H.C.R. 10

1

TAIWAN CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
2 2011 GENERAL SESSION
3 STATE OF UTAH
4 Chief Sponsor: Eric K. Hutchings
5 Senate Sponsor: Peter C. Knudson
6
7 LONG TITLE
8 General Description:
9 This concurrent resolution of the Legislature and the Governor urges the Obama
10 Administration to support Taiwan's inclusion in the United States' Visa Waiver
11 Program and its meaningful participation in the United Nations.
12 Highlighted Provisions:
13 This resolution:
14 . urges the Obama Administration to support Taiwan's inclusion in the United States'
15 Visa Waiver Program and its meaningful participation in the United Nation's
16 specialized agencies, program, and convention; and
17 . expresses congratulations to President Ma Ying-jeou on the centennial year of the
18 founding of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its achievements.
19 Special Clauses:
20 None
21
22 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
23 WHEREAS, 97 countries worldwide have granted visa waiver privileges to Taiwanese
24 passport holders, including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Japan, Ireland, Canada, and the
25 European Union;
26 WHEREAS, as the first European country to grant visa-free privileges to Taiwan in
27 2009, Britain has seen the number of Taiwanese visitors increase 106% and bilateral trade has

28 also grown by up to 30%;
29 WHEREAS, the European Union will see at least a 30% increase in Taiwanese visitors
30 with its visa exemption that took effect on January 11, 2011;
31 WHEREAS, the United States is an important destination for Taiwanese who travel
32 overseas either for tourism or for business purposes, resulting in the United States being
33 Taiwan's ninth largest trade partner;
34 WHEREAS, United States' passport holders are granted 30-day visa-free stays in
35 Taiwan;
36 WHEREAS, with its reliable administrative system, Taiwan is able to issue a high
37 quality "chip passport" and will shortly implement a new policy requiring in-person passport
38 application submission, further preventing passport tampering and forgery;
39 WHEREAS, Taiwan's latest visa refusal rate for the fiscal year 2010 was 2.2%, much
40 lower than the required 3% stipulated by the United States' Visa Waiver Program;
41 WHEREAS, with Taiwan joining the United States' Visa Waiver Program, the number
42 of visitors to the United States for both sightseeing and business purposes is expected to
43 increase dramatically;
44 WHEREAS, in May 2009, Taiwan's inclusion in the World Health Organization raised
45 the possibility that Taiwan would have meaningful involvement in other United Nations
46 agencies, program, and convention;
47 WHEREAS, in 2009, the Airports Council International ranked Taiwan's Taoyuan
48 International Airport as the world's eighth largest by international cargo volume and 18th
49 largest by number of international passengers;
50 WHEREAS, exclusion from the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
51 since 1971 has impeded the Government of Taiwan's efforts to comport with evolving
52 international standards, resulting in an inability to contact the ICAO for up-to-date information
53 on aviation standards and norms in a timely manner;
54 WHEREAS, Taiwan's exclusion from the ICAO has prevented the ICAO from
55 developing a truly global strategy to address security threats based on international cooperation;
56 WHEREAS, 2011 marks the Republic of China's centennial year;
57 WHEREAS, Dr. Sun Yat-sen overthrew the Qing Court and founded the Republic of
58 China, the first republic in Asia, in 1912 as a democratic republic "of the people, to be

59 governed by the people and for the people," grounding his Three Principles of the People on
60 ideas shared between Americans and Taiwanese;
61 WHEREAS, at the end of World War II, the Republic of China played a pivotal role in
62 restoring world order as a founding member of the United Nations;
63 WHEREAS, the Republic of China contributed to drafting the Universal Declaration of
64 Human Rights, infusing Confucianism into the document;
65 WHEREAS, over the past six decades, the Republic of China's government has
66 implemented reforms that have made Taiwan a paragon of political and economic progress for
67 developing nations around the world and have dispelled the myth that democracy is unsuitable
68 for a Chinese society; and
69 WHEREAS, as a member of the international community, Taiwan is more than willing
70 to take on its responsibilities as a peacemaker, a provider of humanitarian aid, a promoter of
71 cultural ties, and a creator of new technologies and business opportunities:
72 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
73 Governor concurring therein, urge the Obama Administration to support Taiwan's inclusion in
74 the United States' Visa Waiver Program and its meaningful participation in the United Nation's
75 specialized agencies, program, and convention.
76 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature and the Governor offer their
77 congratulations to President Ma Ying-jeou on the centennial year of the founding of the
78 Republic of China (Taiwan) and its achievements.
79 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Taiwan
80 Embassy in the United States and to President Ma Ying-jeou of Taiwan.




Legislative Review Note
as of 2-7-11 2:37 PM

Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel