On August 26, 2022, Coalition member The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) passed two pro-Taiwan resolutions that were in favor of strengthening U.S.-Taiwan relations and trade.
The first resolution was entitled, “Taiwan Friendship Caucus Resolution,” and encourages U.S. legislatures to establish a “Taiwan Friendship Caucus” to strengthen cooperation with Taiwan.
“WHEREAS, Taiwan shares the same values of freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and prosperity with the United States and this state; and
WHEREAS, this legislative chamber’s Taiwan Friendship Caucus will continue the bilateral relationship with Taiwan and will continue to affirm and support its meaningful participation in international organizations; and
WHEREAS, this legislative chamber’s Taiwan Friendship Caucus will continue to reaffirm a commitment to strengthening and deepening the ties between this state and Taiwan; therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE MEMBERS OF THIS LEGISLATIVE CHAMBER, that we commemorate the formation of this state’s Taiwan Friendship Caucus; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to the Director General of the Taipei Economic Cultural Office (TECO) as the diplomatic representative for Taiwan in this region.”
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
The second resolution was entitled, “Resolution Urging the United States to Invite Taiwan to Join the Indo-Paccific Economic Framework,” and encourages the U.S. to invite Taiwan to join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF)
“WHEREAS the economy of Taiwan is one of the strongest and wealthiest in the Indo-Pacific region with a gross domestic product (GDP) of approximately $660 billion in 2021; and
WHEREAS Taiwan has a larger GDP than seven of the fourteen countries that are already members of the IPEF; and
WHEREAS an estimated $105.9 billion of trade was conducted between the United States and Taiwan in the year 2020, making Taiwan a major trading partner in the Indo-Pacific region; and
WHEREAS Taiwan’s semiconductor manufacturing industry is the best in the world with one firm alone accounting for more than 50% of the global market; and
WHEREAS semiconductors manufactured by Taiwanese enterprises are used in much of the United States’ defense technology and infrastructure, and maintaining seamless access to these resources is critical to US national security; and
WHEREAS the Biden Administration has characterized a goal of the IPEF as harnessing technological innovation and fortifying the economies of its members against fragile supply chains and corruption; and
WHEREAS underscoring the importance of the US-Taiwan relationship and signaling this partnership’s vitality to the People’s Republic of China is in the national interest and could deter Chinese aggression against Taiwan; and
WHEREAS in 2013, Taiwan signed economic association agreements with New Zealand and Singapore, both of which are members of the IPEF; and
WHEREAS the Taiwanese government has asked the U.S. Trade Representative to be included in the IPEF;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that this state legislative chamber supports the inclusion of Taiwan in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF); and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this state legislative chamber urges the US Department of State to make appropriate arrangements to invite Taiwan to participate in IPEF negotiations, for the purposes of improved economic collaboration and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be forwarded to the President of the United States, to the Secretary of State of the United States, and to the U.S. Trade Representative.”
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
In a press release, the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) welcomed the resolutions.
“These actions would not only strengthen the friendship between Taiwan and the state legislatures across the United States but also help deepen the bilateral economic and strategic partnership. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative office in the United States expresses its gratitude to ALEC for passing the resolutions and is willing to work with all levels of government across the United States to promote a stronger, mutually beneficial partnership.”
The US-Taiwan BTA Coalition welcomes this support of Taiwan from Coalition member ALEC.