STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1948

Honolulu, Hawaii

RE: H.C.R. No. 68

Honorable Ronald D. Kouchi

President of the Senate

Thirty-Second State Legislature

Regular Session of 2023

State of Hawaii

Sir:

Your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 68 entitled:

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION URGING THE UNITED STATES TO SUPPORT TAIWAN'S PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION, INTERNATIONAL CRIMINAL POLICE ORGANIZATION, UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE, AND INTERNATIONAL CIVIL AVIATION ORGANIZATION AND URGING INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS TO GRANT TAIWAN MEMBERSHIP, OBSERVER, OR OTHER APPROPRIATE STATUS,"

begs leave to report as follows:

The purpose and intent of this measure is to:

(1) Urge the United States to support Taiwan's participation in international organizations, including the World Health Organization, International Criminal Police Organization, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and International Civil Aviation Organization; and

(2) Urge international organizations to grant Taiwan observer or other appropriate status.

Your Committee received testimony in support of this measure from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu.

Your Committee finds that similar to the United States, Taiwan shares universal values of freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights and the rule of law. Taiwan and Hawaii have an established sister-state relationship since 1993, and each major county in the State has an ongoing sister-city or sister-county relationship. Additionally, Taiwan has also become a growing economic force as the twenty-first largest economy in the world. While Taiwan holds membership as an observer in forty different international organizations, it lacks membership and statuses in major groups that are instrumental in international policy, law and order, and finance. This measure encourages the advancement of international relations with Taiwan to achieve shared goals and prioritize similar values.

As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 68, and recommends its adoption.

Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Transportation and Culture and the Arts,

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CHRIS LEE, Chair