Bill Text: NJ AR85 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Commemorates 13th presidential inauguration ceremony of Republic of China (Taiwan).
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2012-10-19 - Filed with Secretary of State [AR85 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-AR85-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
SYNOPSIS
Commemorates 13th presidential inauguration ceremony of Republic of China (Taiwan).
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Assembly Resolution commemorating the 13th presidential inauguration ceremony of the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Whereas, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share common ideals and a clear vision for the 21st century, where freedom and democracy are the foundations for peace, prosperity, and progress; and
Whereas, The Republic of China (Taiwan) has become a multiparty democracy in which all citizens have the right to participate freely in the political process, as evidenced by the four prior democratic presidential elections occurring in 1996, 2000, 2004, and 2008, respectively; and
Whereas, The Republic of China (Taiwan) successfully conducted a presidential election on January 14, 2012, re-electing Dr. Ma Ying-jeou and Mr. Wu Den-yih as the next President and Vice President of the Republic of China (Taiwan); and
Whereas, The United States Department of State congratulated President Ma Ying-jeou on the day of his victory; and
Whereas, Through cross-Strait dialogues, the establishment of the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement (ECFA) with mainland China, and a policy of viable diplomacy during his first term, President Ma has transformed the Taiwan Strait from a major international flashpoint into a cornerstone for peace and prosperity for East Asia; and
Whereas, The Republic of China (Taiwan) is one of the strongest democratic allies of the United States in the Asia-Pacific region and it is the policy of the United States to support and strengthen democracy around the world; and
Whereas, The United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) share a long-term and close economic relationship, with $67 billion in bilateral trade in 2011, making the Republic of China (Taiwan) the ninth largest trading partner with the United States and its 10th largest foreign market; and
Whereas, The United States assisted the Republic of China (Taiwan) in its bid to participate in the World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer in 2009, and will continue supporting the Republic of China's (Taiwan's) meaningful participation in other United Nations-affiliated organizations, such as the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); and
Whereas, The government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) has expressed its hopes that the United States will include Taiwanese passport holders into the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), resume negotiation on a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA), and sign a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Republic of China (Taiwan) in the near future; and
Whereas, In 2010, the Republic of China (Taiwan) was New Jersey's 17th largest export market with $634 million worth of products exported, including silver manufactures, semiconductors, aircraft parts, jewelry, and metal; and
Whereas, While 20 of the United State's top 500 companies are headquartered in New Jersey, 11 of those 20 companies have operations or research and development centers in the Republic of China (Taiwan), including Johnson & Johnson, Merck, Honeywell International, Allied Signal, Noveda Technologies, and Telcordia; and
Whereas, More than 100 Republic of China (Taiwan) companies have invested in New Jersey, including Formosa Plastics Corporation, EVA Air, Evergreen Marine, Yang Ming Marine Transport, and AAEON Electronics, Inc.; and
Whereas, The State of New Jersey is home to a thrivingTaiwanese community and both the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and Taiwanese Americans have devoted themselves to serving the local community in New Jersey; and
Whereas, New Jersey has maintained a friendly and fruitful relationship with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for many years; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. That the General Assembly commemorates the Republic of China's (Taiwan's) 13th presidential inauguration ceremony on May 20, 2012, expresses its strong commitment to a closer economic partnership with the Republic of China (Taiwan), and reiterates its support for a closer economic and trade partnership between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
2. A duly authenticated copy of this resolution, signed by the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to President Ma Ying-jeou of the Republic of China (Taiwan) through the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York.
STATEMENT
This Assembly resolution commemorates the Republic of China's (Taiwan's) 13th presidential inauguration ceremony which takes place on May 20, 2012.
The resolution also expresses the General Assembly's strong commitment to a closer economic partnership with the Republic of China (Taiwan) and reiterates its support for a closer economic and trade partnership between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan).
