2023 Senate Resolution 49

Whereas, Taiwan is a self-governing democracy and a key partner of the United States. However, Taiwan’s sovereignty is often threatened by the People’s Republic of China (PRC), which has repeatedly expressed its intent to absorb Taiwan. The United States balances relations with Taiwan and the PRC through its “one-China” policy, under which the United States opposes any unilateral changes to the status quo between Taiwan and the PRC and supports the peaceful resolution of any differences across the Taiwan Strait, as stated in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979; and

Whereas, In March and April 2023, in accordance with longstanding practice, the Taiwanese President met with members of the United States Congress during two transit stops in the United States. At the end of March, Taiwan’s President met with the United States House Minority Leader and members of the United States Senate Armed Services Committee in New York, and in early April, she met with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and other members of the United States Congress in California. These meetings took place while the Taiwanese President was traveling to and from Central America to meet with Taiwan’s allies; and

Whereas, In response to these meetings, from April 8 to 10, 2023, the PRC conducted three days of large-scale combat exercises around Taiwan, including a simulated blockade of the island. A naval standoff between Taiwan and the PRC took place at the median line of the Taiwan Strait, an unofficial boundary between their territories, and dozens of planes crossed this line during the PRC’s drills. Taiwan reports over 200 flights by PRC warplanes over the weekend. Many of these aircraft practiced taking off from the Shandong, a PRC aircraft carrier that was participating in military exercises near Taiwan for the first time. The Shandong could be used to prevent foreign military forces from coming to Taiwan’s aid in the event of a military crisis across the Taiwan Strait or in reaction to perceived foreign interference. At the conclusion of these exercises, the PRC’s military declared that it is “ready to fight,” a significant escalation in the country’s rhetoric regarding its intent to use force against Taiwan; and

Whereas, These military actions constitute a serious overreaction to the transit stops by Taiwan’s President in the United States. The current Taiwanese President has transited through the United States on six other occasions since she took office; these visits are far from unusual and do not signal a change in United States foreign policy. Taiwan has reacted calmly to the PRC’s military exercises, monitoring the activity but stating that it does not intend to escalate the conflict. There is simply no need for the PRC to fan the flames of conflict. These kinds of antagonistic actions create unnecessary fear and anxiety, and they can be actively harmful to the instigator’s economy. A war over Taiwan would significantly disrupt global trade among leading economies, which would dampen Michigan’s economy as well; in 2022, Taiwan was our state’s tenth-largest goods export market in Asia. It is in everyone’s best interest to avoid a conflict between the PRC and Taiwan; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, That we condemn the coercive actions of the People’s Republic of China towards Taiwan from April 8 to 10, 2023; and be it further

Resolved, That we support Taiwan’s sovereignty over its own territory; and be it further

Resolved, That we urge the People’s Republic of China to de-escalate its rhetoric regarding an invasion of Taiwan and to refrain from threatening an invasion by conducting military drills; and be it further

Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the United States Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China, the Director of the American Institute in Taiwan, the People’s Republic of China Ambassador to the United States, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative to the United States, and the members of the Michigan congressional delegation.