HR 21: endorsing TAIWAN'S international participation, encouraging the signing of a united states-TAIWAN agreement on avoidance of double taxation, and commemorating the sister-state relationship BETWEEN the state of hawaii and taiwan.

HOUSE RESOLUTION

endorsing TAIWAN'S international participation, encouraging the signing of a united states-TAIWAN agreement on avoidance of double taxation, and commemorating the sister-state relationship BETWEEN the state of hawaii and taiwan.

     WHEREAS, the United States and Taiwan are bonded by a shared commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights, the rule of law, and a free market economy; and

     WHEREAS, to further support and reinforce trading partnerships, the United States-Taiwan Initiative on 21st Century Trade has reached an agreement to develop concrete methods to deepen the economic and trade relationship of both sides, advance mutual trade priorities based on shared values, and promote innovative and inclusive economic growth for workers and businesses; and

     WHEREAS, in order to strengthen bilateral trade and investment, the government of Taiwan has expressed its desire to sign an agreement on avoidance of double taxation with the United States; and

     WHEREAS, Hawaii and Taiwan have had a sister-state relationship since 1993 that has developed an enduring and mutually beneficial friendship, exemplified by the Taiwan government's generous $500,000 contribution to Hawaii in the aftermath of the 2023 Maui wildfires; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to the strong reciprocal trading partnership, the State of Hawaii Office in Taipei and Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu have been working together to promote substantial cooperation and exchanges in areas of tourism, agriculture, culture, education, and sport; and

     WHEREAS, the United States-Taiwan Education Initiative was launched in 2020 to strengthen cooperation on international education and highlight Taiwan's role in providing Mandarin language instruction; and

     WHEREAS, given the designation of Mandarin as a critical language and Taiwan's plans to be bilingual by 2030, schools and institutions of higher education in Hawaii and Taiwan have enhanced their exchanges; and

     WHEREAS, for years, Taiwan has actively engaged in climate change research, promoted disaster management exchange, supported anti-terrorism cooperation, and worked with its partners to tackle transnational crime; and

     WHEREAS, Taiwan's meaningful participation in bodies such as the International Criminal Police Organization, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and International Civil Aviation Organization would make international mechanisms truly global; and

     WHEREAS, the United States has assisted Taiwan in participating in the International Civil Aviation Organization and International Criminal Police Organization and will continue to support Taiwan's meaningful participation in these and other international organizations; now, therefore,

     BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-third Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2026, that this body joins the United States to endorse the participation of Taiwan as an observer in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, International Civil Aviation Organization, and International Criminal Police Organization; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body encourages the United States Trade Representative to commence negotiations to enter into an agreement on avoidance of double taxation with Taiwan; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body commemorates the State of Hawaii's thirty-third anniversary of sister-state relations with Taiwan and supports mutually beneficial exchanges and cooperation with Taiwan; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the President of the Republic of China; President of the United States; President Pro Tempore of the United States Senate; Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; United States Secretary of State; members of Hawaii's Congressional delegation; Governor; and Director of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism.

Report Title: 

United States-Taiwan; International Participation; Trade Agreement; Sister-state Relationship