00 SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 8 01 Relating to strengthening international relations with Taiwan. 02 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF ALASKA: 03 WHEREAS the United States and Taiwan have long enjoyed strong bilateral relations 04 encompassing trade, education, cultural exchanges, and tourism; and 05 WHEREAS Taiwan shares with the United States the core values of freedom, 06 democracy, human rights, the rule of law, peace, and prosperity; and 07 WHEREAS the United States is the second largest trading partner of Taiwan, and 08 Taiwan is the seventh largest trading partner of the United States, with trade totaling 09 $128,000,000,000 in 2023; and 10 WHEREAS the United States is ranked as the 10th largest provider of high-quality 11 seafood to Taiwan, and the state's fishing industry is eager to strengthen trade relations with 12 Taiwan; and 13 WHEREAS the strong trade and investment partnership between the United States 14 and Taiwan serves as a foundation for advancing a mutually beneficial trade agreement that 15 fosters job creation, expands access to global markets, and strengthens international supply 16 chains; and 01 WHEREAS the state and Taiwan have maintained a sister-state relationship since 02 1988; and 03 WHEREAS the state and Taiwan enjoy close economic ties, with Taiwan being the 04 state's eighth largest export market in 2023 and the fourth largest market for the state in Asia; 05 and 06 WHEREAS mutually beneficial cultural exchanges and international cooperation 07 have been facilitated by the sister-city partnership between Fairbanks and Tainan City since 08 1983, the sister-city partnership between Juneau and Chiayi City since 1988, and the partner 09 city agreement between Anchorage and Taipei City since 1997; and 10 WHEREAS the establishment of an Alaska Trade Office in Taiwan would further 11 boost the volume of trade and export growth to Taiwan and other Asian markets, strengthen 12 the state's sister-state relationship with Taiwan, and increase collaboration in education, 13 technology, and cultural exchanges between the state and Taiwan; and 14 WHEREAS the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979 has fostered a close relationship 15 between the United States and Taiwan that has advanced the security and commercial 16 interests of both countries; and 17 WHEREAS the United States has actively supported Taiwan's participation in 18 international organizations, including the World Health Organization, the International Civil 19 Aviation Organization, and the International Criminal Police Organization and continues to 20 advocate for Taiwan's meaningful inclusion in these and other global institutions; and 21 WHEREAS Taiwan is a responsible and contributing member of the international 22 community that has provided significant assistance in response to natural disasters worldwide; 23 BE IT RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature reaffirms the state's 24 commitment to strengthening and deepening its relationship with Taiwan; and be it 25 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports the resumption 26 of an Alaska Trade Office in Taiwan; and be it 27 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature supports expanding 28 educational exchanges between the state and Taiwan; and be it 29 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature advocates for Taiwan's 30 meaningful participation in international organizations that address global trade and promote 31 the health, safety, and the well-being of its 23,000,000 citizens; and be it 01 FURTHER RESOLVED that the Alaska State Legislature endorses a closer 02 economic and trade partnership between the United States and Taiwan, including the signing 03 of a trade agreement and tax agreement to promote mutual trade and investment. 04 COPIES of this resolution shall be sent to the Honorable Mike Dunleavy, Governor 05 of Alaska; Daniel Kuo-ching Chen, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural 06 Office in Seattle; and the Honorable Lisa Murkowski and the Honorable Dan Sullivan, U.S. 07 Senators, and the Honorable Nick Begich, U.S. Representative, members of the Alaska 08 delegation in Congress.