California Senate Passes Resolution Supporting Deeper Relations With Taiwan

Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen arrives at the Reagan Presidential Library in Semi Valley, Calif., on April 5, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

The California Senate passed a resolution Aug. 15 supporting the California government in deepening exchanges with Taiwan and recognizing the island nation’s willingness to participate in the international community, including in the United Nations and related international organizations.

This resolution is the first pro-Taiwan resolution passed by the California State Legislature since 2015.

The resolution highlights the close exchanges between Taiwan and California over the years in areas such as trade, culture, and technology. Taiwan is an important partner for the United States in the Asia-Pacific region, and is California’s third-largest trading partner with bilateral trade reaching $38 billion. Taiwan has created more than 120,000 jobs in California.

Additionally, the resolution notes that Taiwan has the ability and willingness to contribute to the international community and participate in organizations such as the United Nations, the World Health Organization, the International Civil Aviation Organization, the International Criminal Police Organization, and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The resolution states that the California Senate recognizes Taiwan’s efforts to participate in international organizations, supports Taiwan in continuing to contribute to the international community through appropriate means, and affirms that Taiwan’s democracy is crucial to the security and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region.

The resolution was brought forward by pro-Taiwan leaders in the California Senate, including Majority Whip Dave Cortese, and by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Offices in San Francisco and Los Angeles. The purpose of the resolution was to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Taiwan and California becoming sister states, and the 45th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act.

On April 17, 1984, Taiwan and California solidified their sister-state relationship, making Taiwan the first foreign state to form a formal alliance with California.

On March 24, 1979, the U.S. Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which “reaffirms as a commitment of the United States the preservation of human rights of the people of Taiwan.”

The Taiwan Relations Act also “declares that in furtherance of the principle of maintaining peace and stability in the Western Pacific area, the United States shall make available to Taiwan such defense articles and defense services in such quantity as may be necessary to enable Taiwan to maintain a sufficient self-defense capacity as determined by the President and the Congress.”

The act also “requires such determination of Taiwan’s defense needs to be reviewed by United States military authorities in connection with recommendations to the President and the Congress.”

California has a population of over 39 million and covers nearly 164,000 square miles, making it the most populous and third-largest state in the United States by area.

Taiwan, known as Asia’s Silicon Valley, is a technological powerhouse in Asia. Currently, 20 counties and cities in California maintain sister city or county relationships with cities and counties in Taiwan.