BILL REQ. #:  H-1331.2 

Read first time 02/14/11.   Referred to Committee on State Government & Tribal Affairs.

     TO THE HONORABLE BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE UNITED NATIONS, AND TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE TAIPEI ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL OFFICE:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, The United States Department of State has officially affirmed its support for the participation of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as an observer in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); and
     WHEREAS, Legislative bodies in the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia have affirmed their support for the participation of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as an observer in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO); and
     WHEREAS, The state of Washington and Taiwan have enjoyed a long and mutually beneficial relationship with the prospect of further growth, and that Taiwan was Washington's 5th largest export market in 2010; and
     WHEREAS, Climate change has become a major global issue confronting humanity in the 21st century; and
     WHEREAS, Global climate change seriously affects the sustainable development and welfare of Taiwan's 23 million people; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan was devastated by Typhoon Morakot on August 8, 2009, causing severe loss of life and property; and
     WHEREAS, The UNFCCC preamble acknowledges that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate response; and
     WHEREAS, For political reasons, Taiwan has long been excluded from the United Nations affiliated UNFCCC and related mechanisms; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan is unable to access UNFCCC resources such as the international disaster early warning system, and is vulnerable to climate change; and
     WHEREAS, According to the 2009 Key World Energy statistics released by the International Energy Agency (IEA), Taiwan ranks as the 22nd largest emitter of carbon dioxide and the 18th largest per capita; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan is the world's 26th largest economy and 18th largest trading country; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan has the means and incentive to assume its due responsibilities in the fight against global climate change; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan's inclusion in the UNFCCC as an observer will enable that nation to make valuable contributions to the international community; and
     WHEREAS, For political reasons, Taiwan has also long been barred from participation in the United Nations affiliated International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and related mechanisms; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan has no access to timely information released by ICAO on topics such as air flight route planning, air traffic flow management, beacon codes, and airspace control; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan is a key air transport hub that links Northeast and Southeast Asia with around 2,600 weekly flights to and from neighboring countries; and
     WHEREAS, The Taipei Flight Information Region (Taipei FIR) under Taiwan's jurisdiction covers 176,000 square nautical miles, services 12 international and 4 domestic routes, and has 1.35 million controlled flights pass through every year; and
     WHEREAS, Some 174,000 international flights carrying over 35 million passengers arrived in and departed from Taiwan in 2008; and
     WHEREAS, According to 2008 statistics, Airports Council International ranked Taiwan's Taoyuan International Airport as the world's 11th largest airport by international cargo volume and 19th in terms of international passenger services; and
     WHEREAS, Taiwan's inclusion in the ICAO as an observer will ensure the aviation safety of passengers from both Taiwan and abroad; and
     WHEREAS, In April 2009, Taiwan's Health Minister was invited by the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) to lead a delegation to attend the 62nd World Health Assembly (WHA) as an observer, setting a precedent for Taiwan's participation in United Nations specialized agencies;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Washington State Legislature support the participation of the Republic of China (Taiwan) as an observer in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and in the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable Barack Obama, President of the United States, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and the Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle.