Senate unanimously adopts resolution affirming economic, cultural ties with Taiwan

The Utah Senate voted unanimously to pass House Concurrent Resolution 17, a resolution that reaffirms the state’s economic and cultural relationship with Taiwan and urges steps to strengthen exchanges in education, trade and culture.

Senator Stevenson introduced visiting Taiwanese officials, including representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office and local advisors, and described Taiwan’s donations of medical supplies during the COVID‑19 pandemic. The reading clerk then read the resolution, which cites Taiwan as Utah’s fifth‑largest trading partner in 2020 and lists prior cooperative activity including mask and vaccine assistance and sister‑state and sister‑city relationships.

“Utah and Taiwan share important values including a commitment to religious freedom, democracy, human rights, the rule of law, and a free‑market economy,” the resolution recites as it lists historical exchanges and economic ties. The resolution also instructs the legislature to send copies of the resolution to the U.S. Secretary of State, Utah’s congressional delegation and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in San Francisco.

Floor remarks from multiple senators emphasized friendship and past exchanges; several senators noted Utah delegations that had traveled to Taiwan and the role of cultural and education programs such as Chinese‑language immersion in the state’s schools. After a brief period of discussion and a motion to suspend the three‑reading requirement, the Senate adopted the resolution under suspension of rules. The clerk recorded the vote as 27 yeas, 0 nays and 2 absent.

The resolution will be signed by the Senate President and returned to the House for the speaker’s signature.