The Indiana Senate has passed a resolution urging local businesses to call Taiwan “Taiwan,” the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Chicago said yesterday.
The resolution was proposed by State Senator Jon Ford, cochair of the Indiana Taiwan Friendship Caucus, and State Senator Michael Young, the office said, adding that it passed without objection on Thursday.
The resolution aims to reaffirm Indiana’s commitment to deepen its sister-state relationship with Taiwan, which was established in 1979, and support the Taiwan Relations Act, which was passed in the same year.
Photo: Reuters
The resolution calls on all businesses in Indiana to use the name “Taiwan” instead of belittling the nation by using inappropriate names due to external pressure.
The Indiana Senate urged the US government to sign agreements in bilateral trade and other matters to eliminate double taxation with Taiwan, as they could strengthen relations between the two sides, the office said.
The resolution also calls for Taiwan’s inclusion in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, which was launched by the US in May last year, it said.
Taiwan is Indiana’s sixth-largest market for exports in Asia, with the total value of exports reaching US$240 million in 2021, it said.
The resolution supports Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international organizations, where Taiwan can contribute to international society, it said.
Office Director-General Johnson Chiang (姜森) welcomed the resolution and thanked the caucus for firmly supporting Taiwan.
Indiana is an important trade partner to Taiwan, as the two sides are cooperating more closely on agriculture, manufacturing and high-tech supply chains, Chiang said in a statement.
The resolution’s passage indicates that Midwest states, the US’ manufacturing strongholds, are interested in signing bilateral trade agreements with Taiwan, he said.
Calling Taiwan by its real name not only shows respect for Taiwanese, but is in line with the US’ position when dealing with Taiwan, he said.
The “six assurances” and the Taiwan Relations Act are important to the US’ Taiwan policy, and crucial to maintaining peace in the Taiwan Strait, he added.
INSPIRING: Taiwan has been a model in the Asia-Pacific region with its democratic transition, free and fair elections and open society, the vice president-elect said Taiwan can play a leadership role in the Asia-Pacific region, vice president-elect Hsiao Bi-khim (蕭美琴) told a forum in Taipei yesterday, highlighting the nation’s resilience in the face of geopolitical challenges. “Not only can Taiwan help, but Taiwan can lead ... not only can Taiwan play a leadership role, but Taiwan’s leadership is important to the world,” Hsiao told the annual forum hosted by the Center for Asia-Pacific Resilience and Innovation think tank. Hsiao thanked Taiwan’s international friends for their long-term support, citing the example of US President Joe Biden last month signing into law a bill to provide aid to Taiwan,
China’s intrusive and territorial claims in the Indo-Pacific region are “illegal, coercive, aggressive and deceptive,” new US Indo-Pacific Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo said on Friday, adding that he would continue working with allies and partners to keep the area free and open. Paparo made the remarks at a change-of-command ceremony at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in Hawaii, where he took over the command from Admiral John Aquilino. “Our world faces a complex problem set in the troubling actions of the People’s Republic of China [PRC] and its rapid buildup of forces. We must be ready to answer the PRC’s increasingly intrusive and
STATE OF THE NATION: The legislature should invite the president to deliver an address every year, the TPP said, adding that Lai should also have to answer legislators’ questions The Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) yesterday proposed inviting president-elect William Lai (賴清德) to make a historic first state of the nation address at the legislature following his inauguration on May 20. Lai is expected to face many domestic and international challenges, and should clarify his intended policies with the public’s representatives, KMT caucus secretary-general Hung Meng-kai (洪孟楷) said when making the proposal at a meeting of the legislature’s Procedure Committee. The committee voted to add the item to the agenda for Friday, along with another similar proposal put forward by the Taiwan People’s Party (TPP). The invitation is in line with Article 15-2
Premier Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday denounced Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Hsu Chiao-hsin (徐巧芯) for making false allegations about donations to Ukraine and disclosing confidential documents, with the ministry saying that it would take legal action. The ministry last year signed an agreement with the Czech Republic on a healthcare project to assist Ukraine, which is to be carried out by the Czech Health Technology Institute. Hsu accused the ministry of being indirectly involved in the party politics of the Czech Republic as institute chairman Petr Foit is a local medical supplier, and has close political