trading partner of |
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the United States; bilateral trade in goods between the United |
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States and Taiwan reached $67.4 billion in 2014, and both nations |
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could make even greater economic gains through the establishment of |
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a bilateral investment agreement and a free trade agreement; and |
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WHEREAS, The close and dynamic partnership between Taiwan and |
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the United States could also be further strengthened by Taiwan's |
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inclusion in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, as well as by Taiwan's |
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meaningful participation as an observer in the International Civil |
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Aviation Organization and in the United Nations Framework |
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Convention on Climate Change; and |
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WHEREAS, Taiwan has demonstrated leadership and a commitment |
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to advancing positive international relations through its East |
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China Sea Peace Initiative, proposed by President Ma Ying-jeou; the |
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initiative calls for all parties to the territorial disputes over |
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the Diaoyutai Islands to exercise restraint, reduce tensions, work |
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jointly and peacefully to develop the region economically, observe |
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international law, and establish a code of conduct in the region |
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that the United States and the European Union support in principle; |
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this initiative fosters peace and stability by encouraging |
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political and economic cooperation and the establishment of a |
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framework in which all parties can participate in bringing |
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prosperity to a troubled zone; and |
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WHEREAS, On June 13, 1988, the State of Texas and Taiwan |
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initiated a Sister State Agreement, and since that time, the |
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resulting bonds of friendship and goodwill have benefited Texas and |
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nurtured closer economic and cultural ties to Taiwan; Texas exports |
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to Taiwan reached $4.11 billion in 2014, a 1.43 percent increase |
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from 2013; Taiwan ranks as Texas' 13th largest export market |
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worldwide and its 5th largest export market in Asia; and |
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WHEREAS, To facilitate investment and trade opportunities, |
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the Texas House of Representatives authorized the Office of the |
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Governor to open a Texas trade office in Taiwan by adopting |
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Amendment No. 29 to amend the House Committee Substitute for Senate |
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Bill 1 in Article I on April 4, 2013; moreover, in the following |
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year, the Texas Department of Public Safety entered into an |
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agreement with the Taiwanese Ministry of Transportation and |
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Communications establishing reciprocity in the issuance of |
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driver's licenses for Texas applicants living in Taiwan and for |
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Taiwanese applicants living in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston, |
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guided by Director General Louis Min-Jing Huang, promotes exchanges |
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and cooperation in trade, investment, science, technology, |
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culture, education, and tourism; in addition, the office serves the |
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interests of many Taiwanese citizens living and traveling in the |
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area, and it provides consular services to those in need; and |
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WHEREAS, The positive relationship long enjoyed by the United |
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States and Taiwan contributes to the prosperity of both nations, |
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and the Lone Star State has a strong interest in promoting even |
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closer ties in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 27th anniversary of the Sister |
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State relationship between the State of Texas and Taiwan; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives support the |
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establishment of a Texas trade office in Taiwan and recognize the |
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benefits to business and travel created by the June 2014 mutual |
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agreement between the Texas Department of Public Safety and the |
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Taiwanese Ministry of Transportation and Communications on the |
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reciprocal issuance of driver's licenses; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives express its |
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support for the expansion of Taiwan's role in the international |
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community and specifically endorse the propositions that Taiwan |
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sign a bilateral investment agreement and free trade agreement with |
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the United States, join the Trans-Pacific Partnership, and |
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meaningfully participate as an observer in the International Civil |
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Aviation Organization and in the United Nations Framework |
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Convention on Climate Change; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas House of Representatives commend |
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Taiwan and President Ma Ying-jeou for the East China Sea Peace |
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Initiative; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Houston as |
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an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |