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House Resources Committee advances resolution urging resumption of Alaska trade office in Taiwan after public testimony
Summary
The committee moved Senate Joint Resolution 8 out of committee, urging strengthened ties with Taiwan and recommending resumption of an Alaska trade office in Taipei. Members debated an amendment referencing a March 2025 Taiwan letter of intent tied to an Alaska LNG project and considered the proposed office's estimated costs.
May 14, 2025 — The House Resources Committee advanced Senate Joint Resolution 8 on Wednesday, a resolution that encourages stronger ties between Alaska and Taiwan and urges the state to consider resuming an Alaska trade office in Taipei.
Senator Elvi Gray-Jackson, sponsor of the resolution, told the committee the measure highlights longstanding economic, cultural and educational ties and would support trade promotion for sectors including seafood and education. Clark Bickford, staff to the senator, said the senator had recently traveled to Taiwan and that Taiwan government officials signaled interest in further engagement.
The committee considered but rejected an amendment (A1) that would have added language noting a March 2025 Taiwan signed letter of intent signaling support for Alaska’s liquefied natural gas project. Representative Rauscher moved the amendment; the roll call showed 4 yeas and 5 nays and the amendment failed.
Public testimony during the hearing included three speakers who spoke in favor of the resolution. Jeff Chen of Anchorage said, "I'm a Taiwanese Alaskan, and I support Senate Joint Resolution 8 relating to strengthening international relations with Taiwan," and described Taiwan’s earlier pandemic shipments of masks and PPE to Alaska. Daniel Gochun Chen, identified as a representative for Taiwan in the Pacific Northwest, and Sophie Chen, deputy director at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Seattle, both urged renewed ties and highlighted potential trade openings for Alaska seafood, tourism and energy.
Committee members also discussed the likely cost of reopening a trade office. Representative Sadler noted the committee packet listed estimated expenses totaling about $156,000 and asked that the fiscal implications be placed on the record. In response, staff and outside witnesses said Taiwan officials had signaled potential partial subsidies for rent and that proponents expect increased trade to offset some costs, though no firm state commitment was made by the committee.
Action and votes: Amendment A1 (to add the March 2025 letter of intent language) failed on a roll call, 4–5. The committee then moved SJR 8 from committee with an attached fiscal note and individual recommendations; the resolution passed from committee by voice vote.
Discussion vs. decision: The committee’s approval was procedural — the resolution advances a policy position and a recommendation to reopen an office; it does not itself obligate state funds beyond any future appropriation process. Members asked staff to provide more background on the office’s prior closure and to follow up on fiscal details.
Ending: Committee members said they will forward the resolution and its fiscal note to the full House for further consideration and that staff will follow up on outstanding cost and historical-closure questions.
