Utah Senate honors ties with Taiwan, approves joint resolution after delegation visit

The Utah Senate unanimously approved S.J.R. 5 on Feb. 11, a joint resolution recognizing connections between Utah and the Republic of China (Taiwan), and received a visiting delegation that included Benjamin Lowe, director-general of Taiwan's economic and cultural office in San Francisco.

Senator Craig/ (introduced as Senator Petersen on the floor) urged support for the resolution, calling Taiwan a long-standing economic partner and noting sister-state and cultural relationships. Benjamin Lowe told senators Taiwan is a democratic economy with "approximately 21,000,000" people and detailed trade and visitor figures while stressing the island's democratic institutions and international economic role. Lowe said Taiwan was grateful for Utah's moral support and expressed willingness to strengthen ties.

Senators noted past trade missions, personal relationships developed with Taiwanese officials and the importance of acknowledging international economic partners. After brief remarks from visiting community leaders, the Senate moved to consider the resolution under suspension of the rules. A roll-call vote recorded 28 ayes and one absence, and the resolution was referred to the House for concurrence and final enrollment.

The delegation's appearance provided senators a direct briefing on Taiwan's trade ties and visitor exchanges with the United States; the Senate's action is a formal expression of state-level goodwill and does not change federal policy. The resolution will be transmitted to the House for final concurrence and then delivered to the delegation as a formal record of the legislature's recognition.

Next steps: S.J.R. 5 was transmitted to the House for final signature and enrollment.