HR302: Commending Hsiao Bi-khim.


HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 302
Commending Hsiao Bi-khim.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 10, 2023

 

WHEREAS, Hsiao Bi-khim, the representative of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the United States has worked diligently to enhance relations between the two nations and to ensure that her country is able to participate more fully in world affairs; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, an independent and sovereign nation, has a dynamic and growing economy that produces many of the items necessary for 21st century life, a strong innovation culture, the infrastructure to support cutting edge innovation in a variety of sectors, and a longstanding reputation as a trusted global presence; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, a thriving democracy of 23.5 million people, is a close economic and strategic partner to the United States and to many of America’s closest allies, and Hsiao Bi-khim has advocated the country’s inclusion in the United Nations (UN); and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s absence from UN specialized agencies, like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has had adverse effects on Taiwan’s development, has deprived these entities of Taiwan’s valuable experience, and is inconsistent with Chapter 1 of the UN Charter’s stated Purposes and Principles; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan makes meaningful contributions to the world community through foreign aid and its position as a major transport hub, both of which could be facilitated by an ability to work within UN frameworks; and

WHEREAS, the inclusion of Taiwan in the ICAO is consistent with the ICAO’s stated purpose of ensuring that “international civil aviation be developed in a safe and orderly manner and that international air transport services may be established on the basis of equality of opportunity and operated soundly and economically”; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport is a key air transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region and in 2018 was ranked the world’s eighth largest airport by cargo volume and world’s 11th busiest airport by passenger traffic; and

WHEREAS, the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) is adjacent to the Fukuoka, Manila, Hong Kong, and Shanghai FIRs, situating it among the busiest FIRs in the world, and in 2019 the Taipei FIR provided more than 1.85 million services to aircraft carrying more than 1.72 million passengers; and

WHEREAS, aviation safety is a global issue that requires all members of the global community to take part in the ICAO in order to best serve the interests of every passenger; and

WHEREAS, 605,000 Americans traveled to Taiwan for business and leisure during 2019, making aviation safety in Taiwan a priority for Americans’ safety and best interests, as well; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan was a founding member of the ICAO and despite losing its UN membership, and by extension its ICAO membership in 1971, has continued to abide by the convention and to obtain information on ICAO decisions from countries friendly to Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s exclusion from other cooperative international organizations such as Interpol is inconsistent with the organization’s vision of “a world where law enforcement can securely access, share and communicate vital police information whenever and wherever needed, thereby supporting the security of the world’s citizens” and deprives these people of the very information needed to ensure their security for reasons that are geopolitical rather than practical; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has a strong willingness and ability to contribute to fighting transnational crime including cybercrime for which Taiwan is especially well suited given its robust information and communications technology sector; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s experience and notable achievements give the country much to contribute in discussions with world international bodies on a wide array of international challenges; and

WHEREAS, Hsiao Bi-khim and other Taiwanese officials have fought to end policies of isolation and ensure that Taiwan is accorded the same access as other sovereign countries around the world to join international organizations including but not limited to the ICAO and Interpol; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Hsiao Bi-khim hereby be commended for her outstanding advocacy on behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in international affairs and her work to enhance global, health, safety, and security through the nation’s participation in international bodies; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Hsiao Bi-khim as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for her achievements on behalf of the Taiwanese people.

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 302

Offered February 10, 2023
Commending Hsiao Bi-khim.
Patron-- Cordoza

WHEREAS, Hsiao Bi-khim, the representative of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the United States has worked diligently to enhance relations between the two nations and to ensure that her country is able to participate more fully in world affairs; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, an independent and sovereign nation, has a dynamic and growing economy that produces many of the items necessary for 21st century life, a strong innovation culture, the infrastructure to support cutting edge innovation in a variety of sectors, and a longstanding reputation as a trusted global presence; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan, a thriving democracy of 23.5 million people, is a close economic and strategic partner to the United States and to many of America’s closest allies, and Hsiao Bi-khim has advocated the country’s inclusion in the United Nations (UN); and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s absence from UN specialized agencies, like the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has had adverse effects on Taiwan’s development, has deprived these entities of Taiwan’s valuable experience, and is inconsistent with Chapter 1 of the UN Charter’s stated Purposes and Principles; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan makes meaningful contributions to the world community through foreign aid and its position as a major transport hub, both of which could be facilitated by an ability to work within UN frameworks; and

WHEREAS, the inclusion of Taiwan in the ICAO is consistent with the ICAO’s stated purpose of ensuring that “international civil aviation be developed in a safe and orderly manner and that international air transport services may be established on the basis of equality of opportunity and operated soundly and economically”; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s Taoyuan International Airport is a key air transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region and in 2018 was ranked the world’s eighth largest airport by cargo volume and world’s 11th busiest airport by passenger traffic; and

WHEREAS, the Taipei Flight Information Region (FIR) is adjacent to the Fukuoka, Manila, Hong Kong, and Shanghai FIRs, situating it among the busiest FIRs in the world, and in 2019 the Taipei FIR provided more than 1.85 million services to aircraft carrying more than 1.72 million passengers; and

WHEREAS, aviation safety is a global issue that requires all members of the global community to take part in the ICAO in order to best serve the interests of every passenger; and

WHEREAS, 605,000 Americans traveled to Taiwan for business and leisure during 2019, making aviation safety in Taiwan a priority for Americans’ safety and best interests, as well; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan was a founding member of the ICAO and despite losing its UN membership, and by extension its ICAO membership in 1971, has continued to abide by the convention and to obtain information on ICAO decisions from countries friendly to Taiwan; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s exclusion from other cooperative international organizations such as Interpol is inconsistent with the organization’s vision of “a world where law enforcement can securely access, share and communicate vital police information whenever and wherever needed, thereby supporting the security of the world’s citizens” and deprives these people of the very information needed to ensure their security for reasons that are geopolitical rather than practical; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan has a strong willingness and ability to contribute to fighting transnational crime including cybercrime for which Taiwan is especially well suited given its robust information and communications technology sector; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan’s experience and notable achievements give the country much to contribute in discussions with world international bodies on a wide array of international challenges; and

WHEREAS, Hsiao Bi-khim and other Taiwanese officials have fought to end policies of isolation and ensure that Taiwan is accorded the same access as other sovereign countries around the world to join international organizations including but not limited to the ICAO and Interpol; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Hsiao Bi-khim hereby be commended for her outstanding advocacy on behalf of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in international affairs and her work to enhance global, health, safety, and security through the nation’s participation in international bodies; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Hsiao Bi-khim as an expression of the House of Delegates’ admiration for her achievements on behalf of the Taiwanese people.