THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

INTRODUCED BY DALEY, BELFANTI, BOYLE, DERMODY, FREEMAN, HARRIS, KRIEGER, O'NEILL, PHILLIPS, READSHAW, REICHLEY, SCAVELLO, SCHRODER AND SIPTROTH, APRIL 19, 2010

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS, APRIL 19, 2010  

A RESOLUTION

Supporting the participation of the Republic of China (Taiwan)

as an observer in the United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change and in the International Civil Aviation

Organization.

WHEREAS, The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Taiwan have a

long history of friendship, embodied in a fruitful relationship

of economic cooperation; and

WHEREAS, The members of the Taiwanese-American community in

Pennsylvania maintain close ties with family and friends in

their native land and are concerned about their safety, well-

being and development; and

WHEREAS, Climate change has become a major global issue

confronting humanity in the 21st century; and

WHEREAS, Global warming seriously affects the sustainable

development and welfare of Taiwan's 23 million people; and

WHEREAS, Taiwan was devastated by Typhoon Morakot in August

2009, which caused severe loss of life and property; and

WHEREAS, The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate

Change (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, 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 warming; and

WHEREAS, Inclusion in the UNFCCC as an observer will enable

Taiwan to make valuable contributions to the international

community; and

WHEREAS, For political reasons, Taiwan has also been barred

from participation in the UN-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 under Taiwan's

jurisdiction covers 176,000 square nautical miles, services 12

international and four domestic routes and has 1.35 million

controlled flights pass through every year; and

WHEREAS, Some 174,000 international flights carrying more

than 35 million passengers arrived in and departed from Taiwan

in 2008; and

WHEREAS, According to its compiled 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 to lead

a delegation to attend the 62nd World Health Assembly as an

observer, setting a precedent for Taiwan's participation in UN-

specialized agencies; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania support the participation of the

Republic of China (Taiwan) as an observer in the United Nations

Framework Convention on Climate Change and in the International

Civil Aviation Organization; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to

the United States Department of State and each member of the

Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation.